Start with the busiest working day
Describe who will use the cabin and what they will do inside it. For an office, count the people needing desks at the same time and consider meetings, document storage and movement around furniture.
A cabin that accommodates desks may still leave too little room for a regular project meeting. If activities overlap, explain whether they need separate areas. Our site cabin hire page helps frame a temporary workspace requirement.
Storage needs a different description. Identify what you intend to store and whether people will work in the same space. Don’t assume an office cabin is suitable for every material or activity.
Look beyond the floor area
Ask about the proposed layout, doors, windows, lighting, heating and ventilation. These details affect how the room can be used, while furniture can change the usable space considerably.
For a longer hire, consider how occupancy or the purpose of the cabin might change. Explain any anticipated increase in users before settling on the initial arrangement.
Separate workspace from welfare
An office requirement does not resolve staff welfare needs. Washing, toilet, rest and changing facilities are covered by the construction welfare guidance (hse.gov.uk) from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the workplace safety regulator.
Describe facilities already available and those still needed. Treat welfare as its own requirement, rather than assuming a desk cabin covers it.
Check the whole hire scope
Before comparing proposals, establish what each includes. Useful points to discuss are:
- The cabin layout and included furniture.
- Delivery, positioning and collection arrangements.
- Connections and work needed before use.
- Maintenance responsibilities during hire.
- The expected duration and arrangements if dates change.
Any apparent saving needs to be considered alongside transport and site preparation. A shorter hire period does not remove those parts of the project.
Resolve the site questions
A preferred cabin size may not suit the available position or access route. Use existing site information to describe gates, overhead restrictions and connection arrangements. Permissions and suitability still need project-specific confirmation.
Use the contact form to describe your Manchester cabin requirement, preferred dates and the decisions you still need to discuss.