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 (columns, beams, braces, trusses, stairs, handrails, joists, metal decking, etc.) used in the construction of buildings, bridges, industrial plants, and nonbuilding structures. A steel detailer's projects are usually commercial, industrial or municipal; residential projects are rarely large enough to require significant amounts of structural steel.

Steel detailers (usually simply called detailers within their field) work closely with architects, engineers, general contractors 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 general contractors and engineers.

There are several different types of steel detailers. Most steel detailers specialize in only one type of detailing.

Here is a basic listing of some of the different types of steel detailers.

• Structural Detailers
• Bridge Detailers
• Miscellaneous Detailers
  • Stair Detailers
  • Railing Detailers
  • Rebar Detailers
  • Joist Detailers
  • Deck Detailers
  • Grating Detailers

It might also be worth mentioning here that there are detailers who specialize in other materials other than steel…like fiberglass, wood, aluminum, etc.

The responsibilities of a steel detailer can vary widely from region to region as well as from one company to another. Typically, the steel detailer is responsible for producing accurate shop drawings from the contract documents. Contract documents usually include a set of architectural and structural design drawings, as well as project specifications. Contract documents also may include a set of addenda modifying both the drawings and the specifications. It is usually the role of the detailer to incorporate the changes into an ”As-Built” set of contract drawings. When, as is often the case, the contract drawings are either lacking information necessary to the completion of the shop drawings or contain conflicting information, the detailer is usually responsible for issuing a request for information, most commonly referred to as an ”RFI”. Upon resolution of the ”RFI”, it is the detailer's responsibility to incorporate the necessary changes to the contract documents.

As a steel detailer, you must be able to decipher contract drawings and understand the architect and engineers intent. This, in my opinion, is the toughest part of a steel detailer's job. With the fast pace of projects these days, the contract drawings tend to lack pertinent information. Many times the structural drawings don't reflect what the architectural drawings show. It is up to you to figure it out. The majority of the time you cannot wait weeks for an RFI response.

Coordination with other trades is another responsibility of the steel detailer. For example, you would need to coordinate your plans with the joist detailers plans. Checking to make sure your plan reflects what their plans show and vice versa. And, if any information is incorrect, you need to take the initiative to create an RFI or pick up the phone.

Steel detailers frequently have no more than a high school education. If you have good math skills and can easily learn higher math concepts and possess logical thought processes you can easily be trained to be a steel detailer. Detailers cannot have too much training as they need to communicate with engineers, architects and other professionals as well as shop personnel who have practical skills but no technical training and may need complex principles explained in basic terms. I have heard steel detailers referred to a translators between fabricators and engineers and that is a valid analogy. As translators they must be fluent in both terminologies and be able to shift between the two seamlessly. Many professional engineers are also steel detailers. Many steel detailers could be mistaken for professional engineers.

Steel detailers should be familiar in all areas of steel construction. From fabrication to erection. When producing shop drawings or erection plans, there are many things you need to keep in mind. Ease of fabrication, cost efficiency, ease of erection and erection sequencing to name a few.

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Detailers are generally proficient in using Computer Aided Drafting or Design (CAD or CADD) technology and many possess associate degrees in its use and administration. Some may also be well versed in the design and development of associated computer programs (LISP) that allow modification of CAD software to meet their particular needs. 3D modeling software, such as SDS/2, SoftSteel, Tekla Structures and other detailing software are becoming more and more popular due to thier simplicity and accuracy.

They may use hand drafting tools on a limited basis when preparing drawings or doing preliminary design sketches. These include drafting T-squares, templates, colored pens & pencils and electric erasers.

In addition, understanding and utilizing reference guides such as the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Manual of Steel Construction are an absolute necessity when detailing steel structures and their host of connection possibilities. In addition to the Manual of Steel Construction, AISC publishes Design Guides on various aspects of steel construction that give detailed information on many subjects. Their website http://www.aisc.org/ contains a wealth of information for detailers.

In the construction industry, there is a “Chain of Command” that must be adhered to. Basically, you only communicate with the individuals that hired you. As easy as it may be to pick up the phone and call the engineer or architect, this will lead to problems. Someone in the “Chain of Command” may be left out of the loop, a proper paper trail will not exist and can cause someone to not get paid or proper coordination between trades will not happen. Sometime, on a rare occassion, this rule must be broken. Do not make a habit of it.

You may some time in your career pick up a project that was taken away from another contractor. If so, never ever use another steel detailers drawings to produce your own drawings. There are three reasons for this. One, it is ethically wrong. Two, you do not want to be responsible for someone elses mistakes if their drawings are incorrect. Three, you are opening yourself up for a lawsuit. Just don't do it.

Wikipedia

American Institute of Steel Construction