Demand for portable lighting is growing, and rental businesses are in a good position to take advantage of that fact - renting often is the most cost-efficient method of filling many lighting requirements. If your contractor customers haven't made as much use of your lighting inventory as they might, now - while they're taking stock of things, before the construction season hits high gear - is the time to help them understand what they're missing.
Reliable portable lighting units are needed for a variety of reasons. Portable lighting is used on many general construction projects; for street, highway and bridge construction and maintenance; for working inside buildings; to provide security lighting; to light outdoor events; and in emergency situations such as rescues and repairs following accidents or natural disasters.
Portable lighting extends working hours for almost any project. Many urban areas now schedule much of their street and freeway repairs at night to avoid interrupting traffic during peak daylight hours. On all kinds of construction, work often must be extended into the night to meet completion deadlines. Rented units are an affordable, practical way to light work areas.
Portable lighting models available range from 175 to 1,500 watts and include small one-bulb units on floor stands, compact light towers and self-contained lighting systems with multiple fixtures.
Small models plug into available electrical circuits or portable generators and can be used in confined work spaces. All components of larger self-contained lighting packages are mounted on easy-to-transport trailers and include their own generators powered by gasoline or diesel engines.
Customers who rent lights requiring separate power sources also are potential renters of portable generators, of course.
Light fixtures are mounted on telescoping masts that are raised and lowered with built-in manual or power winches.
Self-contained units have from two to eight lights; four-light systems are in widest use.
It pays to learn everything you can about each customer's intended use of lighting units so you can make sure the customer gets exactly what's needed. How large is the area to be lighted? What level of light is required? Is the color of the light important?
And know your stock, too - get completely familiar with the capabilities of the lighting units you have available.
Different types of bulbs produce different kinds of light. Metal halide (MH) bulbs emit a bright, white light with good color rendition. High-pressure sodium (HPS) bulbs produce a high output of light in a soft orange color that limits glare and provides good visibility in rain, snow and fog.
If lights must be turned off and on often, units with HPS bulbs may be best for the job, because HPS bulbs take less time to warm up and to reach maximum output.
Different uses require varying levels of light. The lighting industry measures light in foot candles. The more detailed the work, the more foot candles of light are required. The Illumination Engineering Society recommends light levels for various uses. The society's recommendations include 10 foot-candles for general construction, 1 to 5 foot-candles for security lighting and as much as 50 foot-candles for sporting events.

Who rents portable lighting?
Potential renters of portable lighting equipment include a wide range of contractors; maintenance personnel at industrial facilities; city, state and federal agencies; businesses ranging from small companies to large corporations, shopping centers and other retail businesses; schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions; churches; country clubs; promoters of special events, organizations that sponsor sports events; mining and agricultural operations. Highway and bridge contractors do an increasing amount of night work. Compact and efficient portable lighting is ideal for outdoor holiday festivals and special events. Smaller light models are rented by private individuals for home improvement projects and for family social gatherings.

Operation and safety
Give every rental customer complete operating instructions and send along the manufacturer's operation manual with every rental.
For models that use independent power sources, be sure customers understand electrical requirements. Plug lights into grounded circuits only. Use extension cords that comply with requirements recommended by manufacturers. Never use lightweight extension cords. (Renting the correct cords helps the customer avoid problems and brings in extra rental income.) Don't plug power tools or other equipment into a circuit used to power lighting.
Explain the characteristics of bulbs. Advise customers that MH bulbs require a warmup time and they have a longer restrike time after being turned off. HPS and MH bulbs are not interchangeable.
Explain towing vehicle requirements to customers renting self-contained systems. Show customers how to adjust the position of lighting elements and how to use winches to raise and lower lights. Review all controls. Specify the type of fuel required by diesel and gasoline engines.
As part of your walkaround with the customer before letting the unit go out on rent, point out warning decals. Decals provide an excellent opportunity to explain safety issues.
During use, bulbs of portable lighting systems become extremely hot and can cause serious burns. Before changing a bulb, allow it to cool and unplug the unit or cut off the power to self-contained models.
Allow bulbs to cool before moving or transporting portable lights, too.
All safety precautions regarding electrical equipment apply to light units that plug in to regular outlets or portable power sources.
Use extension cords in accordance with instructions in operating manuals. Exercise extreme caution when work areas are wet; always keep electrical cable out of standing water.
Park towers on firm, level surfaces and always properly position outriggers.
Operate equipment powered by gasoline or diesel engines only in well-ventilated areas. Do not refuel, attempt to make adjustments or repairs, or perform maintenance while an engine is running.
Never move or reposition a unit with the mast raised - lower it first - and do not move or transport a unit while lights are hot.

Maintenance on the job
Typically, lighting units require little maintenance during rentals.
If it is necessary to replace bulbs, let them to cool for at least 15 minutes before removing and replace with the correct size and type of bulb.