TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE HIRING OF PLANT (ANNUAL)

 

1.                DEFINITIONS

(a)       the ‘Owner’ is Glazeguard SW Ltd and includes their successors, assigns or personal representatives.

(b)       the ‘Hirer’ is the Company, firm, person, Corporation or public authority taking the Owners plant on hire and includes their successors or personal representatives.

(c)       ‘Plant’ covers all classes of plant, machinery, vehicles, equipment and accessories therefore which the Owner agrees to hire to the Hirer.

(d)       ‘Operator’ shall be deemed to be the driver of such plant that is self-powered and the operator of either such plant when stationary or of such plant that is not self-powered

(e)       a ‘day’ shall be 12 hours unless otherwise specified in the Contract.

(f)       A ‘week’ shall be 7 (seven) consecutive days

(g)       a ‘working week’ shall be from 08:30 on Monday until 17:30 on Friday.

(h)       the hire period shall commence from the day when the plant arrives on site and shall continue until an off-hire reference is obtained from the Owner.

 

2.             EXTENT OF CONTRACT

No conditions other than specifically set forth in the Offer and Acceptance and herein shall be deemed to be incorporated in or to form part of the Contract or shall otherwise govern the relationship between the Owner and the Hirer in relation to the hire of any particular plant pursuant to the Offer and Acceptance.  The Contract does not create any right enforceable by or purport to confer any benefit on any person not a party to it except that a person who is a successor to or an assignee of the rights of the Owner is deemed to become a party to the Contract after the date of succession or assignment (as the case may be)

 

3.        ACCEPTANCE OF PLANT

Acceptance of plant on site implies acceptance of all terms and conditions herein unless otherwise agreed in writing.

 

4.        UNLOADING AND LOADING

The Hirer shall be responsible for the unobstructed access and, unless otherwise agreed in writing, for unloading and loading the plant at the site, and any personnel supplied by the Owner shall be deemed to be under the direction and control of the Hirer.  Such personnel shall for all purposes in connection with their employment in the unloading and/or loading of the plant be regarded as the servants or agents of the Hirer (but without prejudice to any of the provisions of Clause 13) who alone shall be responsible for all claims arising in connection with unloading, and or loading of the plant by, or with the assistance of, such personnel.

 

5.        DELIVERY IN GOOD ORDER AND MAINTENANCE INSPECTION REPORTS

(a)       unless notification in writing to the contrary is received by the Owner from the Hirer, in the case of plant supplied with an operator within four working days, and in the case of plant supplied without an operator within three working days of the plant being delivered to the site, the plant shall be deemed to be in good order, save for either an inherent fault or a fault not ascertainable by reasonable examination, in accordance with the terms of the Contract and to the Hirer’s satisfaction.  The Hirer shall be responsible for its safe keeping, use in a workmanlike manner within the manufacturer’s rated capacity and return on the completion of hire in equal good order (fair wear and tear excepted).

(b)       the Hirer shall when hiring plant without the Owner’s operator take all reasonable steps to keep himself acquainted with the state and condition of the plant.  If such plant be continued at work or in use in an unsafe or unsatisfactory state or environment, the Hirer shall be solely responsible for any damage, loss or accidents whether directly or indirectly arising therefrom.

(c)                  the Hirer is responsible for ensuring that where equipment requires sufficient battery charging to allow for correct performance this is carried out in accordance with instructions provided by the Owner.

(d)                  the current Report of Thorough Examination required by Regulation 9(3)(a)(i) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 shall be supplied with the plant to the Hirer by the Owner and returned on completion of hire.

 

6.        SERVICING AND INSPECTION

(a)       where the plant is not supplied with an operator the Hirer is responsible for the completion and recording of relevant inspections as required by current legislation and manufacturers instructions.

(b)       the Hirer shall at all times allow the Owner, his Agents or his Insurers to have access to the plant to inspect, test, adjust, repair or replace the same.  So far as is reasonably possible, such work will be carried out at times to suit the convenience of the Hirer.

 

 

7.        TIMBER MATS OR EQUIVALENT

(a)       if the ground (including any private access or track) is soft or unsuitable for the plant to work on, travel or be transported over without timbers or equivalents, the Hirer shall supply and lay suitable timbers or equivalents in a suitable position for the plant to travel over, work on or be transported over, including for the purpose of delivery and collection.

(b)       where the hire is for lifting equipment, any sound timber or other material supplied by the Owner for use with outriggers/stabilisers is provided solely to assist the Hirer and expressly not to relieve him of his legal, regulatory or contractual obligations to ensure adequate stability of the lifting equipment under the imposed loading.

 

8.        HANDLING OF PLANT

When an operator or any person is supplied by the Owner with the plant, the Owner shall supply a person competent in operating the plant or for such purpose for which the person is supplied and such person shall be under the control and direction of the Hirer.  Such operators shall for all purposes in connection with their employment in the working of the plant be regarded as servants or agents of the Hirer (but without prejudice to any of the provisions of Clause 13) who alone shall be responsible for all claims arising in connection with the operation of the plant by the said operators.  The Hirer shall not allow any other person to operate such plant without the Owner’s previous consent to be confirmed in writing.

 

9.        BREAKDOWNS, REPAIRS AND ADJUSTMENT

(a)       when the plant is hired without the Owner’s operator any breakdown or unsatisfactory working of any part of the plant must be notified immediately to the Owner.  Any claim for breakdown time will only be considered from the time and date of notification.

(c)       full allowance will be made for the hire charges and for reasonable cost of repairs that have been authorised by the Owner will be made to the Hirer for any stoppage due to breakdown of plant caused by the development of either an inherent fault or a fault not ascertainable by reasonable examination or fair wear and tear and for all stoppages for normal running repairs in accordance with the Contract.

(d)       the Hirer shall not repair the plant without the written authority of the Owner.  Allowance for hire charges and for the reasonable cost of repairs will be made by the Owner to the Hirer where repairs have been authorised.

 

(e)       the Hirer shall be responsible for all expense involved from any breakdown and all loss or damage incurred by the Owner due to the Hirer’s negligence, misdirection or misuse of the plant, whether by the Hirer or his servants, and for the payment of hire at the appropriate rate during the period the plant is necessarily idle due to such breakdowns, loss or damage.  The Hirer is responsible for the cost of spares and/or repairs due to theft, loss or vandalism of the plant.  The Owner will be responsible for the cost of repairs to the plant involved in breakdowns from all other causes and will bear the cost of providing spare parts.

 

10.   OTHER STOPPAGES

No claims will be admitted (other than those allowed for under ‘Breakdown’, as herein provided), for stoppages through causes outside the Owner’s control, including bad weather or ground conditions nor shall the Owner be responsible for the cost or expense of recovering plant from soft ground.

 

11.   LOSS OF OTHER PLANT DUE TO BREAKDOWN

Each item of plant specified in the Contract is hired as a separate unit and the breakdown or stoppage of one or more units or vehicles (whether the property of the Owner or otherwise) through any cause whatsoever, shall not entitle the Hirer to compensation or allowance for the loss of working time by any other unit or units of plant working in conjunction therewith, provided that where two or more items of plant are hired together as a unit, such items shall be deemed a unit for the purpose of breakdown.

 

12.   LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Except for liability on the part of the Owner which is expressly provided for in the Contract (including these Clauses):

(a)       the Owner shall have no liability or responsibility for any loss,  delivery delay or damage of whatever nature due to or arising through any cause beyond his reasonable control;

(b)       the Owner shall have no liability or responsibility, whether by way of indemnity or by reason of any breach of the Contract, breach of statutory duty or misrepresentation or by reason of the commission of any tort (including but not limited to negligence) in connection with the hire, for any of the Hirer’s loss of profit, loss of use of the plant or any other asset or facility, loss of production or productivity, loss of contracts with any third party,


liabilities of whatever nature to any third party, and/or any other financial or economic loss or damage of whatever nature; and

(c)       whenever the Contract (including these Clauses) provides that any allowance is to be made against hire charges, such allowance shall be the Hirer’s sole and exclusive remedy in respect of the circumstances giving rise to the allowance, and such remedy shall be limited to the amount of hire charges which would otherwise be or become due if the allowance in question had not been made.

 

13.           HIRER’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS AND DAMAGE

(a)       for the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared and agreed that nothing in this Clause affects the operation of Clauses 4,5,8 and 9 of this Agreement.

(b)       during the continuance of the hire period the Hirer shall subject to the provisions referred to in sub-paragraph (a) make good to the Owner all loss of or damage to the plant from whatever cause the same may arise, fair wear and tear excepted, and except as provided in Clause 9 herein, and shall also fully and completely indemnify the Owner in respect of all claims by any person whatsoever for injury to person or property caused by or in connection with or arising out of storage, transit, transport, unloading, loading or use of the plant during the continuance of the hire period, and in respect to all costs and charges in connection therewith whether arising under statute or common law.  In the event of loss or damage to the plant, hire charges shall be continued until settlement has been effected.

(c)       notwithstanding the above the Owner shall accept liability for damage, loss or injury to or arising

(i)    prior to delivery of any plant to the site of the Hirer where the plant is in transit by transport of the Owner or as otherwise arranged by the Owner.

(ii)   during the erection and/or dismantling of any plant where such plant requires to be completely erected/dismantled on site, always provided that such erection/dismantling is under the exclusive control of the Owner or his Agent

(iii)  after the plant has been removed from site and is in transit on a highway maintainable at public expense (or where the site is not immediately adjacent to a highway maintainable at the public expenses after it has joined such a highway) to the Owner by transport of the Owner or as otherwise arranged by the Owner.

(iv) where the plant is travelling to or from a site on a highway maintained at the public expense (or where the site is not immediately adjacent to a highway maintained at the public expense, prior to its leaving or after its joining such highway) under its own power with a driver supplied by the Owner.

 

14.           NOTICE OF ACCIDENTS

If the plant is involved in any accident resulting in injury to persons or damage to property, immediate notice must be given to the Owner by telephone and confirmed in writing to the Owner’s office.  In relation to any claim in respect of which the Hirer is not bound fully to indemnify the Owner, no admission, offer, promise of payment or indemnity shall be made by the Hirer without the Owner’s consent in writing.

 

15.           RE-HIRING, ETC.

The plant or any part thereof shall not be re-hired, sub-let or lent to any third party.

 

16.           CHANGE OF SITE

The plant shall not be moved from the site to which it was delivered or consigned without informing the Owner as to it’s new location.

 

17.           RETURN OF PLANT FOR REPAIRS

If during the hire period the Owner decides that urgent repairs to the plant are necessary he may arrange for such repairs to be carried out on site or at any location of his nomination.  In that event the Owner shall be obliged to replace the plant with similar plant if available, the Owner (but without prejudice to any of the provisions of Clauses 9 and/or 13) paying all transport charges involved.  In the event of the Owner being unable to replace the plant he shall be entitled to determine the Contract forthwith (but without prejudice to any of the provisions of Clauses 9 and/or 13) by giving written notice to the Hirer.  If such determination occurs:

(a)       within three months from the commencement of hire the Owner, (but without prejudice to any of the provisions of Clauses 9 and/or 13) shall pay all transport charges involved, or,

(b)       more than three months from the commencement of hire the Owner, (but without prejudice to any of the provisions of Clauses 9 and/or 13) shall be liable only for the cost of reloading and return transport.

 

18.           BASIS OF CHARGING

(a)       Plant without an operator provided by the Owner shall be hired out ‘per week’ for a minimum of one week of 84 hours.

(b)       Plant with an operator provided by the Owner shall be hired out per ‘working week’ or such other period as may be mutually agreed between the Owner and the Hirer.

(c)       Full allowance will be made for breakdown periods resulting from mechanical or electrical faults or absence of Operator supplied by the Owner except where breakdown is due to Hirer’s misuse, misdirection or negligence, subject however to the provisions of Clause 8 of this Agreement.

(d)       Where an operator is not provided by the Owner breakdown time shall be allowed for not exceeding 12 hours each day on Monday to Sunday less the actual daily hours worked.

(a)       Where an operator is provided by the Owner breakdown time shall be allowed for not exceeding 8 hours each day on Monday to Friday less the actual daily hours worked.

 

19.     PLANT HIRED BY THE WEEK

If no breakdown occurs, the full hire for the minimum period in the contract will be charged.  The stipulated number of hours can be worked at any time during the minimum period of a week after full allowance has been made for battery recharging time.  Allowance will be made for breakdowns up to 12 hours providing always that where the actual hours worked are in excess of the minimum period less breakdown time, the actual hours worked shall be chargeable.

 

20.     PLANT HIRED BY THE WORKING WEEK

If no breakdown occurs, the full hire for the minimum period in the contract will be charged.  The stipulated number of hours can be worked at any time during the minimum period of a working week subject to agreement between the Owner and the Hirer.  An additional daily charge will be made for the operator for work in excess of such minimum period.  Allowance will be made for breakdowns up to 8 hours providing always that where the actual hours worked are in excess of the minimum period less breakdown time, the actual hours worked shall be chargeable.

 

21.     “ALL-IN” RATES

Where “All-In” rates are charged by agreement the minimum period shall be defined in the Contract and in accordance with the hire rates and terms contained therein, subject to the provisions of Clause 25.

 

22.     COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION OF HIRE

The hire period shall commence from the day when the plant arrives at the Hirer’s designated location and shall continue until an off-hire reference is provided by the Owner.  Off-hire negotiations must be conducted verbally between the Owner and the Hirer.  Confirmation of off-hire reference may be provided by the Owner verbally, by mail or electronic transmission.  If more than one day be properly and unavoidably occupied in transporting the plant an allowance to the hire rate will be allowed by the Owner.  The hire period shall continue in one week periods if the Hirer shall not make the plant available for collection to the Owner or their contracted representatives on the agreed date.

 

23.     NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF CONTRACT

Where the period of hire is indeterminate or having been defined becomes indeterminate the Contract shall be determinable by seven days’ notice in writing given by either party to the other, except in cases where the plant has been lost or damaged.  Notwithstanding that the Owner may have agreed to accept less than 7 (seven) days notice of termination, the Hirer’s obligations under Clause 13 shall continue until the plant is returned to the Owner in accordance with Clause 27 or until the Owner has collected the plant within the 7 (seven) days following the acceptance of short notice.  Oral notice given by the Hirer to the Owner’s operator shall not be deemed to constitute compliance with the provisions of this Clause.

 

24.     IDLE TIME

When the plant is prevented by prolonged inclement weather from working for a complete week, the charge shall be two-thirds of the hire rate or such other idle time as stated in the Offer.  If the plant works for any time during the guaranteed hire period then the whole of that guaranteed minimum period shall be charged as working time.  In any case no period less than one day shall be reckoned as idle time save for as provided for in Clause 18(e).  Where an “All-In” rate is charged, idle time is charged on the machine element only.  Full rate will be charged for the operator.

 

25.     WAGES AND OTHER CHARGEABLE ITEMS RELATING TO OPERATORS OF PLANT

All chargeable items shall be paid by the Hirer at the rates contracted save that any subsequent increases before and/or during the hire period arising from awards under national wage agreements and/or from increases in the employers statutory contributions shall be charged as additions at cost by the Owner and shall be admitted and paid by the Hirer.

 

26.     TRAVELLING TIME AND FARES

Travelling time and fares for operator’s, similar expenses incurred at the beginning and end of the hire period and where appropriate the operator’s return fare to his home at periods in accordance with appropriate national agreements will be chargeable at cost.  No charge shall be made by the Owner for any such expense incurred by other employees of the Owner for the purpose of servicing, repair or maintenance of plant, unless necessitated by the Hirer’s negligence, misdirection or misuse of the plant.

 

27.     FUEL, OIL AND GREASE

Fuel, oil and grease shall, when supplied by the Owner, be charged at net cost or an agreed estimate of net cost, and when supplied by the Hirer, shall be of a grade or type specified by the Owner.

 

28.     OWNER’S NAME PLATES

The Hirer shall not remove, deface or cover up the Owner’s name plate or mark on the plant indicating that it is his property.

 

29.     STATUTORY MARKINGS

             The Hirer shall not remove, replace, deface, cover up nor by any other method render unrecognisable any marking that is affixed to the plant to accord with relevant statutory legislation including, but not limited to, The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992, as amended,  and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 or any amendments or re-enactments thereof for the time being in force.

 

30.     TRANSPORT

The Hirer shall pay the cost of transport of the plant from the Owner’s depot to the designated site and return to named depot on completion of the hire period.

 

31.     GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

The Hirer will be responsible for compliance with relevant regulations issued by the Government or Local or Unitary Authorities including Regulations under the Health and Safety at Work, Etc. Act 1974 and observance of the Road Traffic Acts should they apply.

 

32.     TERMS OF BUSINESS

(a)       Unless otherwise expressly stated, orders are accepted on condition that each consignment will be invoiced separately and payment therefore shall become due 30 days from the end of the month in which the goods are despatched.

(b)       Should default be made by the Hirer in paying any sum due under any Contract as and when it becomes due, or should the Hirer be in breach in any respect of the Contract entered into, the Owner shall have the right by written notice posted to the Hirer either forthwith to suspend any all further deliveries until the default be made good or to determine any Contract then subsisting so far as any further goods remain to be delivered without prejudice to any claim or right the Owner might make or exercise

 

33.     PROTECTION OF OWNER’S RIGHTS

(a)       The Hirer shall not re-hire, sell, mortgage, charge, pledge, part with possession of or otherwise deal with the plant except as provided under Clause 15 and shall protect the same against distress, execution or seizure and shall indemnify the Owner against all losses, damage, costs, charges and expenses arising as a direct result of any failure to observe and perform this condition except in the event of Government requisition.

(b)       If the Hirer make default in punctual payment of any sums due to the Owner for hire of plant or other charges or shall fail to observe and perform the terms and conditions of this Contract, or if the Hirer shall suffer any distress or execution to be levied against him or make or propose to make any arrangement with his creditors, or becomes insolvent within the meaning of Section 113 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 or any amendment or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force; or shall do or cause to be done or permit or suffer any act or thing whereby the Owner’s rights in the plant may be prejudiced or put into jeopardy, this Contract may forthwith be determined by notice from the Owner to the Hirer (notwithstanding that the Owner may have waived some previous default or matter of the same or like nature).  The Contract shall thereupon be deemed determined by reason of the Hirer’s breach and it shall be lawful for the Owner to retake possession of the said plant and for that purpose enter into or upon any premises where the same may be and the determination of the hiring under this Condition shall not affect the right of the Owner to recover from the Hirer any monies due to the Owner under the Contract or any of the Owner’s rights and remedies.  In particular, without limitation, the Owner shall be entitled to claim the hire charges outstanding as at the date of determination of the hire under this clause, return transport charges under Clause 27, and damages for the Hirer’s actual or deemed breach of the Contract under this Clause.

 

34.     CHANGES IN NORMAL WORKING WEEK

The foregoing provisions have been framed upon the basis of the Hirer working:

(a)       where an operator is provided by the Owner, a 5-day week of 40 hours;

(b)       where an operator is not provided by the Owner, a 7-day week of 84 hours.

It is hereby agreed that in the event of:

(a)       there being any change in the normal weekly hours of the industry in which the Hirer is engaged, or;


(b)        

(c)     the Contract being made with reference to a 5-day week being worked by the Hirer (either of 40 hours or of such number of hours as may constitute the normal working week in the said industry) Clauses 1(d) and (f), 18(a), (b) and (d) and (in regard to breakdown allowance) 20 shall be deemed to be modified conformably and in the event of an alteration in the normal weekly working hours in the said industry the ‘Hire Rates and Terms’ of plant hired for a minimum weekly period shall be varied pro rata.

 

35.     ANNUAL HIRE CONTRACT

(a)     where the Hirer has undertaken to agree with the Owners Annual Hire Contract all clauses contained within these terms and conditions set forth shall apply to all contracts undertaken between the Owner and the Hirer in the period as set out in the Annual Hire Contract Offer.

 

(b)     failure on the part of the Hirer to comply with the current Terms and Conditions of Hire as herein set out shall be deemed as default and the Owner may, by giving seven days’ notice to the Hirer, terminate any Contract unresolved at the time of notice.

 

36.     TRANSFERENCE OF CONTRACT

In the event of any item or items of plant comprised in this hire Contract being used by the Hirer on or in connection with a contract for the construction of works or buildings and of a forfeiture of such contract being made by the Employer thereunder the Owner shall request the return of said plant, unless within the hire period the Hirer may gainfully employ said item or items under another contract.  The Employer may not ask for nor be granted enforced transference of contract.

 

37.     DISPUTE RESOLUTION

(a)       if the original site is in England or Wales, the proper law of the Contract shall be English law.  If the original site is in Scotland, the contract shall in all respects shall be construed and operated as a Scottish contract and shall be interpreted in accordance with Scots law.  If the original site is in Northern Ireland, the proper law of the Contract shall be Northern Ireland law.

(b)        

(b)       the Scheme for Construction Contracts contained within the Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998, or any amendment or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force. Shall apply to the Contract.  The person (if any) specified in the Contract to act as adjudicator may be named in the Offer.  The specified nominating body to select adjudicators shall be the Construction Plant Hire Association acting by its President or Chief Executive for the time being.  In paragraph 21 of the Scheme “this paragraph” shall be deleted and “paragraph 20” substituted.

(c)       the Owner and the Hirer shall comply with forthwith with any decision of the adjudicator; and shall submit to summary judgement and enforcement (and/or, under Scots law, shall consent to a motion for summary decree and submit to enforcement) in respect of all such decisions; in each case, without any defence, set-off, counterclaim, abatement or deduction.  Where, under Scots law, the Owner, the Hirer, or the adjudicator wishes to register a decision of the adjudicator for execution in the Books of Council and Session, any other party shall, on being requested to do so, forthwith consent to such registration by subscribing the decision before a witness.