How to choose between a site cabin and a welfare unit

If you’re a site manager for a construction firm or an event planner who works at venues that don’t have on-site facilities, then you likely spend a lot of time sourcing temporary welfare units or cabins. There is a huge range of site accommodations available today, all of which are made to comply with the required regulations for your construction site or event.

However, not all units are the same, and what you need will vary depending on the size of your event or site and how many people are expected to use the facilities, amongst other factors. So, to find out more about what site cabin accommodation and welfare units actually are and the advantages of each one depending on your surroundings and needs, read on.

What are welfare units and site cabins?

Welfare units and site cabins are similar in that they are both temporary buildings hired by companies to provide essential amenities on building sites, construction grounds and at events. However, there are some differences between them.

Welfare units typically have more facilities as standards, like running water, heating and toilets. On the other hand, site cabins tend to be empty shells, meaning they offer more flexibility in how they are used.

Why do construction sites need welfare units?

The HSE information sheet (59) ‘Provision of welfare facilities during construction work’ (https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis59.pdf) states that ‘Construction workers need adequate toilet and washing facilities, a place to warm up and eat their food and somewhere to store clothing.’ These are the essential basics you must provide on your site. However, it’s also recommended that you ensure there is access to:

• Drinking water
• Rest spaces
• Changing rooms
• Locker rooms
• Heating

While these may sound like basic necessities, they are essential to ensuring a high standard of work and providing a safe and healthy environment for your workers.

Welfare unit hire advantages

There are many welfare units available that you can make use of on your construction site or for your event. They offer a range of advantages, just a few of which are detailed below.

1. They can be static or mobile

One of the greatest advantages of welfare units is that you can choose from either static units or mobile ones.

A mobile unit is ideal if you need to have the unit set up quickly or only require it for a short amount of time. The facilities are usually self-contained too, meaning there is no extra effort required on your part to get everything running and working. It’s also easy to transport, so it’s a good option if access to your site isn’t straightforward.

Static welfare units are usually the better choice for long-term projects, especially if you know they won’t need to be moved around. They also offer more space.

2. They come in various sizes

You can choose from a range of different sizes of welfare units, so there is bound to be one to suit your needs, even if you aren’t working with a lot of space. We have mobile options from 12’ to 16’ and static units from  20’ to 24’ static units. Before choosing a unit size, think carefully about how many people will be using it, where it is going to be placed and how accessible your site is.

3. Refills are available

While our welfare units come with large water and waste holding tanks, we appreciate you may fill these quickly on a busy site. What’s more, we know you probably don’t have the tools or experience to manage these safely, which is why we’re happy to service our units if you give us a call – we’ll be there either the same day or the next day.

Site cabin hire advantages

Site cabins, also known as site accommodation, are an essential requirement if your construction site complies with safety guidelines. However, aside from this, choosing a site cabin has plenty of advantages.

1. They are versatile

When you hire site accommodation, the space is fairly basic, which means it can be much more easily adapted to suit your needs than a welfare unit. For example, you could adapt it for use as a:

•   Washroom
•   Meeting room
•   Break room
•   Storage unit
•   Office

2. They are secure

All our site accommodation options come with excellent security features, so you can rest assured that anything you store inside will be safe at all times, whether personal belongings, office files or equipment.

3. They are available furnished

Another great benefit of site cabin hire from Addplant is that you can choose to hire them fully furnished. We’re able to supply tables, chairs, desks and filing cabinets, so if you need a site cabin quickly, we will ensure you have everything you need to make the space functional.

Speak to us at Addplant today

Here at Addplant, we offer a huge range of services, including plant hire, portable toilet hire, event toilet hire and site cabin hire all across Yorkshire. If you are looking for reliable site accommodation or welfare unit hire, we have a whole range of units available for you to choose from.

If you are unsure which option is best for your needs, contact us today and a member of our experienced team will be happy to advise you. Find out more about site accommodation or get in touch about our welfare units today!