The heat is on
18 July 2022
I’m coming across that word yet again: unprecedented.
Having been mentioned in describing the Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdown, the furlough scheme, supply chain disruptions and global energy price rises, it’s now being used as weather forecasters suggest that the UK could record its highest ever temperature this week.
And hirers are again playing a key role in providing the equipment to help people cope.
With experts saying temperatures could hit up to 41C (106F) today or tomorrow, the Met Office has issued its first ever red extreme heat warning covering much of England, from London and the south-east up to York and Manchester.
Amber warnings have been issued for the rest of England, all of Wales, and southern Scotland.
The red alert means that the high temperatures can cause widespread disruption to people’s activities and the general infrastructure. Roads could start to melt and railway lines might buckle.
The UK’s current highest temperature is 38.7C recorded in Cambridge in 2019.
It is widely believed that the more frequent occurrence of high temperatures is being caused by human induced climate change.
People are obviously trying to keep cool in homes, schools and work places, leading to intense demand for air conditioning and cooling equipment. The young, old and infirm are also at risk.
However, hirers are working flat out to help. I spoke to some of them this morning to get an insight into how they are responding:
Paul Lewis, managing director, Phoenix Hire and Sales: “Air conditioners are certainly in demand and we’re also needing them to make sure our own staff keep cool. We added more machines to the fleet this year and last year. Traditionally it’s perhaps been difficult for a hire company to justify the investment for what could just be a two-week window of opportunity, but if global warming continues it’s likely that we’ll need to make a structured decision to react accordingly. Undoubtedly, the summers are getting hotter and more severe.”
Joe Paterson, managing director, Anglian Plant Hire: “We’re really busy. And customers are obviously desperate to hire machines from us with air conditioning in the cabs. It’s certainly at the top of their wish lists at the moment!”
Matt Dolan, managing director, MD Tool Hire & Sales: “Our entire aircon fleet was out on hire by the end of last week. People obviously heard the forecasts and planned ahead. A lot of customers told us they were hiring equipment to protect pets and animals. We bought more fans for retail and we’ll have sold the last of them by the end of the day. We’ve also got 100 bottles of water in our fridge by the hire desk that we are giving out to van drivers to help them cope with the heat.”
Ryan Miles, director, Miles Hire: “Demand is very strong. We bought some more air conditioners only this morning from the Hire Supply Company (HSC) for our Swansea depot, having forward ordered some last week. The global warming trend seems to be established now, it’s not a one-off and it’s another hire opportunity. And if you haven’t got the equipment in your fleet, then you won’t get the business.”
David Johnstone, managing director, Your Equipment Solutions: “To be fair, Scotland has not yet had the extreme temperatures being experienced in the south, but hire enquiries for air conditioners and evaporative coolers certainly began to rise over the weekend. We have ordered more from HSC and we sold a number of machines to a facilities management contractor this morning.”
Craig Wheldale, hire general manager, Frank Key Plant & Tool Hire: “Demand for air conditioners,evaporative coolers and fans has obviously gone through the roof. It started about three weeks ago and we reacted immediately by buying more units. Some tradesmen are actually postponing outside work because of the heat. Traditionally the aircon hire season has been short, but we have found ourselves steadily having to buy more and more machines and they will deliver returns. It’s an opportunity that you can’t ignore.”
