STEEL DETAILING IS A SPECIALIST AREA OF STRUCTURAL DRAFTING
A Steel Detailer interprets architectural and structural engineering drawings to gain a thorough working knowledge the overall design intent of a building or structure. Using this translated information he then produces an altogether different set of clear, unequivocal and accurate drawings for the purpose of steelwork fabrication.
To highlight the difference between design and detailing;
Design is the creative process of taking an idea from conception and putting that concept to paper for the purpose of manufacture where Detailing is the first practical step of steel fabrication and as such is critical to the construction program.
Steel detailers (usually simply called detailers within their field) work closely with architects , engineers, builders and steel fabricators. They usually find employment with steel fabricators, engineering firms, or independent steel detailing companies. Steel detailing companies and self-employed detailers subcontract primarily to steel fabricators and sometimes to builders and design consultants.
The engineer should provide arrangements (plans, sections & elevations) that show all of the structural elements required. This is usually done in skeletal fashion (stick diagram) with steel members being represented by a single line. All of these elements must be given a member size, orientation and design of their respective end connections.
The architect’s drawings should flesh-out the engineer’s skeleton, by providing all necessary construction details, dimensions, levels and steelwork locations.
Please refer to the ACMA Design Document Completion Checklists for more information on this topic.
Used to guide the steel erector on the construction site as to where and how to erect the fabricated steel members. These drawings usually show dimensioned plans to locate the steel members, and they often also show details with specific information and requirements, including all work that must be done on site (such as bolting, welding or installing masonry anchors). Since the erection drawings are intended for use in the field, they contain very little specific information about the fabrication of any individual steel member; members should already be completed by the time the erection drawings are used.
Also called detail drawings, are used to specify the exact requirements for fabricating each individual member (or assembly) of a structure, and are used by the steel fabricator to fabricate these members. Complete shop drawings show material specifications, member sizes, all required dimensions, welding, bolting, surface preparation and painting requirements, and any other information required to describe each completed member. The shop drawings are intended for use by the fabrication shop, and thus contain little or no information about the erection and installation of the steel members they depict; this information belongs in the erection drawings.
The detailer must comply with the requirements of the design drawings and with all industry standards and protocols, such as those established by the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) and the Australian Institute of Steel Detailing (ACMA). The detailer is not usually responsible for design, including structural strength and integrity (which are the responsibility of the structural engineer), major dimensions of the structure and compliance with relevant building codes (which are the responsibility of the architect). A detailer is generally required to submit his drawings to the structural engineer and/or architect for approval prior to the release of drawings for fabrication. In the case of non-building projects there is typically no architect, and detail drawings are reviewed exclusively by the structural engineer. This design review ideally assures engineering accuracy and compliance with the design intent.