What is Steel Detailing?

Steel detailing is a process of creating detailed plans, drawings, and specifications for the fabrication and installation of steel structures. It helps steel fabricators and erector in ensuring steel structures are fabricated and assembled accurately.

The purpose of steel detailing is twofold

The purpose of steel detailing is twofold:

For Fabricators – Fabrication shops take help of detailed shops drawing guides in cutting, welding and assembling individual steel members such as beams, columns, braces and trusses.
For Erectors – Steel erectors use erection drawings that provide instructions on how and where to position steel components. It makes the assembly job easy on the site.

Role of a Steel Detailer

A steel detailer is a specialized professional in the construction and engineering industry. He interprets architectural and structural engineering designs and converts them into detailed shop drawings (for fabrication) and erection drawings (for on-site assembly). He understands the overall design intent of the project.

Structural Steel detailers play a crucial role in ensuring that every steel component is accurately designed, manufactured, and installed. Whether buildings, bridges, industrial plants, or stadiums—are constructed accurately and efficiently. Their work minimizes errors, enhances construction efficiency, and ensures that all structural components fit together perfectly.

Shop Drawings

These are detailed and precise diagrams created by steel detailers that help fabricators in manufacturing steel components with exact specifications. In the drawings, exact dimensions, welding details, hole placements, and other fabrication instructions are provided to minimize any error.

Since they are meant for field use, it provides minimal information about fabricating individual steel members, as those should already be completed before these drawings are used.

Erection Drawings

The steel erector uses these drawings as guides in how to erect steel members. The construction team at site takes the help of erection drawings in the assembling and installation of fabricated steel components. Since work will be done on the site, the drawing should include a detailed plan that shows the exact placement of steel members and often highlights specific requirements. It outlined the work, such as bolting, welding, or installing masonry anchors.

According to the specification of drawings, structural members are positioned, connected, and aligned accurately.

Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)

Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) is the use of software that is specifically designed for steel detailing. It helps in creating precise and detailed shop and erection drawings for steel structures.

Traditionally, drawings were drafted manually using pencils, drafting tools, and mathematical tables on the initial day of technology development. Over time, it was replaced by CAD, which significantly improved accuracy, efficiency, and speed in the detailing process.

Modern 3D modelling software like Tekla eliminates the use of manual date input in early CAD systems. It now allows steel detailers to build entire projects in a virtual 3D that ensures seamless coordination between architects, engineers, and fabricators. The entire project is produced in 3D before any shop and erection drawings are drawn from the model. It reduces human error while increasing the overall productivity.

Importance of Steel Detailing in Construction

Structural Steel detailing provides numerous benefits to the construction industry for the following reasons:

Accuracy and Precision – It helps in ensuring each steel component is fabricated and installed with high accuracy.

Cost Efficiency –Material wastage is reduced, which helps in keeping the overall cost of the project within budget.

Structural Integrity – It ensures the final structure adheres to safety standards so that it can withstand any kind of environmental and load stresses.

Seamless Collaboration – It acts as a link between architects, engineers, and builders, ensuring that every steel part fits perfectly in a structure. It ensures smooth workflow and coordination within the tea.

Choosing the RIGHT Steel Detailing Company

This is where companies like Simsona come in. The steel detailing company began providing steel detailing services in 1997. Since then, the company has grown from being a small operation to an organization with more than 450 engineers and detailers in Steel Detailing Department. The secret of our success is the winning combination of experienced project managers, well trained detailers and the latest software.