Pro Steel Solutions Ltd Steel detailing

Glossary

Advance Steel
Autodesk steel detailing software that runs on AutoCAD.
Assembly drawing
A drawing of one fabricated item (a beam with its plates and cleats) as it leaves the shop.
Assembly mark
The label painted or tagged on a fabricated item so the erector can place it.
Base plate
A thick plate welded to a column foot that sits on the foundation.
Bracing
Diagonal members that keep a frame stable against wind and sway.
BS EN 1090
The standard for fabricating and CE or UKCA marking structural steelwork.
Camber
A slight upward curve built into a beam to offset deflection.
CHS
Circular hollow section, a steel tube.
Cleat
An angle bolted to both members to form a simple connection.
DFT
Dry film thickness of paint, measured in microns.
DXF
Drawing exchange format, used for plate profiles on plasma and laser cutters.
End plate
A plate welded to a beam end and bolted to a column or another beam.
Execution class
EXC1 to EXC4 under BS EN 1090-2. It sets the fabrication and inspection standard.
Fillet weld
A triangular weld joining two surfaces at an angle. Leg length and throat size describe it.
Fin plate
A single plate welded to the supporting member that the beam web bolts to.
GA drawing
General arrangement: plans and elevations showing where every member sits on the grid.
Going and rise
The tread depth and step height of a stair.
Grade 8.8
The common structural bolt grade in the UK.
Haunch
A tapered piece added under a rafter at the eaves or apex of a portal frame.
Holding-down bolts
Bolts cast into the foundation that fix column base plates.
IFC
Industry Foundation Classes, the open BIM model format read by most design software.
Issue for approval
Drawings sent to the client and engineer for comment before fabrication.
Issue for construction
The approved revision released to the workshop and site.
LOD
Level of development. LOD 300 shows accurate geometry, LOD 400 is fabrication-ready.
Marking plan
An erection drawing showing each assembly mark in its position on site.
NC file
Numerical control file (DSTV .nc1) used by saws, drills and plasma machines.
Part mark
The unique label of a part. Identical parts always carry the same part mark.
PFC
Parallel flange channel, a C-shaped section.
Revision
A letter or P number showing which version of a drawing you hold.
RFI
Request for information: a formal question to the designer when drawings are unclear.
Running dimensions
Cumulative dimensions measured from one datum, each placed at the point it measures to.
SHS and RHS
Square and rectangular hollow sections.
Single-part drawing
A drawing of one plate or member before it is welded or bolted into an assembly.
Splice
A joint that connects two lengths of the same member.
Stiffener
A plate welded inside a section to stop local buckling or crushing.
Surface area
Painted area of steel per metre or per tonne, used to price coatings.
Tekla Structures
The 3D steel detailing software used to model and produce shop drawings.
Throat thickness
The effective depth of a fillet weld, about 0.7 times the leg length.
UB
Universal beam, an I-section used mainly as a beam.
UC
Universal column, a stockier H-section used mainly as a column.