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Shop drawings provide fabricators with the information and details necessary to manufacture, fabricate, assemble, and install all the structure components. This includes materials, dimensions, weld types, connections required, and explanations for assembly instructions, installation, and erection. Shop drawings are highly detailed often including information about materials finishes, welding details, etc.
On the other hand, fabrication drawings are a subset of shop drawings, emphasizing the detailed specifications necessary for manufacturing or construction. While all fabrication drawings are shop drawings, not all shop drawings are fabrication drawings. The key distinction lies in the level of detail and specificity required for the fabrication process.
Fabrication drawings provide the most essential details, such as symbols, bolt sizes, and exact measurements required for cutting materials. These drawings are crucial for manufacturers, guiding them through the intricate process of turning raw materials into the finished product. In addition, fabrication drawings present the most accurate instructions that ensure every component meets the design specifications.
In general, engineers, steel detailers, steel modelers, and fabricators are responsible for creating shop drawings. They generally include the following information:
- Information required for fabrication, such as dimensions and special instructions including connection details
- Applicable fabrication standards
- Installation and erection information
- Dimensions that require on-site verification
- Comparisons to the construction documents to enable approval by the architect or engineer
- Notes on changes from the construction documents to receive approval by the architect or engineer.
Precise, accurate structural steel fabrication drawings are essential and can help:
- Ensure clear communication between the architect, designer, the client, and the fabricator.
- Ensure that the fabrication process flows seamlessly, as there is no need to halt fabrication to confirm missing details or dimensions. In this way, shop drawings help to expedite the timeline of construction.
- Provide the fabricator with sufficient detail to ensure that steel elements are structurally sound and adhere to all necessary safety, quality, and project standards.
- Reduce, or even eliminate, fabrication rework by resolving issues and clashes early on. As such, unnecessary expenditure on additional labor and materials are avoided.