Job 190 was a typical project and typically the client, Southern Steel, was getting off to a slow start. The structural drawings for the Library Building of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, were incomplete. “It wasn’t the design – it’s hardly ever the design – it’s the lack of information!”

Working off the Structural Engineer’s plans, within three weeks of commencement 4D had sent the client the Advance Bill of Materials – a comprehensive list of all the main steel components for the building, with lengths, grades and profiles stipulated – and this isometric drawing:

Caption: On completion - 1,580 tonnes of steel! (NB: will probably use over two pages)

Next came the Anchor Bolt Drawings, to be approved before any foundations could be poured. At this stage, 4D had a model but the connections had to be put in. Time to tackle the Shop Drawings and break out columns and beams into sequences. The Erection Drawings followed, on which all the assembly marks are located.

Kenny Rowell was 4D’s Project Coordinator. “We submit our drawings to the Structural Engineer for approval. Once we get them back, we implement his comments, if any, and proceed with the Anchor Bolt Drawings for fabrication issue, followed by the Shop & Erection Drawings. These include part drawings for all the secondary parts and the total quantity of bolts, washers etc. At both the fabrication and erection stages, we might field questions if our drawings cannot be easily interpreted or information is missing.”

All of this is driving down a timeline, the first critical date on which is the day steel must be on site. Working backwards, the Project Coordinator determines the start dates for each phase of the project according to their various lead-times.

Kenny Rowell: “There are three steel detailers plus a checker and a coordinator on a 4D project team. Basically we supply a drawing for every item of steel that is required for the structure and quantify everything needed for its erection. It’s intensive, fast and very satisfying, keeping everything on schedule and within budget.”

Dawn on the campus with erection well underway

Keeping track requires that communications are quite formalized. Every conversation, telephone call and email exchange with the client is documented and packaged into Records of Communication. The team also keeps a record of Requests for Information and Notices of Change, so that at the end of the day the quantifying of ROC’s, RFI’s and NOC’s provides a transparent measure of efficiency.

The conical roof with its light tower presented several challenges.

Stud welders prepare the north wall for cladding.

“When a project is completed on time and within budget,” says Kenny, “we feel a great sense of achievement. But when the erection is accomplished quickly and without hitches, we reckon we’ve done a perfect job. Does the client ever acknowledge this?
The best acknowledgement is when the client tells us he’s got another job and wants 4D to do it!”

4D would be interested in talking to people who have a structural drafting or CAD background and may be looking to change the direction of their career. Human Resources Manager Jacqui Hannington says, “Steel detailers are in demand all over the world. Take a look at our website www.steel-detailing.com to see what 4D has been up to. If you believe in excellence and want to work with a team totally committed to quality, we could get you up to speed on Tekla Structures, our steel detailing package, in no time!”