In a steel structure project, most load-bearing parts, like columns, beams, trusses, bracings, base plates, connection plates and secondary members, go through several stages before they finally stand on site. The process begins with a concept and structural scheme, followed by structural design, then detailing and shop drawings. Only after this do fabrication, erection, and final construction take place.

Each stage depends on the accuracy of the one before it. A small oversight early on can quickly turn into a major site issue later. A missed hole detail, an unclear connection, or an incorrect member length may seem minor on drawings. But once steel is cut, drilled, and welded, making corrections means doing the work again. This often leads to delays, additional welding, or material wastage.

This is why, among all the stages, steel design and detailing are most important. They convert design intent into fabrication-ready information. Before drawings are issued as IFC, it’s important for contractors to verify that nothing essential is missing.

This blog shares a practical steel design and detailing checklist for contractors to help ensure steel reaches the site as intended.

Understanding IFC Drawings (Issued For Construction)

Before moving into the checklist, it’s important to understand what IFC means and why it matters. In a steel project, drawings go through a few approval steps, but only the final set, issued as IFC, should reach the contractor before fabrication and construction begin.

IFC stands for Issued For Construction. An IFC drawing confirms that the design and detailing are complete, reviewed, and approved for fabrication and site erection. These drawings represent the final intent of the structure and are meant to be executed as issued, not reviewed or revised further.

For steel structures, IFC drawings finalize all information needed for fabrication:

  • Final member sizes and steel grades
  • Approved connection details
  • Bolt and weld specifications
  • Splice locations, tolerances, and clearances

It is also important to distinguish IFC drawings from other common drawing stages:

  • IFR (Issued For Review): For review and comments
  • IFA (Issued For Approval): For client or consultant approval
  • IFC (Issued For Construction): Approved for fabrication and erection

Starting fabrication on IFR or IFA drawings is one of the most common causes of rework in steel projects. Fabrication should only begin after IFC drawings are issued.

Any change made after IFC release usually disrupts fabrication and creates avoidable site issues. That’s why, before a drawing is marked IFC, it must pass a clear steel design and detailing checklist, ensuring it is truly ready for fabrication and execution.

Design Verification Checklist

Before drawings are issued as IFC, the structural design must be final, clear, and well-coordinated. IFC status confirms approval, but it does not correct gaps in structural design.

The following checks help contractors confirm that the design is truly ready to move into detailing and ultimately, fabrication.

1. Design Basis and Code Compliance

Verify that the design is based on the correct:

  • Structural steel design standards and codes (IS 800, AISC, or project-specific codes)
  • Load combinations and design criteria (dead load, live load, wind, seismic, impact, serviceability limits, etc.)
  • Design assumptions agreed with structural consultant and client

Any mismatch here can affect member sizing, connections, and overall stability of the steel structure.

2. Structural System and Load Path

Confirm that the overall structural system (how the structure stands and resists loads) is clearly defined. This includes:

  • load path from secondary members to primary members and foundations
  • bracing system and lateral load resistance (like resistance to wind and seismic forces)
  • stability provisions for columns, frames, and trusses.

When the structural system or load path is unclear, it often leads to last-minute design changes during detailing.

3. Member Sizes and Steel Grades

Before detailing begins, ensure that:

  • All member sizes are finalized
  • Steel grades are clearly specified
  • No members are shown as to be decided (TBD) or temporary

Fabrication should never proceed based on assumed or incomplete member information.

4. Design vs Constructability

Check that the design is practical to fabricate and erect:

  • Splice locations are accessible
  • Member lengths suit transportation limits
  • Excessive site welding is avoided

A design that works on paper but not on site causes issues later.

Connection Design Checklist (Before Steel Detailing)

Once the overall structural design is verified, the next critical step is connection design. Connections translate design forces into real, buildable joints. If connections are unclear or left incomplete, detailing becomes difficult and fabrication risks increase.

The following checklist highlights the key aspects of connection design that should be verified before moving into steel detailing.

1. Connection Responsibility Clearly Defined

First, confirm who will design the steel connections:

  • Structural consultant,
  • Contractor’s engineering team, or
  • Fabricator’s team and approved by the consultant

If this responsibility is not clearly defined, gaps often occur. The design engineer may assume the contractor will hire a different team to design the connections, while the contractor may assume they are already included, leading to assumed details, revisions, and delays later in the project.

2. Design Forces Provided for All Connections

Ensure that design forces (axial, shear, bending, or torsional) are clearly specified for:

  • Beam-to-column connections
  • Bracing connections
  • Truss joints
  • Column splices and base plates

Connections should not be detailed based on assumptions unless explicitly approved.

3. Connection Type and Method Clearly Defined

Confirm that both the structural behavior and the method of each connection are clearly specified.

  • Connection behavior (how the joint works):
  • Shear (simple or pinned) connection
  • Moment-resisting connection
  • Axial-only connection (bracing)
  • Combined-force connection

Connection method (how the joint is made):

  • Bolted connection
  • Welded connection
  • Combination of bolting and welding

Connection behavior defines how forces are transferred, while the connection method affects detailing, fabrication, and erection. If either is unclear, detailers are forced to assume details, often leading to redesign and revisions later.

4. Bolt Design Verification

For bolted connections, ensure bolt information is complete and practical:

  • Confirm bolt grade and diameter
  • Check bolt quantity and arrangement
  • Confirm hole type (standard, oversized, slotted)
  • Check edge distances and pitches comply with code
  • Identify slip-critical vs bearing connections

Incorrect bolt specifications are a common cause of site rework.

5. Weld Design Verification

If your structure includes welded joints or connections, verify that all weld-related information is clearly defined:

  • Confirm weld type (fillet, groove, full penetration, partial penetration)
  • Specify weld size and weld length
  • Identify continuous vs intermittent welds
  • Clearly differentiate shop welds and site welds
  • Avoid leaving weld sizing to detailers or fabricators without design input.

6. Plate and Gusset Design Checks

Confirm that all plates are properly designed:

  • Check plate thickness and dimensions
  • Ensure plate sizes are adequate for force transfer
  • Confirm gusset plates allow erection clearance
  • Avoid congestion at joints due to overlapping plates

Plate detailing directly affects fabrication ease and erection speed.

7. Constructability and Access Checks

Connections should not only be structurally correct, but also practical to fabricate and erect:

  • Ensure bolt tightening access is available
  • Confirm weld access is feasible without excessive site work
  • Check splice locations suit the erection sequence
  • Minimize unnecessary site welding wherever possible

Connection design links structural design to steel detailing. If connections are unclear or revised late, detailing becomes inaccurate and fabrication issues follow.

That’s why connections must be finalized before drawings move to IFC.

Even a structurally correct connection can cause delays if it is hard to fabricate or erect.

Steel Detailing Checklist (Before Shop Drawings Are Issued)

Once the design and connection details are finalized, the project moves into steel detailing. This is the stage that actually converts design intent into fabrication-ready information - the information fabricators rely on to cut, drill, weld, assemble, and dispatch steel to site.

Even with a perfect design, unclear or incomplete detailing can confuse the shop and lead to fabrication or site issues. That’s why steel detailing must be accurate, well coordinated, and aligned with how the steel will actually be fabricated.

The following checks help verify that detailing is truly fabrication-ready:

1. General Drawing Consistency

Confirm that all basic drawing information is clear, consistent, and easy to follow:

  • Grid lines, levels, and reference axes match across all drawings
  • Member orientation is clearly shown and does not change from drawing to drawing
  • Section sizes and designations match the approved design
  • Drawing scales, notes, and legends are consistent and unambiguous

If these basics are inconsistent, the same errors tend to repeat across multiple drawings, creating confusion during fabrication and erection.

2. Member Lengths and End Details

Ensure each steel member is fully defined for fabrication:

  • Correct cut lengths are clearly specified
  • Member ends are clearly detailed, including coping, notching, bevels, or cutbacks needed to fit into connections
  • Camber requirements are specified where applicable
  • Member lengths are suitable for transportation and handling

Incorrect or unclear cut lengths are among the most expensive detailing mistakes.

3. Hole, Slot and Tolerance Detailing

Verify all hole-related information carefully:

  • Hole diameters match specified bolt sizes
  • Slot types and orientations are clearly indicated
  • Edge distances and pitches comply with design codes
  • Fabrication and erection tolerances are clearly defined

4. Plate, Stiffener and Gusset Detailing

Confirm all connection plates are properly detailed:

  • Plate thickness and dimensions are finalized
  • Gusset plates are sized for both design forces and erection clearance
  • Stiffeners are positioned correctly and fully defined
  • There are no clashes between plates, bolts, welds, and members

5. Weld Detailing and Fabrication Clarity

Ensure weld information is complete and unambiguous:

  • Weld type, size, and length are clearly specified
  • Continuous and intermittent welds are clearly differentiated
  • Shop welds and site welds are clearly identified
  • Weld symbols are correct and easy to read

6. Part Marking and Assembly Logic

Detailing should support an efficient shop workflow:

  • Assign unique part marks to all members and plates
  • Clearly define and reference assembly drawings
  • Avoid duplicate or conflicting part marks across drawings

It’s important to remember that fabricators build the structure part by part and assembly by assembly, not from design intent alone.

7. Material Grades and Surface Treatment

Always verify material-related information before issuing drawings:

  • Clearly specify steel grades for all members and plates
  • Clearly mention painting, galvanizing, or coating requirements
  • Provide hole size allowances where galvanizing is required
  • Missing material information delays procurement and fabrication.

8. Bill of Materials (BOM) Verification

Ensure the Bill of Materials (BOM) fully supports fabrication:

  • Quantities match the detailed drawings
  • Member weights and lengths are verified
  • No items are missing or duplicated
  • Material grades and coating requirements are correctly reflected

Fabrication planning starts with the BOM, not the drawings.

Shop Drawing Review Checklist (Before Approval and IFC Release)

Shop drawings are the formal drawings issued from completed steel detailing. They communicate fabrication and erection information and are reviewed and approved before being released as IFC.

At this stage, the goal is not to redesign steel but to check that the detailed information is clear, coordinated, and safe to approve.

1. Drawing Status and Revision Control

Before reviewing any technical content, verify that:

  • Drawing status is clearly marked (IFR / IFA / IFC)
  • Revision number matches the latest issue
  • Superseded or outdated drawings are withdrawn
  • Changes are clearly marked, with revision clouds and notes explaining what was updated

Poor revision control is a common cause of fabrication based on outdated drawings.

2. Closure of Review and Approval Comments

Ensure that:

  • All comments from previous review cycles are fully addressed
  • No open or partially closed comments remain
  • Comment responses match the revised drawings

Changes made are consistent across all affected drawings

3. Consistency Across Drawing Sets

Check coordination between:

  • Member drawings and assembly drawings
  • Connection details referenced across sheets
  • General arrangement drawings and shop drawings
  • Drawings and Bill of Materials (BOM)

Approved drawings must function as a single, coordinated set.

4. Clarity and Readability of Drawings

Verify that the drawings are easy to interpret on the shop floor:

  • Dimensions are clear
  • Notes are legible and complete
  • Views and sections are correctly referenced
  • All dimensions and notes are consistent

A drawing that is technically correct but hard to read increases fabrication risk.

5. Alignment With Approved Design Intent

Confirm that shop drawings:

  • Reflect the approved structural design and connection philosophy
  • Do not introduce unapproved changes or assumptions
  • Match the latest design revisions and specifications

6. Approval Readiness

Before approval, ensure that:

  • Drawings include all required sheets
  • No “for reference only” or provisional notes remain
  • Fabrication and erection information is complete
  • There is no dependency on future clarifications

Shop drawing review is the last technical check before fabrication starts. Once drawings are issued as IFC, changes become expensive and disruptive. A good review ensures the detailing is clear and fabrication can move forward with confidence.

While this checklist covers steel design and detailing, we're adding a few fabrication and erection checks to make sure your detailing works both in the shop and on site.

Fabrication Readiness Checklist (Before Cutting Steel)

Fabrication readiness is the final go/no-go check before steel enters the shop floor. Even with approved shop drawings, fabrication should begin only when drawings, materials and steel quality control checklist are fully aligned.

The goal is simple: enable uninterrupted fabrication without assumptions or rework.

Before fabrication starts, verify that:

  • All required shop drawings are approved and issued as IFC
  • Latest revisions are available to the fabrication team
  • Superseded drawings are removed from the shop floor
  • Fabrication is not planned on provisional or partial information

Confirm material and consumable readiness:

  • Steel sections and plates are available and match approved grades
  • Mill test certificates (MTCs) and traceability are in place
  • Correct bolts, fasteners, and welding consumables are available

Ensure shop execution is ready:

  • Approved WPS and valid welder qualifications are available
  • Fabrication sequence and assembly priorities are defined
  • QC inspection stages and hold points are agreed
  • Coating or galvanizing requirements are clearly understood

Erection Readiness Checklist (Before Steel Reaches Site)

Steel erection is where design, detailing, and fabrication decisions are proven on site. Even correctly fabricated steel can face issues if erection planning and site readiness are overlooked.

This stage focuses on safe, accurate, and efficient assembly, not redesign.

Before erection begins, verify that:

  • Erection drawings and sequences are approved
  • Temporary bracing and stability requirements are defined
  • No execution decisions are left to site assumptions

Ensure site interfaces are ready:

  • Foundations, anchor bolts, and levels are verified
  • Base plates and tolerances align with site conditions
  • Civil–steel interfaces are coordinated

Confirm erection execution readiness:

  • Steel is delivered in erection sequence and clearly identified
  • Lifting plans, crane capacity, and rigging methods are approved
  • Bolts, site welding equipment, and consumables are available
  • Alignment checks, tolerances, and stability controls are planned

Steel erection is the point of no return. Errors discovered at this stage are costly and disruptive.

Common Steel Design and Detailing Mistakes to Avoid

Many issues that appear during fabrication and erection are not caused by poor workmanship but by missed or rushed checks earlier in the design and detailing process. These problems usually surface when drawings move forward without fully following a structured review.

As you work through the checklist above, keep the following common mistakes in mind. They are frequently seen on steel projects and typically occur when checklist steps are skipped, assumed, or applied too late:

  • Releasing drawings as IFC while review comments are still open
  • Assuming “standard” connections without confirming design forces
  • Starting fabrication on partial or provisional shop drawings
  • Overlooking tolerances, erection clearances, and fit-up allowances
  • Allowing detailing assumptions without design approval
  • Rushing shop drawing approvals to meet schedule pressure
  • Ignoring fabrication or site feedback during detailing

In practice, these issues are largely avoidable when the pre-construction checklist is applied fully and at the right time.

A Practical Approach to Steel Design and Detailing

A successful steel project is not built on individual checks alone. It’s built on doing the right checks at the right stage. From design verification and connection engineering to detailing and shop drawing release, a structured checklist ensures one thing: what is approved on paper is actually buildable in fabrication and on site.

In real projects, contractors work under tight schedules and frequent handovers. Coordination gaps are common and they rarely show up early. They show up later, when shop drawings are being pushed for approval, fabrication has already started, or steel is ready to go to site.

This is where experienced structural engineering support makes a direct difference.

At Sedin Engineering, we support contractors and fabricators by delivering complete steel design and detailing packages, including:

  • Structural design intent verification
  • Steel connection design and review
  • Fabrication-ready steel detailing
  • Shop drawing review before IFC release
  • Fabrication and site readiness checks

Our role is simple: deliver steel designs and drawings that teams can fabricate and install without repeated revisions.

Need structural design and detailing support? Send us your project drawings and requirements to get a detailed proposal. We’ll review your inputs and confirm the scope, timelines and deliverables for fabrication-ready deliverables.