Shop drawings for structural steel are detailed fabrication documents produced between the design engineering phase and the physical fabrication of steel components. They are the fabricator's working instructions — and getting them right is critical to project success.
What Are Steel Shop Drawings?
Shop drawings are detailed drawings that show the fabricator exactly how to cut, drill, weld, and assemble every steel component in a structure. Unlike structural design drawings which show what the structure must do, shop drawings show how each piece is manufactured — with exact dimensions, hole patterns, weld symbols, material specifications, and surface treatment requirements.
What Do Steel Shop Drawings Include?
- Member details — exact dimensions, section sizes, and lengths of beams, columns, and bracing
- Connection details — bolt patterns, weld symbols, end plate dimensions, and base plate details
- Anchor bolt plans — layout and projection of anchor bolts for column base connections
- Assembly marks — piece marks identifying each component for field erection
- Material specifications — steel grade, finish requirements, and coating specifications
CSA S16 and CWB Standards
All structural steel in Canada must comply with CSA S16: Design of Steel Structures. For welded connections, the fabricator must hold CWB (Canadian Welding Bureau) certification. AMGH Engineering produces shop drawings to CSA S16 requirements and coordinates with CWB-certified fabricators across Ontario.
Who Reviews and Approves Shop Drawings?
Shop drawings must be reviewed and approved by the Engineer of Record — the licensed P.Eng. who designed the structure — before fabrication begins. This review confirms that the fabrication details are consistent with the structural design intent. AMGH Engineering provides both the structural design and shop drawing review/stamp service for a seamless, coordinated process.
Need Steel Shop Drawings for Your Ontario Project?
AMGH Engineering produces shop drawings to CWB and CSA S16 standards for steel warehouses, modular structures, mezzanines, and all structural steel projects across Ontario and PEI.
Get a Free Quote →Written by Ahmed Hamed, M.Eng., P.Eng. — Principal Engineer, AMGH Engineering. Licensed by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO). 1,000+ projects completed across Ontario and PEI.