Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in heavy and civil engineering construction projects (excluding highway, street, bridge, and distribution line construction). The work performed may include new work, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repairs. Specialty trade contractors are included in this industry if they are engaged in activities primarily related to heavy and civil engineering construction projects (excluding highway, street, bridge, distribution line, oil and gas structure, and utilities building and structure construction). Construction projects involving water resources (e.g., dredging and land drainage), development of marine facilities, and projects involving open space improvement (e.g., parks and trails) are included in this industry. Illustrative Examples: Channel construction Land drainage contractors Dam construction Marine construction Dock construction Microtunneling contractors Dredging (e.g., canal, channel, ditch, waterway) Nuclear waste disposal site construction Earth retention system construction Flood control project construction Park ground and recreational open space improvement construction Railroad construction Golf course construction Subway construction Horizontal drilling (e.g., cable, pipeline, sewer installation) Trenching, underwater Hydroelectric generating station construction Tunnel construction
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Construction 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Construction sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects (e.g., highways and utility systems). Establishments primarily engaged in the preparation of sites for new construction and establishments primarily engaged in subdividing land for sale as building sites also are included in this sector. Construction work done may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Activities of these establishments generally are managed at a fixed place of business, but they usually perform construction activities at multiple project sites. Production responsibilities for establishments in this sector are usually specified in (1) contracts with the owners of construction projects (prime contracts) or (2) contracts with other construction establishments (subcontracts). Establishments primarily engaged in contracts that include responsibility for all aspects of individual construction projects are commonly known as general contractors, but also may be known as design-builders, construction managers, turnkey contractors, or (in cases where two or more establishments jointly secure a general contract) joint-venture contractors. Construction managers that provide oversight and scheduling only (i.e., agency) as well as construction managers that are responsible for the entire project (i.e., at risk) are included as general contractor type establishments. Establishments of the "general contractor type" frequently arrange construction of separate parts of their projects through subcontracts with other construction establishments. Establishments primarily engaged in activities to produce a specific component (e.g., masonry, painting, and electrical work) of a construction project are commonly known as specialty trade contractors. Activities of specialty trade contractors are usually subcontracted from other construction establishments, but especially in remodeling and repair construction, the work may be done directly for the owner of the property. Establishments primarily engaged in activities to construct buildings to be sold on sites that they own are known as for-sale builders, but also may be known as speculative builders or merchant builders. For-sale builders produce buildings in a manner similar to general contractors, but their production processes also include site acquisition and securing of financial backing. For-sale builders are most often associated with the construction of residential buildings. Like general contractors, they may subcontract all or part of the actual construction work on their buildings. There are substantial differences in the types of equipment, work force skills, and other inputs required by establishments in this sector. To highlight these differences and variations in the underlying production functions, this sector is divided into three subsectors. Subsector 236, Construction of Buildings, comprises establishments of the general contractor type and for-sale builders involved in the construction of buildings. Subsector 237, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, comprises establishments involved in the construction of engineering projects. Subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors, comprises establishments engaged in specialty trade activities generally needed in the construction of all types of buildings. Force account construction is construction work performed by an enterprise primarily engaged in some business other than construction for its own account, using employees of the enterprise. This activity is not included in the construction sector unless the construction work performed is the primary activity of a separate establishment of the enterprise. The installation and the ongoing repair and maintenance of telecommunications and utility networks is excluded from construction when the establishments performing the work are not independent contractors. Although a growing proportion of this work is subcontracted to independent contractors in the Construction sector, the operating units of telecommunications and utility companies performing this work are included with the telecommunications or utility activities. |
| 237 | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 3-digit subsector | The Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector comprises establishments whose primary activity is the construction of entire engineering projects (e.g., highways and dams), and specialty trade contractors, whose primary activity is the production of a specific component for such projects. Specialty trade contractors in the Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector generally are performing activities that are specific to heavy and civil engineering construction projects and are not normally performed on buildings. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Specialty trade activities are classified in this subsector if the skills and equipment present are specific to heavy or civil engineering construction projects. For example, specialized equipment is needed to paint lines on highways. This equipment is not normally used in building applications so the activity is classified in this subsector. Traffic signal installation, while specific to highways, uses much of the same skills and equipment that are needed for electrical work in building projects and is therefore classified in Subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors. Construction projects involving water resources (e.g., dredging and land drainage) and projects involving open space improvement (e.g., parks and trails) are included in this subsector. Establishments whose primary activity is the subdivision of land into individual building lots usually perform various additional site-improvement activities (e.g., road building and utility line installation) and are included in this subsector. Establishments in this subsector are classified based on the types of structures that they construct. This classification reflects variations in the requirements of the underlying production processes. |
| 2379 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 4-digit industry group | The Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector comprises establishments whose primary activity is the construction of entire engineering projects (e.g., highways and dams), and specialty trade contractors, whose primary activity is the production of a specific component for such projects. Specialty trade contractors in the Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector generally are performing activities that are specific to heavy and civil engineering construction projects and are not normally performed on buildings. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Specialty trade activities are classified in this subsector if the skills and equipment present are specific to heavy or civil engineering construction projects. For example, specialized equipment is needed to paint lines on highways. This equipment is not normally used in building applications so the activity is classified in this subsector. Traffic signal installation, while specific to highways, uses much of the same skills and equipment that are needed for electrical work in building projects and is therefore classified in Subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors. Construction projects involving water resources (e.g., dredging and land drainage) and projects involving open space improvement (e.g., parks and trails) are included in this subsector. Establishments whose primary activity is the subdivision of land into individual building lots usually perform various additional site-improvement activities (e.g., road building and utility line installation) and are included in this subsector. Establishments in this subsector are classified based on the types of structures that they construct. This classification reflects variations in the requirements of the underlying production processes. |
| 23799 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 237990. |
| 237990 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in heavy and civil engineering construction projects (excluding highway, street, bridge, and distribution line construction). The work performed may include new work, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repairs. Specialty trade contractors are included in this industry if they are engaged in activities primarily related to heavy and civil engineering construction projects (excluding highway, street, bridge, distribution line, oil and gas structure, and utilities building and structure construction). Construction projects involving water resources (e.g., dredging and land drainage), development of marine facilities, and projects involving open space improvement (e.g., parks and trails) are included in this industry. Illustrative Examples: Channel construction Land drainage contractors Dam construction Marine construction Dock construction Microtunneling contractors Dredging (e.g., canal, channel, ditch, waterway) Nuclear waste disposal site construction Earth retention system construction Flood control project construction Park ground and recreational open space improvement construction Railroad construction Golf course construction Subway construction Horizontal drilling (e.g., cable, pipeline, sewer installation) Trenching, underwater Hydroelectric generating station construction Tunnel construction |
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Classification References
- 01Constructing water mains, sewers, and related structures--are classified in Industry 237110, Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction;
- 02Constructing oil and gas pipelines and related structures--are classified in Industry 237120, Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction;
- 03Constructing power and communication transmission lines and related structures--are classified in Industry 237130, Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction;
- 04Installing and maintaining electric power lines and towers performed by electric utility companies--are classified in Industry Group 2211, Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution;
- 05Installing and maintaining communication transmission lines and towers performed by telecommunications companies--are classified in Subsector 517, Telecommunications;
- 06Constructing highways, streets, and bridges--are classified in Industry 237310, Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction;
- 07Trenching (except underwater) or removing dams, dikes, and other heavy and civil engineering constructions--are classified in Industry 238910, Site Preparation Contractors; and
- 08Inspecting pipelines (i.e., visual)--are classified in Industry 541990, All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.
Index Items
Anchored earth retention contractors
Athletic field (except stadium) construction
Avalanche, rockslide, mudslide, or roadside protection construction
Breakwater construction
Bridle path construction
Bulkhead wall or embankment construction
Caisson (i.e., marine or pneumatic structures) construction
Canal construction
Channel construction
Cofferdam construction
Construction management, dam
Construction management, marine structure
Construction management, mass transit
Construction management, outdoor recreation facility
Construction management, tunnel
Cribbing (i.e., shore protection), construction
Dam construction
Dike and other flood control structure construction
Dock construction
Drainage canal and ditch construction
Drainage project construction
Dredging (e.g., canal, channel, ditch, waterway)
Drive-in movie facility construction
Earth retention system construction
Earth-filled dam construction
Electricity generating plant, hydroelectric, construction
Embankment construction
Farm drainage tile installation
Flood control project construction
Floodway canal and ditch construction
Gabion construction
Golf course construction
Harbor construction
Helical pier (i.e., marine or pneumatic structures) construction
Horizontal drilling (e.g., underground cable, pipeline, sewer installation)
Hydroelectric generating facility construction
Ice rink (except indoor) construction
Jetty construction
Land drainage contractors
Levee construction
Light rail system construction
Lock and waterway construction
Marine construction
Microtunneling contractors
Missile facility construction
Monorail construction
Nuclear waste disposal site construction
Outdoor recreation facility construction
Park and recreational open space improvement construction
Pier construction
Pile driving, marine
Pipe-jacking contractors
Playground construction
Port facility construction
Power plant, hydroelectric, construction
Railroad construction
Railway construction (e.g., interlocker, roadbed, signal, track)
Railway roadbed construction
Recreation area, open space, construction
Recreational vehicle park construction
Retaining walls, anchored (e.g., with piles, soil nails, tieback anchors), construction
Revetment construction
Riprap installation
Rock removal, underwater
Seawall, wave protection, construction
Sediment control system construction
Ski tow construction
Spillway, floodwater, construction
Sports field construction
Streetcar line construction
Subway construction
Tennis courts, outdoor, construction
Timber removal, underwater
Trail construction
Trenching, underwater
Tunnel construction
Wharf construction
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 237990.
National Association of Home Builders
Leading trade association providing resources and advocacy for home construction professionals.
Construction Industry Outlook and Trends
US Energy Information Administration page offering data and analysis on civil engineering and construction trends.
Engineering News-Record
Industry newsletter and directory covering major civil engineering projects and contractor news globally.
