Structural Steel Fabrication, Step by Step
How structural steel fabrication works, step by step: shop drawings, mill test reports, sawing, drilling, coping, welding, QC and shipping in a CNC shop.
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Steel guides from our shop
Steel Guides & Insights
Plain answers on fabrication, erection, joists, deck and the paperwork behind them, from an AISC-certified fabricator in Aurora, Illinois, since 1919.
Open Web Steel Joists: K, LH and Joist Girders
Open web steel joists for GCs: K, LH and DLH series, joist girders, who designs them, bearing seat depths and the OSHA 1926.757 bridging rules.
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The Steel Erection Sequence, From Anchor Bolts to Topping Out
Steel erection in order: what OSHA requires before steel arrives, setting columns, bolting up, plumbing, deck and topping out, and how GIW manages it.
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Steel Lintels for Masonry Openings: A GC’s Guide
Steel lintels for commercial masonry: loose angle lintels, back-to-back angles and shelf angles, bearing and deflection, and what a fabricator needs.
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Steel Roof Deck vs. Composite Floor Deck
Steel roof deck vs. composite floor deck and form deck: SDI profiles and depths, diaphragm fastening, construction loads and what the drawings must show.
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Structural Steel Mezzanines: What to Plan First
Planning a steel mezzanine floor? IBC Section 505 area limits, live load, column grid, the existing slab, stairs, guards, OSHA rules and the cost drivers.
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Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build for Structural Steel
Design-build vs design-bid-build for structural steel: when the fabricator joins, who designs connections, mill order timing and value engineering.
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How to Read a Mill Test Report for Structural Steel
How to read a mill test report for structural steel: heat number, ASTM grade, chemistry, yield and tensile results, and the red flags inspectors catch.
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AISC Certification: What It Means for Your Project
What AISC certification means for your project: how fabricators are audited, the current categories, IBC special inspection and how to verify a shop.
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Structural Steel Shop Drawings, From Detailing to CNC
Steel detailing and structural steel shop drawings explained: what is on them, how AISC 303 approval works, and how approved drawings become CNC data.
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