A MORE 'DETAILED' EXPLANATION, BY NISD

THE ROLE OF THE STEEL DETAILER:

STEEL DETAILING IS THE PRODUCTION OF SHOP FABRICATION DRAWINGS FROM STRUCTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN DOCUMENTS. THE STEEL DETAILER IS THE INTERPRETER OF THE ENGINEERING DESIGN, TRANSLATING THE DESIGNERS' INTENT INTO THE LANGUAGE OF THE STEEL FABRICATION INDUSTRY. THIS INTERPRETATION INVOLVES THE ANALYSIS, EVALUATON, ORGANIZATION AND COMMUNICATION OF THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN. EACH AND EVERY PART OF THE STEEL FABRICATOR'S SCOPE OF WORK IS DEFINED, FROM EVERY BOLT, WELD AND DIMENSION, TO THE ASSIGNMENT OF AN IDENTIFYING MARK FOR EACH COMPONENT TO FACILITATE ERECTION.

STEEL IS A DEMANDING MATERIAL TO WORK WITH. ITS WINNING QUALITIES SUCH AS DURABILITY, STRENGTH, AND ABILITY TO BE FABRICATED WITH PRECISION, ALSO RENDER IT AN UNREALISTIC AND UNFORGIVING MATERIAL TO BE WORKED ON-SITE. UNLIKE CONCRETE, LUMBER OR MASONRY, STEEL MUST BE FABRICATED OFF-SITE IN SPECIALLY DESIGNED FACILITIES FOR STEEL FABRICATION. THE STEEL DETAILER SUPPLES THE INFORMATION NEEDED BY THE FABRICATOR TO ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND SO HAS THE ROLE OF THE STEEL DETAILER. WITH INNOVATIVE CONTRACTING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, THE STEEL DETAILER HAS RISEN TO A "LEADING TRADE" STATUS. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN GENERAL RECOGNIZES THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THESE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

ALTHOUGH SOME STEEL FABRICATORS MAINTAIN AN IN-HOUSE DETAILING OFFICE, IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMMON FOR A FABRICATOR TO RELY ON THE SERVICES OF AN INDEPENDENT STEEL DETAILING FIRM. LIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS, THE INDEPENDENT STEEL DETAILING FIRM EXISTS TO MAKE A PROFIT WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING VALUABLE SERVICES TO THE STEEL INDUSTRY.

- FROM 'GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL STEEL CONSTRUCTION,' NISD