Quoting a structural steel detailing package takes more than a tonnage figure. Before a Tekla Structures model can become fabrication-ready drawings, the drawing office needs to understand the approved engineering information, steelwork complexity, connection responsibility, issue programme and precise handover outputs.
This checklist is for fabricators, EPCM teams, mining projects and industrial contractors preparing a Tekla steel detailing RFQ. It reflects the practical information WOM uses to define scope, reduce assumptions and price detailing effort. We provide drawing-office support from Pretoria for projects across South Africa and selected Southern African locations.
1. Define the steelwork and the project boundaries
Identify the workfront, drawing status and what is included. A 100-tonne package of repetitive platforms is not equivalent to 100 tonnes of complex interfaces, access stairs, irregular connections and numerous revisions.
- State the area, project reference and anticipated steel tonnage, where available.
- Describe frames, platforms, walkways, stairs, ladders, equipment supports, pipe racks, conveyor structures and platework separately.
- Identify new works, brownfield tie-ins, survey-critical steel and existing structures.
- List excluded packages and interfaces to other contractors.
- Record whether connection design and verification are supplied by the engineer or separately appointed.
2. Supply an approved and traceable design-information pack
The drawing office should know which revision is approved for detailing. Preliminary GAs, tender drawings and approved-for-construction information must not be treated as equivalent.
- Structural general arrangements, elevations, sections and connection details.
- Engineering notes, steel grades, bolting and welding requirements, surface-treatment specifications and design loads as applicable.
- Foundation and anchor-bolt information, equipment vendor drawings, civil interfaces and reference model coordinates.
- Available IFC, DWG, PDF or other agreed reference formats, plus survey/as-built information if brownfield conditions apply.
- Drawing register, numbering rules, revision codes, title blocks and client-approved detailing standards.
3. Specify the actual fabrication deliverables
A clear deliverables schedule prevents the common problem of a quotation covering model and drawings while the workshop expects separate machine files, material reports or erection packs.
| Deliverable | What the RFQ should confirm |
|---|---|
| 3D Tekla model | Scope boundaries, reference models, numbering requirements, shared-model handover and agreed exchange formats |
| General arrangements / erection drawings | Assembly locations, grid references, levels, orientation, connections and site installation information |
| Assembly drawings | Fabrication dimensions, parts, weld and bolt information, marks and project drawing standards |
| Single-part drawings | Cut lengths, holes, plate profiles, orientation and shop fabrication requirements |
| Material and bolt reports | BOM format, steel profiles, plate grades, mass conventions, bolt lists and procurement groupings |
| NC1 / DSTV and DXF files | Which member/plate types need machine files, manufacturer’s format requirements and responsibility for checking export suitability |
| PDF / DWG issue packs | Drawing register, revision status, file naming, approval stamps and packaging requirements |
Machine files are not interchangeable with checked design or fabrication drawings. NC1 and DXF outputs need agreement with the fabricator’s equipment, project standards and quality-control process.
4. Agree the checking, approval and release workflow
Specify who checks detailing, who approves engineering matters, who issues RFIs and who authorises revisions. A typical sequence is: review inputs → build coordinated model → issue checking drawings → resolve comments and RFIs → issue approved fabrication documents → export agreed reports and CNC files.
Set drawing priorities by fabrication sequence, not simply by model completion. Identify hold points, expected response times for RFIs, review cycles and who controls the current approved revision.
5. Provide realistic programme inputs
- Planned fabrication start, first steel dates and required drawing issue milestones.
- Priority assemblies, long-lead profiles or plates and workshop sequence.
- Known site access, survey and vendor-information dependencies.
- Expected drawing revision frequency and any acceleration assumptions.
- Whether site queries, as-built updates or construction support must be included.
6. Clarify engineering responsibility before the quote is issued
Structural steel detailing is not automatically structural design. The detailing team works from approved engineering inputs and raises discrepancies through an agreed RFI and review route. Structural design, connection design where not already provided, calculations and professional sign-off must be separately allocated to the appropriately appointed qualified engineer.
When WOM participates in a broader design-and-fabrication scope, the engineering responsibility and approval route are defined in the proposal rather than assumed.
7. Minimum RFQ information to send WOM
- Project name, location and your scope of work.
- Latest available structural GAs, drawing register and engineering specifications.
- Approximate tonnage, member/connection complexity and workfront breakdown.
- Client Tekla/drawing standards and examples of required issue outputs.
- Deliverables list: GAs, assemblies, single parts, BOMs, NC1, DXF, PDFs and/or DWGs.
- Programme, approval responsibilities and current design maturity.
- Key contacts for drawings, RFIs, fabrication and commercial queries.
Need a defined production package? Explore our structural steel and Tekla detailing services, review the Boiler House Expansion steelwork portfolio, or compare multidisciplinary deliverables in our SMPP scope checklist.
Ready for a quotation? Send WOM your steelwork scope and available drawings. We will review the information, clarify the detailing/engineering boundaries and identify what is required to price the work.