Do you own a company that has a need for respiratory protection? Respirators are used for protection against contaminants in the air. Abatement, general construction, hazardous waste, and manufacturing companies use respirators often.
Some companies either buy or rent respirators. Sometimes they can save money by renting or buying depending on certain factors such as length of use, or how much the purchase price is vs. the rental rate.
Respiratory protection is an essential part of safety equipment. Scroll down to learn whether you should rent or buy air respirators for your project.
Look at your financial situation
To decide whether to buy or rent, you need to see what your financial situation is for your company. Calculating a budget for respiratory masks will let you know what you can afford and what you can’t afford.
Do you have enough capital to purchase? If not, is renting a better option? Take a look at the costs for your project over several months or years. Purchasing is an investment, and it comes out to a one-lump-sum initial payment.
The cost of renting can add up quickly and could end up costing you more if you are renting respirators for an extended period.
Job Frequency
The most significant deciding factor when it comes to renting or buying respirator masks is to determine how frequently they are used on the job. If the job or project is short-term, renting would be a better option and will save you money.
But, you also run the risk of renting the equipment for longer periods of time due to unforeseen delays or hold-ups. In the end, this might cost you big money. If this is a specialized job that you perform only once or twice a year, renting will still save you money compared to a considerable investment that you need to make on equipment that you use once in a blue moon.
Cost of Ownership
It’s vital to know what the price is for owning equipment. With ownership costs, come operational costs. The good news is that the maintenance for respirator masks is minimal—they can break, so you need to take into account the cost for replacing a few of them now and then.
When it Makes Sense To Buy Vs. Rent
If you are working in an industry that requires your employees to wear respirator masks for most jobs, it’s better to purchase them. The investment may seem like a lot at the beginning, but if you’re going to need them all the time, the purchase price will start to pay off in the long run.
Here are some industries where purchasing respirator masks make sense:
- Abatement Companies
- Clean Rooms
- Energy Production Facilities
- Food Manufacturing
- General Construction
- General Manufacturing
- Landscape/Arborists Municipal/Government Contracts
- Petroleum Industry
- Refuse Companies
If you own a company that is in any of these industries, you’re better off buying respirator masks.
Should I Buy or Rent Respirators?
In short, purchasing respirators tend to be the best option for companies that specialize in the industries listed above.
If you are a company that operates in a different industry but sometimes takes on projects like the ones listed, then you are better off renting due to infrequency of use. The best determining factor when deciding to buy or rent is to look at your financial situation. Will this purchase be cost-effective? Then, determine the frequency of use. Once you square those factors away, you should be able to make the best decision for your company.
If you need help deciding whether you should buy or rent equipment for your business, contact us and we can help you out.
