Capital Equipment Expenditure Codes

The three-digit account codes listed below are used to identify various categories of capital equipment at the time of purchase. Be sure to use these Property Account Codes whenever capital equipment is purchased.

  • 175 Non-Federally Funded Capital Equipment
  • 176 Non-Federally Funded Capital Computer Equipment
  • 178 Federally Funded Capital Equipment (excluding computer equipment)
  • 173 Federally Funded Capital Equipment (computer equipment only)
  • 179 Plant Fund Capital Equipment (including computer equipment)
  • 177F Non-Federally Funded Fabrication Parts
  • 17AF Federally Funded Fabrication Parts
  • 179F Plant Funded Fabrication Parts
  • 177 Non-Federally Funded Component Parts
  • 17A Federally Funded Component Parts
  • 179 Plant Fund Component Parts

If the Controller's Office finds that an account code has been inaccurately recorded on a capital equipment purchase, the account code will be changed to one that accurately describes the item, and the department will be notified of the change.

The Controller's Office defines capital equipment as any movable asset or item which has a value of $3,000 or more, a useful life of one year or more, and which is not permanently affixed to a building.

Use the following Property Account Codes to identify individual pieces of Rensselaer's capital equipment:

  • 175 – Non-Federally Funded Capital Equipment, excluding computer equipment: Capital equipment purchased with other than federal funds; that is, with funds not beginning with A1, A3, B1, B3 or 9. Examples include office workstations, copiers, audio visual equipment, scientific apparatuses, etc.
  • 176 – Non-Federally Funded Capital Equipment, computer equipment only: Capital computer equipment purchased with other than federal funds; that is, funds not beginning with A1, A3, B1, B3, or 9. Appropriate examples of equipment in this category include computers, servers, etc.
  • 178 – Federally-Funded Capital Equipment, excluding computer equipment: Capital equipment purchased with federal funds, most of which begin with codes A1, A3, B1, or B3. Equipment examples include office workstations, copiers, audio visual equipment, scientific apparatuses, etc.
  • 173 – Federally-Funded Capital Equipment, computer equipment only: Capital computer equipment purchased with federal funds, most of which begin with A1, A3, B1, or B3. Examples include computers, monitors, servers, etc.
  • 179Plant Fund Capital Equipment, including computer equipment: Capital equipment purchased with any plant funds, all of which begin with a 9. Examples of capital equipment using this code include office workstations, copiers, audio visual equipment, scientific apparatuses, computers, servers, etc.

The Controller's Office defines capital equipment as any movable asset or item which has a value of $3,000 or more, a useful life of one year or more, and which is not permanently affixed to a building.

A fabrication part is an item of capital equipment which is made up of multiple pieces.  Fabrication parts were purchased from one or more sources to form the single item, have a total value of $3,000 or more, and have a useful life of one year or more.

Use the following Property Account Codes to identify Rensselaer's fabrication parts:

  • 177F – Non-Federally-Funded Fabrication Parts: Capital equipment fabrication parts purchased with other than federal funds; that is, funds not beginning with A1, A3, B1, B3 or 9.
  • 17AF – Federally-Funded Fabrication Parts: Capital equipment fabrication parts purchased with federal funds, most of which begin with A1, A3, B1, or B3.
  • 179F – Plant-Funded Fabrication Parts: Capital equipment fabrication parts purchased with any plant funds, all of which begin with a 9.

The Controller's Office defines capital equipment as any movable asset or item which has a value of $3,000 or more, a useful life of one year or more, and which is not permanently affixed to a building.

 A Non-Federally funded component part is any item, having a value of $1,000 or greater, which adds to or enhances an existing piece of capital equipment.

A Federally funded component part is any item, having any dollar value which adds to or enhances an existing piece of capital equipment.

Use the following capital equipment account codes to identify component parts. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Regardless of which code you may need to use, examples of applicable component parts – in all cases – include hard drives, scientific parts, pumps, flow meters, power supply's, modules, sensors and steel parts which have been ordered to enhance an existing piece of capital equipment, or software which has a signed license and renewable maintenance associated with it. (However, off-the shelf-software is not included; see "Software" under Non-Capital Equipment Purchases for more information).

  • 177 – Non-Federally Funded Component Parts: Capital equipment component parts purchased with other than federal funds; that is, funds not beginning with A1, A3, B1, B3 or 9.
  • 17A – Federally-Funded Component Parts: Capital equipment component parts purchased with federal funds, most of which begin with A1, A3, B1, or B3.
  • 179Plant Fund Component Parts: Capital equipment component parts purchased with any plant funds, all of which begin with a 9.

The Controller's Office defines non-capital equipment as any movable asset or item which has a value of less than $3,000 (unless it is a fabrication or component part), and which is not permanently affixed to a building.

Use Property Account Code 006 to identify Rensselaer's non-capital equipment. Examples of this kind of equipment include any fax machines, tables, chairs, computers, computer monitors, or printers valued at less than $3,000. 

The Controller's Office defines software as any off-the-shelf software that does not have a signed license agreement or renewable maintenance is a component having a value of $1,000 or greater, which adds to or enhances an existing piece of capital equipment. Use Property Account Code 177 or 17A.

Use Property Account Code 007 for any non-capital applicable software.  Examples include Microsoft Office, Excel, anti-virus software, etc.

The Controller's Office defines computer supplies as any miscellaneous computer-related supplies such as cables, power strips, and so on.

Use Property Account Code 008 for these kinds of applicable supplies.

Back to top