Contractor City Blog

By the time of senior year in high school, most of us have heard the terms “architect” and “engineer”. If you work in the construction industry, had college friends who studied architecture or engineering, or paid for the construction of a building, you may have also learned that design (planning) is an essential part of the building process.

However, even if we know something about architects and engineers, most people tend to “see” only the act of building.

The two functions of design and construction are required to build all except the most simple buildings.

Most people can easily grasp the basic role that an architect plays, since the results of architecture tend to be visible. However, the role of a structural engineer is a mystery even to those who are aware that engineers are involved in the building process.

In general, engineers use the results of science and mathematics to design a wide range of physical elements and systems. There are numerous types of engineers, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, aerospace, civil and structural.

A “structure” is any physical element built (constructed) by humans. The universe of structures is the complete set of physical elements constructed by people; also described Continue reading ‘The difference between an architect and a structural engineer’ »

Construction equipment is much like any other equipment in one sense; if you take care of it, it performs better than if it is abused. However, construction equipment typically tends to be used harder than similar equipment would be used if not on a construction site.

Another generality which can be made regarding construction equipment is its size. When we think of construction, we think of the giant earth moving machines, the oversize cranes, the trucks which haul materials and supplies to and from the construction location.

Construction equipment tends to be specialized for one purpose only. Although dump trucks collect and transport dirt and rocks, there is a great deal of difference between hauling a huge load of boulders to be used as road bed base for a interstate highway and hauling a load of paving stones from the local Home Depot outlet to the patio behind one?s home.

Important features to consider when viewing the subject of construction equipment repairs are the cost, accessibility, speed and useful life of the equipment.

The cost of the repair can vary based on who is doing the repair. Some companies find it more cost effective to hire Continue reading ‘Construction Equipment Repairs’ »

Part 1926 of the Code of Federal Regulations is found in volume 8 of the 1999 edition. It’s part of title 29, which deals with labor issues and the Department of Labor. More specifically, Part 1926 deals with safety and health regulations for construction, and is enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

After first defining federal rules and procedures for such things as inspections and granting of variances, Part 1926 addresses numerous subjects of importance during construction or demolition. Topics covered include rules of construction, general safety and health provisions, safety training, first aid, fire prevention, proper lighting, sanitation, barricades, and protective equipment.

Part 1926 also includes sections dealing with safety in the building and repairing of ships, the use of construction machinery such as cranes, and specific practices to be followed when performing construction or demolition work underground or underwater.

Continue reading ‘Code for Federal Regulations about construction practices’ »