How to improve structural steel shop drawings process

How to Improve Structural Steel Shop Drawings Process?

Structural steel system design involve people from various disciplines – right from architect, structural engineer to steel detailer, fabricator and erection team. Each participant hold different point of view regarding the use of shop drawings and share different liabilities in the whole process. The shop drawings review process usually involves examination of participants who perform various actions.

The Fabricator closely observes each action associated with steelwork in order to decide further proceedings with the shop drawings. The Architect or EOR may approve, ask for revision and resubmission or completely reject shop drawings after having them reviewed.

Major challenges while preparing precision shop drawings are:

• Incomplete contract documents
• Structural members are missing in plan or elevation
• Specific details pertaining to the project is not furnished
• Design drawings and Specifications are in disagreement
• Structural drawings are not matched with mechanical or architectural drawings
• Structural dimensions do not close in the drawings
• Sequencing or connection requirements are not defined
• Non-compliance with industry codes for production of drawings

Recommendations to enhance structural shop drawing process

• Complete contract documents are required
• Engineers and architects should be aware of specific regional and industry standards (such as AISC, CISC, BS codes, etc.) for buildings and bridges
• Specifications must be supplied with the bid drawings
• Bid drawings must be matched with the design drawings
• The EOR must comply and use the AISC Code whenever appropriate
• Complete details should be provided in the structural drawings
• The position and magnitude of uncommon loads should be supplied to joist provider
• Connections should be rendered flexible. Such as shear tabs vs. single angles, welded vs. bolted, etc

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