Powered access is today the access solution of first choice for an ever-increasing number of painting and decorating contractors. It is now widely recognised as the safest and most efficient option for carrying out exterior painting to windows, walls and soffits, interior decoration of walls and ceilings, pipework and ductwork, the application of specialist coatings and finishes, graffiti removal and sign-writing.

The country's leading powered access rental company is Nationwide Access, which operates out of 50 depots spread throughout the UK, and has a 6,000-strong hire fleet of scissor lifts, self-propelled booms and Skylift truck-mounted booms.

Recent applications in the painting and decorating sector have included the repainting of a residential apartment block on the outskirts of Leamington Spa that utilised Nationwide's self-propelled booms and Skylift truck-mounted units. A solution that the contractor readily acknowledges cost a third of what would have been needed had the original plan to use scaffolding been adopted.

But such a range of equipment raises the question: how do you choose the right machine for the job? Fortunately, there is a very simple solution that is available to facilities managers from their nearest Nationwide depot- a free on-site survey.

But it does help to have some idea of what the main differences are between these three types of machine.

Scissor lifts are limited to vertical elevation only. However, they provide safe and reliable vertical access platforms for working heights between 6.4 metres and 28.3 metres, with safe working load capacities of up to 1,000kg. Three power options are available; diesel, which is popular for external use, electric, for indoor use where emissions are unacceptable, and bi-powered.

They can be used for a host of tasks and are particularly popular - especially the electric and bi-powered models - for indoor use. Typical applications include atrium and shopping mall maintenance, because the machines are compact, fume and noise free, cause the minimum disruption and inconvenience to employees and shoppers alike. Scissor lifts also come into their own when signage, lighting or Christmas decorations need to be erected, maintained or taken down.

Turning to Nationwide's self-propelled booms, much of their popularity has to be attributed to their versatility. For, in addition to providing the essential vertical lift, they also offer an outreach capability, which enables the boom's work platform to reach over obstacles, gaining access to areas that would be inaccessible to equipment where the operation is limited to vertical elevation. Again the height options are considerable, from just 2.6 metres to an impressive 24.4 metres.

The Nationwide offering includes both telescopic and articulated models, again with diesel, electric and bi-powered options being available. Units range from compact, slim-fit machines with a width of just 0.81 metres, which are in their element where access or working space is restricted, up to industry-leading working height and outreach combinations.

Finally, Skylift truck-mounts. As the name implies, these are mounted on the back of trucks, some of which are all-terrain, four-wheel-drive vehicles. They are able to move on and off site quickly and efficiently and be fully operational within minutes of arrival on site. Most Skylift booms are able to rotate a full 360 degrees and are manipulated via controls located on the work platform. As with self-propelled booms, the outreach capabilities mean that movement is not restricted to vertical elevation.

Skylift machines range from 14-metre working height units, all the way up to a colossal 72 metres and every machine is supplied with a fully qualified and experienced Nationwide operator. However, with many of the units of up to 22-metre working height, self-drive options are available, and can be operated by anyone with a standard driving licence. Nationwide goes to great lengths though to stress the advisability of always hiring a trained operator with a truck mount, or at the very least, ensure that the self-drive operator is properly trained.

Full details of Nationwide's powered access range, along with depot locations, are available at www.nationwideaccess.com or for connection to your nearest Nationwide depot, telephone 0845 745 0000.

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September 2002 Nat2.064b