If this is SQL Server 2005+ then use an inline TVF that contains a recursive CTE. Example Below.
USE tempdb;
CREATE TABLE dbo.EquipElement(
EquipmentID int not null primary key,
ContainedIn int null references EquipElement(EquipmentID),
Description varchar(20))    
INSERT INTO  dbo.EquipElement
SELECT 1, NULL, 'Breakfast' UNION ALL
SELECT 2, 1, 'Fry Up' UNION ALL
SELECT 3, 1, 'Coffee' UNION ALL
SELECT 4, 2, 'Eggs' UNION ALL
SELECT 5, 2, 'Bacon' UNION ALL
SELECT 6, 2, 'Sausages' UNION ALL
SELECT 7, 3, 'Milk' UNION ALL
SELECT 8, 3, 'Sugar'
GO
CREATE FUNCTION dbo.GetBOM
(  
  @EquipmentID int
)
RETURNS TABLE 
AS
RETURN 
(
  WITH cte AS
  (
    SELECT EquipmentID,ContainedIn,Description 
    FROM dbo.EquipElement
    WHERE EquipmentID = @EquipmentID
    UNION ALL
    SELECT e.EquipmentID,e.ContainedIn,e.Description 
    FROM dbo.EquipElement e
    JOIN cte c on e.ContainedIn = c.EquipmentID
  )
  SELECT EquipmentID,ContainedIn,Description
  FROM cte
)
GO
SELECT * FROM dbo.GetBOM(1)
SELECT * FROM dbo.GetBOM(3)