Other Building Equipment Contractors
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in installing or servicing building equipment (except electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, or ventilation equipment). The repair and maintenance of miscellaneous building equipment is included in this industry. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Illustrative Examples: Automated and revolving door installation Lightning protection equipment (e.g., lightning rod) installation Boiler and pipe insulation installation Machine rigging Commercial-type door installation Millwrights Conveyor system installation Revolving door installation Overhead door, commercial- or industrial-type, installation Dismantling large-scale machinery and equipment Elevator installation Satellite dish, household-type, installation Escalator installation Vacuum cleaning system, built-in, installation Gasoline pump, service station, installation
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. |
| 238 | Specialty Trade Contractors 3-digit subsector | The Specialty Trade Contractors subsector comprises establishments whose primary activity is performing specific activities (e.g., pouring concrete, site preparation, plumbing, painting, and electrical work) involved in building construction or other activities that are similar for all types of construction, but that are not responsible for the entire project. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. The production work performed by establishments in this subsector is usually subcontracted from establishments of the general contractor type or for-sale builders, but especially in remodeling and repair construction, work also may be done directly for the owner of the property. Specialty trade contractors usually perform most of their work at the construction site, although they may have shops where they perform prefabrication and other work. Establishments primarily engaged in preparing sites for new construction are also included in this subsector. There are substantial differences in types of equipment, work force skills, and other inputs required by specialty trade contractors. Establishments in this subsector are classified based on the underlying production function for the specialty trade in which they specialize. Throughout the Specialty Trade Contractors subsector, establishments commonly provide both the parts and labor required to complete work. For example, electrical contractors supply the current-carrying and noncurrent-carrying wiring devices that are required to install a circuit. Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors also supply the parts required to complete a contract. Establishments that specialize in activities primarily related to heavy and civil engineering construction that are not normally performed on buildings, such as the painting of lines on highways, are classified in Subsector 237, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction. Establishments that are primarily engaged in selling construction materials are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade, based on the characteristics of the selling unit. |
| 2382 | Building Equipment Contractors 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in installing or servicing equipment that forms part of a building mechanical system (e.g., electricity, water, heating, and cooling). The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Contractors installing specialized building equipment, such as elevators, escalators, service station equipment, and central vacuum cleaning systems, are also included. |
| 23829 | Other Building Equipment Contractors 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 238290. |
| 238290 | Other Building Equipment Contractors 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in installing or servicing building equipment (except electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, or ventilation equipment). The repair and maintenance of miscellaneous building equipment is included in this industry. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Illustrative Examples: Automated and revolving door installation Lightning protection equipment (e.g., lightning rod) installation Boiler and pipe insulation installation Machine rigging Commercial-type door installation Millwrights Conveyor system installation Revolving door installation Overhead door, commercial- or industrial-type, installation Dismantling large-scale machinery and equipment Elevator installation Satellite dish, household-type, installation Escalator installation Vacuum cleaning system, built-in, installation Gasoline pump, service station, installation |
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Classification References
- 01Manufacturing industrial equipment with incidental installation--are classified in Sector 31-33, Manufacturing;
- 02Repair and maintenance of commercial refrigeration equipment or production equipment--are classified in Industry 811310, Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance; and
- 03Installing prefabricated window and door units--are classified in Industry 238350, Finish Carpentry Contractors.
Index Items
Antenna, household-type, installation
ATMs (automated teller machines) installation
Automated and revolving door installation
Automatic gate (e.g., garage, parking lot) installation
Boiler and pipe insulation installation
Boiler covering installation
Bowling alley equipment installation
Church bell and tower clock installation
Commercial kitchen food preparation equipment (e.g., mixers, ovens, stoves) installation
Commercial-type door installation
Conveyor system installation
Deodorization (i.e., air filtration) system installation
Dismantling large-scale machinery and equipment
Door, commercial- or industrial-type, installation
Duct insulation installation
Dumbwaiter installation
Elevator installation
Escalator installation
Garage door, commercial- or industrial-type, installation
Gasoline pump, service station, installation
Hoisting and placement of large-scale apparatus
Incinerators, building equipment type, installation
Insulation, boiler, duct and pipe, installation
Lightning protection equipment (e.g., lightning rod) installation
Lightning rod and conductor installation
Machine rigging
Machinery and equipment, large-scale, installation
Material handling equipment installation
Mechanical equipment insulation
Millwrights
Motor vehicle garage and service station mechanical equipment (e.g., gasoline pumps, hoists) installation
Moving sidewalk installation
Overhead door, commercial- or industrial-type, installation
Pipe covering
Pipe, duct and boiler insulation
Pneumatic tube conveyor system installation
Power boiler, installation only
Power generating equipment (except home standby power generator) installation
Revolving door installation
Rigging large-scale equipment
Rubber door installation
Satellite dish, household-type, installation
Vacuum cleaning system, built-in, installation
Vault, safe and banking machine installation
Vehicle lift installation
Vending machine installation
Water pipe insulating
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External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 238290.
National Association of Home Builders - Commercial Construction Division
Provides resources and guidance for contractors working on commercial building projects through the NAB's commercial division.
U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics
Official government page defining the NAICS code 238290 and providing detailed statistical data on employment in this industry.
Homebuilding.com Directory
Industry directory listing specialized contractors that provide building equipment services such as HVAC and fire suppression installation.
