Also known as detail drawings, shop drawings are created for the benefit of the steel fabricator and contain the specifications relating to every steel component that needs to be fabricated, such as the steel beams, braces, joists, trusses and columns. Shop drawings typically include material and surface specs, component dimensions, as well as details relating to welding, painting and bolting.
These extremely detailed drawings are created for the benefit of those who will be erecting or installing the fabricated steel components. The details include the exact location of every steel component that will be part of the overall structure as well as instructions for how they should be installed. The quality and accuracy of erection drawings plays a huge role in ensuring that a project runs smoothly.
Software advancements have revolutionised steel detailing over the past few years, making it fast and easy to create accurate drawings in 3D. As a result, drafters and detailers now use 3D drawings for everything from shop drawings and erection plans through to full scale templates of intricate layouts. Not only does this make it easier to visualise components and understand their role in the overall structure, but it can make spotting potential problems easier as well. 3D isometric drawings can be particularly useful when dealing with complex connections, such as column/beam splices
