WORKSITE PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT
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MATT MCDONALD
Adobe Stock Image | By Vasilyev Dmitry - Edited by April Van Etten
Propane & Propane Benefits
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teve Dodson, service manager at Refuse Materials Inc., a contractor based in Ocilla, Ga., started the switch to propane about 10 years ago. It seems the concept has began to gain traction with more companies in the concrete industry, with a noticeable shift over the past five years. Propane is a highly portable energy source, allowing contractors to complete work without bringing in an alternative power source for electrical equipment. Propane’s grid independence is especially beneficial for jobsites that aren’t yet connected to utilities or are located off the grid entirely. It also eliminates restrictions and safety hazards brought on by electric cords. The ease of operation that comes with propane equipment is critical.
“Time is money in the construction world,” says Dodson. It’s a huge reason his crew of commercial flooring contractors prefers operating propane equipment. “Electric [can be] binding between the length of power cords to having to wait on an electrician to drop power into our work area,” he says. “Any time we have guys standing around waiting on someone else, it’s costing us a lot of money. Propane makes it easy for our team to get mobilized and start work immediately when they step onto a jobsite.” WORK INDOORS Using clean, low-emissions equipment is important for crews working on jobsites located in areas with strict emissions regulations or in residential areas
concerned with air quality. According to Brian Delehaut, vice president at MK Diamond Products, one reason customers find value in having propane engines in their fleet by providing a green soltuion. Deemed an approved clean alternative fuel by the Clean Air Act, propane produces significantly fewer emissions compared with other options, enabling it to be used indoors (with proper ventilation). Matt McDonald is the director of off-road business development for the Propane Education & Research Council.
Adapted from ForConstructionPros.com/ 21048980.
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10/12/21 2:48 PM
