Building and Construction Equipment

Building and construction equipment is used in a wide variety of construction projects. This product area includes backhoes, bulldozers, cement mixers, cranes, dumpers, earth-moving equipment, graders, loaders, pavers, rippers, spreaders, stripers and sweepers. Building and construction equipment also includes tools and machines such as air compressors, air hammers, jack hammers, chippers, elevators, generators, thumbs, and tower cranes. Off-road vehicles and heavy machinery differ in terms of power source and capabilities. Some products are powered by gasoline, diesel fuel, or natural gas. Others use hydraulic or pneumatic systems. Battery-powered building and construction equipment such as loaders and spreaders are also available.

Specifications and features for building and construction equipment differ by product type. For example, backhoes carry specifications for reach, transport height, digging depth, and bucket size. Bulldozers are specified in terms of horsepower, transmission type, engine size, and maximum operating weight. Product specifications for cement mixers include motor type, volts, revolutions per minute (rpm), overall dimensions, and wheel size. Load capacity, vertical lifting height, and horizontal span are important parameters to consider when selecting for tower cranes.

There are many different applications for building and construction equipment. Backhoes, bulldozers, front-end loaders and other earth-moving equipment are used to prepare, clear and excavate building sites. Mixing equipment uses a shaft, screw, and blades to mix construction materials such as adhesives, cement, coatings, and paint. Graders prepare roads, driveways, parking lots, and other asphalt surfaces for pavers and paving equipment such as rollers and sealing machines. Later, street sweepers are used to remove dirt and other debris. Building and construction equipment such as chainsaws and wood chippers are used to reduce and reprocess downed trees and brush.

Suppliers of building and construction equipment sell and lease off-road vehicles and heavy machinery that meet standards from organizations such as the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). In the United States, the Occupational, Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes regulations for the use of earth-moving equipment such as bulldozers, loaders, scrapers, and tractors. For example, OSHA rule 1926.602(a)(5) states that pneumatic-tire earth-moving equipment which exceeds 15 miles per hour (mph) meet the requirements of SAE J321a-1970 for fenders and tires.

• Depreciation and Tax Considerations for LECTRUS "Equipment Centers" vs. Site Constructed "Buildings" (.pdf)
  Current tax laws allow very favorable depreciation on all Lectrus, "Equipment Centers" (portable, modular metal enclosures). These products qualify for a 7-year depreciation period while conventional...
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• Danfoss Technology in the Fastest Diesel Car on Earth
  When UK construction equipment manufacturer JCB wanted to build a diesel engine to power the world's fastest diesel car, they turned to Danfoss components for critical pressure monitoring. The JCB...
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• Specifying Infrared Thermographic Services
  The commercial building industry employs generic formats for written specifications that form part of the contract tender documents. The Canadian National Master Construction Specification (NMS) is...
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