Structural Steelwork & Fabrication Drawings

From Structural Design to Fabrication Drawing

The structural engineer has established what is required. The next step is turning that information into drawings from which the steelwork can be fabricated.

Kentec can take the engineer's design information and develop it into detailed fabrication drawings showing the dimensions, components and connection details required for manufacture.

Depending on the project, our drawings can include:

• General arrangement drawings
• Individual steel member details
• Setting-out dimensions
• Levels and key dimensions
• Member references
• End plates and base plates
• Cleats
• Connection details
• Bolt and hole information
• Weld information
• Fabrication details

Drawings can initially be issued for review and approval by the relevant parties. We can then incorporate comments and agreed amendments before producing the final fabrication issue.

General Arrangement Drawings

Where required, Kentec can produce steelwork general arrangement drawings to establish how the individual structural steel components come together within the building.

GA drawings can show the overall arrangement, member positions, setting out, levels, references and other information necessary to understand the steelwork package as a whole.

These can be developed alongside the individual fabrication or shop drawings to create a clear and consistent drawing package.

Fabrication & Shop Drawings

Our fabrication drawings take the approved structural information to the level of detail needed by the steel fabricator.

Working in 2D AutoCAD, we can produce individual member and connection details incorporating the relevant dimensions, plates, cleats, holes, bolts and weld information.

Kentec does not undertake structural engineering design in-house. Where a connection requires structural design or verification, the engineering requirements must be established or confirmed by a structural engineer.

Once those requirements have been confirmed, we can translate them into the detailed connection and fabrication drawings required.

This provides a clear division of responsibility while allowing Kentec to take care of the detailed drawing work.

We Can Work With the Information You Have

Every project arrives in a slightly different form.

Sometimes we're provided with a comprehensive package of structural calculations, engineer's drawings and architectural information. On other projects, the starting information may be considerably simpler.

We regularly work from:

• Structural engineer's drawings
• Structural calculations
• Architectural drawings
• Existing AutoCAD files
• PDF drawings
• Site dimensions
• Hand sketches
• Fabricator's sketches
• Marked-up drawings
• Existing construction information

If the engineering requirements have been established, we can take that information and develop it into a professional set of fabrication drawings.

Where appropriate, Kentec can also visit site to obtain or verify dimensions for steelwork being incorporated into an existing building.

Structural Steelwork for Building Projects

A significant part of our steelwork experience relates to the structural components required for residential and smaller commercial construction projects.

Typical requirements might include:

• Structural beams
• Goalpost frames
• Steel columns
• Supporting steelwork
• Structural openings
• Connections between structural members
• Small structural steel assemblies

This work also complements Kentec's Planning and Building Regulations service.

Where structural steelwork is required as part of one of our architectural projects, we can coordinate the necessary structural engineering input and incorporate the resulting steelwork requirements into the project drawings.

For the client, builder or developer, this means Kentec can remain the central point of contact rather than leaving you to coordinate the different drawing requirements yourself.

Drawing Support for Steel Fabricators

Not every fabricator needs or wants a permanent in-house drawing office.

If you've received an enquiry or secured a job where the structural information has been provided but you need fabrication drawings produced, Kentec can provide the additional drawing resource.

You provide us with the available engineering, architectural and fabrication information and we'll establish what's required to produce the drawing package.

We can issue drawings for review, incorporate comments from the fabricator, engineer or client and produce the final drawings once the relevant details have been agreed.

Many of the fabricators and builders we work with have been returning to Kentec with new projects for more than 10 years.

Experienced Construction Draughtsmen Since 1972

Kentec has been producing technical drawings for the construction industry since 1972.

Our experience extends beyond structural steelwork into architectural, Building Regulations and M&E drawings. That wider understanding of buildings and construction is particularly useful when steelwork needs to integrate with an existing or proposed structure.

We understand that a fabrication drawing isn't produced simply to look correct on screen. It needs to communicate the necessary information clearly to the people manufacturing and installing the steelwork.

That's the practical approach we bring to every drawing.

2D AutoCAD Drawing Service

Our structural steelwork and fabrication drawings are produced in 2D AutoCAD.

Completed drawings can be supplied electronically in DWG and PDF formats, making it straightforward to distribute information between the fabricator, engineer, contractor and other members of the project team.

Kentec also has in-house large-format printing facilities where full-size hard-copy drawing sets are required.

Because much of the drawing process can be managed electronically, we can provide steelwork drawing services to customers throughout the UK.

Need Fabrication Drawings?

Whether you've received a structural engineer's design that needs developing into fabrication drawings or you have a small steelwork project that requires a professional drawing package, send us the information you have.

We'll review the available drawings, calculations or sketches, establish the scope of the drawing work and agree the cost with you before we begin.

Request a Steelwork Drawing Quotation →

Structural steelwork and fabrication drawing services for fabricators, builders and construction professionals throughout the UK.