CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENTS
INTRODUCTION
• There has been a steady increase in land values in and around cities and towns due to never ending
urbanization. Within the metropolitan boundaries and in the outskirts of bigger cities, buildable land is
scarce and expensive. In some cases, cost of land component exceeded that of building component.
In this background, both owners and developers did not find it viable to plan low rise buildings. As a
measure to reduce the value of land component, developers preferred high rise buildings and tower
blocks in lieu of low-rise buildings. It was inevitable to use construction equipment in lieu of manual
labour to construct high rise buildings. It is in this background that utility of construction equipment is
brought to focus. Besides, use of construction equipment became unavoidable for execution of large and
complex projects with stringent schedules and critical performance standards. construction equipment is
used in several types of construction works like bridges, tunnels, power plants, dams, buildings, high
rise buildings and large building complexes, viz., factories, housing, and shopping complexes, etc.
NECESSITY TO MECHANIZE
• The size and complexity of projects is on the increase
• There is shortage of skilled and trained manpower
• Quality of work is improved with mechanization
• It is possible to achieve stringent schedules if construction equipment is used in lieu of manual operations
• It is economical if the quantity of work involved is more
• Effect of climate and topography is not significant when mechanization is adopted as compared to manual
labour
• In respect of revenue yielding projects, faster completion and commissioning of project will result in
economy
• Supervision and control is easy since managing men is limited to equipment operators only in lieu of several
skilled, semiskilled and unskilled labour.
OPTIONS TO PROCURE EQUIPMENT
• Purchase of new equipment
• Purchase of old (used) equipment
• Hiring of equipment
SELECTION OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
• Suitability for the job with specific reference to climate and other operating conditions.
• The equipment must be of suitable size. Larger size of equipment may be idle or handle part loads. Smaller size may
not work with matching attachments.
• Standardization and variety reduction will result in economy. Spare parts management will be simple. Mechanics
will get expertise in maintenance and repair works if same type of equipment is procured through familiarity of
process.
• Spare parts should be available easily.
• If equipment can serve more than one function, it is to be preferred.
• Technical considerations such as strength, rigidity, reliability, and maintainability are also important for selection of
equipment,
• Service after sales is the major criterion,
• Past performance, reputation of manufacturer, versatility, user friendliness of equipment are other factors for
consideration.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT & Special Equipment
Though there is no difference between these two but a equipment is common in use is called standard
equipment while other is called special equipment. A concrete mixer is standard equipment while pre-
stressing equipment may be considered as special equipment.
Standard equipment is designed to meet the wide demand of the equipment users and to sell in large
quantities at comparatively low prices. A standard machine is the result of years of experience and therefore
had considerable reliability in operation
Standardization of equipment is necessary for:
• Effective management of equipment
• Economical maintenance
• Easy procurement of spare parts
• Realization of high resale value.
CONCEPT OF TIME FOR EQUIPMENT USE
• Useful life
• Operating life
• Actual working life
PRODUCTIVITY OF EQUIPMENT
MAINTENANCE AND SPARE PARTS
▪ Repair maintenance
▪ Breakdown maintenance
▪ Preventive maintenance.
ECONOMIC LIFE OF EQUIPMENT
DUMP TRUCK 2.5 TO 3 LAKH KM
TRACTOR 1.5 LAKH KM
MOBILE CRANE 12,000 HOURS
DG SET 12,000 HOURS
CONCRETE VIBRATOR 5,000 HOURS
LIGHT MOTAR 1.0 LAKH KM
VEHICLE
300 HP DOZER 12,000 HOURS
TOWER CRANE 30,000 HOURS
DEPRECIATION
Depreciation means decline in value or becoming less in worth. Equipment depreciates during its economic life
due to the following factors.
▪ Wear and tear due to constant use
▪ Physical deterioration due to age and exposure to elements
▪ Obsolescence - loss of usefulness due to availability of more efficient type of product or
equipment
▪ Accidental deterioration due to wrong operation
▪ Neglect of maintenance
▪ Reduction in efficiency due to lapse of time
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND THEIR OPERATIONAL USE
Mechanical operation Construction equipment used
Earthmoving operations Digging & placement of earth excavation Bull dozer and scraper Power shovel
Carriage of earth Dump truck, tractor and trailor
Compaction of earth (for compacting fills, embankments and sub Earth compactors Road rollers Vibratory road rollers
grades)
Pile driving Sheet piles Pile driving equipment
(to create a barrier for earth or water) Structural piles (for structural
support)
Hauling equipment (Carriage of materials by road with mobile units) Dump trucks, wagons, tractor and trailors
Conveying equipment Belt conveyors, bucket conveyors Construction Equipment Used
(for movement of materials) Mechanical Operation
Hoisting equipment Stationary and mobile cranes Gantry cranes
(to lift loads against gravity)
Pneumatic equipment (for drills to excavate rock) Pneumatic equipment using compressed air
Pumping equipment (lowering water table and excavation by jetting) Pumps and well point system
Aggregate and concrete preparation Crushers, belt conveyors sizing screens, weigh batchers, mixers
Mini batching plants
Concrete mixers
Compaction of concrete Needle vibrator
manufacture concrete block at site of work To manufacture soil cement Block making machine
blocks at site of work (especially in selected housing projects
