ROCKVILLE, Md. - The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) has announced the release of the 2008 edition of its Tool & Equipment Rental Guide in an online-only format. According to the MCAA, the move to online delivery gets the information to members more quickly while at the same time keeping costs low.

The Tool & Equipment Rental Guide is a comprehensive, current guide to cost recovery for commonly used tools and equipment. The 2008 edition has been revised and expanded, and includes tools and equipment of special interest to service contractors.

The rental rates in the guide are based on ownership and operating costs for contractor-owned equipment. These rates are derived from formulas and data developed by EquipmentWatch and from analytic methods used in the construction industry. Generally, these methods consider purchase price, depreciation, maintenance and overhaul costs, indirect equipment costs, and average annual use hours. Profit, project overhead, and general company overhead costs such as office facilities and supplies are not included in these rates.

A Regional Rate Adjustment Table is included in the appendix to help contractors adjust costs for their state’s economic conditions. Also included in the appendix are: a list of typical small tools that are charged to the cost of a job, a list of typical expendable items, and a chart to help contractors adjust for fuel rate increases that may occur after the publication of the guide.

The guide is available to members in the members-only area of MCAA’s Website (www.mcaa.org), and via MCAA’s new online store (www.mcaa.org/store). Non-members may purchase the guide for download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format at a cost of $150.

Publication date:07/16/2007