With the construction boom reaching over $300 billion by the early 1990s in the United States alone, this comprehensive and accessible guide is more important than ever for the budget-minded contractor. Presenting quick engineering know-how for the performance and satisfactory completion of construction using commonly recognized equipment, it deals with the physical concepts of the work, the surrounding conditions and equipment requirements, with an emphasis on controls governing the equipment's performance.
An immense treasure trove containing hundreds of equipment symptoms, arranged so as to allow swift identification and elimination of the causes. These rules of thumb are the result of preserving and structuring the immense knowledge of experienced engineers collected and compiled by the author - an experienced engineer himself - into an invaluable book that helps younger engineers find their way from symptoms to causes. This sourcebook is unrivalled in its depth and breadth of coverage, listing five important aspects for each piece of equipment: * area of application * sizing guidelines * capital cost including difficult-to-find installation factors * principles of good practice, and * good approaches to troubleshooting. Extensive cross-referencing takes into account that some items of equipment are used for many different purposes, and covers not only the most familiar types, but special care has been taken to also include less common ones. Consistent terminology and SI units are used throughout the book, while a detailed index quickly and reliably directs readers, thus aiding engineers in their everyday work at chemical plants: from keywords to solutions in a matter of minutes.
As the built environment ages, demolition has become a rapidly growing industry offering major employment opportunities. During the 1990s the number of contractors grew by nearly 60 percent and there are now over 800 US companies focused on demolition, as well as many more offering this service as part of their portfolio. It has also become an increasingly complex business, requiring a unique combination of project management skills, legal and contractual knowledge, and engineering skills from its practitioners. Created in partnership with the National Demolition Association, Demolition: Practices, Technology, and Management is written specifically with students of construction management and engineering in mind, although it will also be an invaluable reference resource for anyone involved in demolition projects. Since demolition has become such a central part of construction management, this audience includes practicing architects and engineers, general contractors, building and manufacturing facility owners, as well as government officials and regulators. Covered in the book is the full range of technical and management issues encountered by the demolition contractor and those who hire demolition contractors. These include modern demolition practices, the impact of different construction types, demolition regulations, estimating demolition work, demolition contracts, safety on the demolition project, typical demolition equipment, debris handling and recycling, use of explosives, demolition contractors' participation in disaster response, and demolition project management.
This manual shows you, in simple, easy -to-understand language, how to calculate the amount of dirt you'll have to move, the cost of owning and operating the machines you'll do it with, and finally, how to assign bid prices to each part of the job. Using clear, detailed illustrations and examples, the author makes it easy to follow and duplicate his system. The book ends with a complete sample estimate, from the take-off to completing the bid sheet.Included in this book: -- How to set up & use an organized & logical estimating system -- How to read plans & specs -- Why a site visit is mandatory -- How to assess accessibility & job difficulty -- How soil haracteristics can affect your estimate -- The best ways to evaluate subsurface conditions -- Figuring your overhead -- How to get the information you need from contour maps -- When you have to undercut -- Dealing with irregular regions and odd areas -- Factors for estimating swell and shrinkage -- Balancing the job: spoil & borrow -- Calculating machine owning & operating costs -- The two common methods of estimating earthwork quantities
The most useful, definitive resource available on every aspect of construction claims, including: how to present the claims how to calculate and prove the amount of damages sustained and how to prove liability It even covers the clauses that should be in every construction contract. You'll get comprehensive coverage of all the important issues -- delay claims, differing site conditions claims, claims for lost profit, international claims, and much more. Includes a variety of winning strategies, practice tips, and helpful checklists to minimize damages and maximize collectability.