What is steel detailing

Steel detailing is the process of creating detailed drawings and documents that describe the fabrication and erection of steel structures.

"A steel detailer is a person who produces detailed drawings for steel fabricators and steel erectors. The detailer prepares detailed plans, drawings and other documents for the manufacture and erection of steel members used in the construction of buildings, bridges, industrial plans, and nonbuilding structures."-Wikipedia​.

The steel detailing process typically involves creating a detailed 3D model of the structure using specialized software such as Tekla Structures or Autodesk Advance Steel. This model is then used to generate a series of detailed fabrication and assembly drawings that provide instructions for the steel fabricator and erector.

Steel detailing involves the creation of detailed drawings for fabricators and contractors, and includes plans and estimates, as well as other reports and important tasks. The steel detailing process includes the creation of a variety of drawings and documents. The process involves two main types of drawings—shop drawings and erection drawings.

Shop Drawings

Fabrication drawings or shop drawings, contain detail of an individual steel piece or component (columns, beams, joists, trusses, braces etc.) that needs to be made by a steel fabricator. Such drawings include material specifications, component sizes and dimensions, surface specs, welding, bolting and painting details, and all other information provided to the fabrication of each component.

Erection Drawings

Erection drawings, or GA (General assembly) drawings, shows dimensioned plans and specify the location of each steel component within the overall structure. These drawings include detailed and specific information about the position of each component, the requirements for installing them, and all the associated field work.

Also read: Steel structure shapes and members

Steel detailing standards

The detailer is required to comply with the steel detailing standards of different countries, such as those specified by the:

• American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
• American Welding Society (AWS)

A steel detailer's projects are usually commercial, industrial or municipal; residential projects are rarely large enough to require structural steel.

Steel detailing is a critical part of the steel construction process, as it ensures that the steel components are fabricated and erected correctly, and that the finished structure is strong, safe, and meets all design requirements. 

The steel detailer works closely with the structural engineer, architect, and other members of the construction team to ensure that the steel detailing is accurate and meets all project specifications. 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 general contractors and engineers.

Conclusion 

The design, strength and integrity of steel structures are the responsibility of the structural engineer, while complying with the major dimensions and building codes are the responsibility of the architect. The detailer is responsible for getting the steel detailing drawings approved by the structural engineer and the architect prior to release for fabrication.