Detailers are indispensable part of structural detailing process!

Detailers are very important when it comes to generating drawings for representing the structural design of the building in question in papers. Detailers are technically trained and skilled technicians who have basic knowledge of general engineering principles, drafting, mathematics and logic and reasoning etc. Since manual drafting has now been replaced by computer aided-drafting, detailers must be proficient with high tech computer software used in digital drafting process. A thorough knowledge of AutoCAD is a must since it is the most widely used software in digital drafting process world over.

It is their proficiency in software handling that makes them integral part of structural detailing process. A detailer is a technically accomplished person who generates detailed structural drawings and plans for depicting the design of each structural parts or members such as columns, braces, handrails, truces, joists, and beams etc. Drawings generated by detailers are provided to fabricators, steel detailing companies, structural engineers and construction companies etc. Structural drawings are divided into two parts structural shop drawings and erection drawings and both types of drawings are created by detailers by using

clients’ rough specifications and descriptions. Shop drawings are generally of detailed nature when compared to erection drawings. Various kinds of concrete information is contained in shop drawings which includes size of the members, their dimensions, material specifications, along with the information pertaining to welding, bolting and painting etc.

Hence detailers have to be extra cautious in terms of including information in shop drawings since these drawings are forwarded to fabricators, wherein the information contained in shop drawings is used by them in the fabrication structural of components or members. Minor inconsistencies in shop drawings can lead to misuse of the efforts of detailers, money and time etc. Shop drawings do not contain any information regarding the erection of structural components. Similarly erection drawings prepared by detailers do not contain any information regarding the fabrication details. Since the erection process starts in the end, drawings created for this purpose only contain information that is necessary for erectors in the erection process. Erection drawings are created by detailers with an intention to provide guidelines for erectors so that they can properly erect the structure. Information such as the correct placement of structural members’ such as beams and columns etc is clearly provided in them.

On the basis of services executed by detailers it becomes clear that they are too important in detailing process.