Here are some answers to many of the questions you may have about hiring a building from Portakabin. If you'd like to find out more, please call direct to  your local Hire Centre on 0845 355 0350 or click here to complete a contact form.

How long can I hire a building for?
Solutions are designed to suit you, so you can hire buildings for any period, offering you total flexibility. A member of your local Hire Centre team will be pleased to advise you further on the various options.

How many people can I accommodate?
The buildings in the Portakabin range can accommodate from one to more than 1,000 people, depending on the building supplied. Our team is happy to advise you on the most suitable size of building for the number of people you need to accommodate.

Do Portakabin products comply with Building Regulations?
Yes. Portakabin buildings can provide a ready-to-use working environment that meets the requirements of The Building Regulations, The Buildings Standards (Scotland), The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) and other building requirements.

Do Portakabin buildings meet the DDA, SENDA and Part M of the Building Regulations?
Portakabin buildings can meet the requirements of these regulations and the obligations of the DDA. However, your precise requirements will be project specific. You should seek clarification of these requirements from your local Building Control department before finalising your accommodation solution.

Do I need planning permission?
Yes (unless the building is to be sited for less than 28 days). For further information, contact your local Portakabin Hire Centre team who can arrange planning permission for you.

What is the standard specification?
Portakabin buildings can be designed to suit your exact requirements, providing you with a bespoke accommodation solution. A member of the Portakabin team will advise you on the best interior layout and suggest how you could benefit from options like climate control, office furniture, sanitary facilities and much more. Whichever specification you choose, all Portakabin buildings have the following features as standard:

• Electric convector heaters, for a comfortable working environment.
• Easy-to-clean, hard-wearing, vinyl floor covering.
• Fluorescent lighting - for optimal lighting levels.
• Power points - positioned where you need them.

What preparations do I need to make before delivery?
Access to the site needs to be kept completely clear of obstructions, allowing enough space for the vehicle delivering the building. Suitable foundations or a level hard-standing area must be available to accommodate the building. Our Project Co-ordinator will advise you on these matters during a free, no-obligation site inspection.

What type of foundations will my Portakabin building require?
Relocatable buildings that will be on hard standing will only require shims. For other surfaces or for modular buildings, only pad foundations are necessary. The foundations required will depend on site conditions, building weight and floor loads - our Portakabin Hire team will be happy to advise you on your individual foundation requirements.

How are Portakabin buildings delivered?
Modular buildings will be sited using a lorry-mounted crane or a standard crane, and mechanically positioned using lifting eyes. All relocatable buildings are readily transported by road on a suitable flat-bed lorry or trailer platform and positioned with a lorry-mounted crane (Hiab).

How do I connect to electricity, telephone and data cables?

All Portakabin buildings are fitted with a consumer unit tested to BS7671. A qualified electrician must connect the consumer unit to a mains supply. We advise you to contact your communications systems provider to arrange connection to computer and telephone systems.

What happens if I have a problem with my building?
Hiring a building from Portakabin ensures no maintenance costs and no risk, giving you peace of mind. If you are not completely satisfied with your building at any time during the hire period, call your local Portakabin Hire Centre and we will act promptly to remedy your problem.