Here at All Star Access Hire & Scaffold, we're your local access hire specialists.
The job might look the same – working up high, moving materials, maintaining fixtures overhead – but where you’re doing it changes everything. Indoor work comes with its own set of challenges: tighter spaces, sensitive flooring, limited airflow, and other people working around you. That means the equipment you’d normally pick for an outdoor site isn’t always the right choice inside.
Here’s a quick rundown of the main types of access equipment that work indoors, and what each one is best suited to.
Scissor lifts might be one of the most common pieces of access equipment you’ll see indoors. They’ve got a stable, flat working platform and a relatively compact footprint, which makes them the best of the bunch for manoeuvrability and navigating around tight corners.
Electric scissor lifts are a no-brainer for most indoor jobs. They run on battery power, so there are zero emissions and zero fumes building up in the space around you. They’re also quieter than gas models, which matters more than people think when you’re working in an occupied building or somewhere with noise restrictions.
Best for: Warehouse maintenance, commercial fit-outs, and any indoor space where air quality and noise need to be managed.
Gas-powered scissor lifts are available, but there’s an important rule here: they can only be used in well-ventilated areas. Carbon monoxide and other exhaust emissions build up fast in enclosed spaces, which is a serious risk for anyone on site. If airflow can’t be confirmed, a gas machine isn’t the right call.
Best for: Large industrial sheds, loading bays, or partially open structures with confirmed cross-ventilation.
A Boom lift indoors gives you more reach and flexibility than scissor lifts, which is handy when you need to work around obstacles or access spots that aren’t directly overhead. They can absolutely be used indoors, but ceiling height, floor load capacity, and power source all need to be factored in.
Electric boom lifts are a great option for indoor spaces with adequate ceiling height and solid flooring. They have all the benefits of electric scissor lifts, but with extended horizontal reach for working around structural beams or accessing mezzanine areas. Again, there are no emissions, so they’re safe for enclosed environments.
Best for: Large indoor facilities like airports, stadiums, convention centres, or industrial plants where extended reach is needed.
A spider boom lift is a compact, lightweight machine designed to access tight or awkward spaces that standard boom lifts can’t reach. The outrigger legs spread wide for stability on uneven or sensitive surfaces. Just make sure to choose electric or hybrid models indoors, as gas-powered spider lifts will create the same emissions and ventilation issues as any other gas machine.
Best for: Tight indoor spaces, sensitive flooring, heritage buildings, and anywhere a standard boom lift is too heavy or too wide to manoeuvre.
Hybrid boom lifts are built to handle both indoor and outdoor environments. They run on electric power inside (zero emissions) and switch to diesel or gas for outdoor and rough-terrain work. A really useful option when your project moves between environments. Just make sure the machine is in electric mode before it comes inside.
Best for: Projects that shift between indoor and outdoor environments, like large construction or industrial maintenance contracts.
Still unsure what you need? It’s worth reading more about choosing between an electric and a hybrid boom lift.
For material handling, you can usually spot a forklift in warehousing and manufacturing. The indoor forklift type you go with will depend a lot on the space you’re working in.
We sound like a broken record, but once again, electric forklifts are the best bet for enclosed indoor environments. They have zero emissions, less noise, and are generally cleaner to run. Where air quality and hygiene standards are high, there’s really no other option.
Best for: Cold storage, food processing, and pharmaceutical facilities where emissions or contamination can’t be tolerated.
Gas forklifts handle indoor and outdoor work well, which makes them a popular choice on mixed sites. The catch is they can only be used indoors where there’s adequate ventilation, and adequate doesn’t just mean a big open space.
Best for: Large industrial sheds, loading bays, or partially open structures with confirmed cross-ventilation.
A manlift is one of the most compact access solutions available for indoor use. It’s a single-person platform designed for straightforward vertical access in confined spaces where larger machines simply won’t fit. They’re lightweight, easy to manoeuvre, and run on electric power, making them a practical choice for maintenance, installation, and inspection work at low to medium heights.
Best for: Narrow aisles, storerooms, retail spaces, and indoor environments where ceiling height is moderate and space is tight.
All Star Access Hire carries a full range of electric, hybrid, and gas-powered access equipment to suit indoor and outdoor sites across Melbourne, Geelong, and Adelaide. Not sure what’s right for your job? We offer free on-site assessments to help you figure out exactly what you need before anything gets booked. Get in touch with the team, and we’ll sort it out.