A Draftsman’s Guide to Practical

Steel Construction

A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK
FOR STRUCTURAL STEEL
DRAFTSMEN

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A Draftsman’s Guide to Practical

Issue
Steel Construction. 0.0
A Practical Handbook

Introduction
It’s obvious that there’s very little practical information out the for draftsmen, particularly those who
are either active, or wish to become active in the steel construction industry. It’s not as if the industry is
new, it’s been around since the mid-19th century and in fact, the practical aspects of steel construction
have changed very little during that time. And it’s in response to this situation that steeldraftsman.com
has compiled this publication which deliberately filters out everything but that which the draftsman
should be reasonably expected to know.
It doesn’t refer to ‘design’ except in the most general terms, but instead focuses on practical details and
explanations covering most aspects of practical steel construction, compiled by skilled and
knowledgeable draftsmen with more than 40 years’ experience in steel construction.
The guide-lines and details contained in this publication are derived from what are considered to be
‘good’ or ‘standard’ practices which have been developed over time and have been applied to, and
proven, in countless steel structures around the world. These ‘practices’ have evolved into ‘standards’
which form the basis for practical, efficient, and economic drafting.
Standardization is a key component of this publication, which benefits not only the draftsman, but also
the fabricator and site erection teams across the globe.
This publication begins with a simplified explanation of the various load conditions to which a typical
steel structure would be subjected to, and the stabilizing options in common use to keep the structure
in an upright position against this onslaught.
All the topics covered are explained from first principles, to suggested practical solutions and
standards. The standards culminate in the detailing guides published in Appendices 1 – 2 – and 3.

The International Approach

Steel construction is a truly international industry, the basic principles of design and analysis are the
same around the world, and likewise the means and principles that apply to the practical aspects of
steel construction including steel profiles, or shapes, and the means of connecting them together are
the same
In response to this, this publication has adopted an international approach to standardization, which
may differ slightly from country to country, or region to region, but the basic principles are sound and
are easily adaptable to suit any conditions.

The Detailing Guides

The detailing guides in Appendices 3 – 4 – and 5 cover the full range of steel sections from Europe, UK,
and the United States and reflect the standards proposed in all the preceding chapters. They will be
found to be the most comprehensive of their type ever published, providing everything the detailer will
need to know when setting out and detailing connections.

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Disclaimer
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the suitability or otherwise of the information to your particular circumstances.
We shall not be liable for any loss or damage of whatever nature (direct, indirect, consequential, or
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Copyright
All rights reserved. This publication or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any for, stored in any
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy,
recording, or otherwise – without written permission of the publisher. Except as provided by copyright
law.
For permission requests, contact the publisher at steeldraftsman.com

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Contents
1 Anatomy of a Steel Structure Part 1 – Load Conditions Page
▪ Dead or Static Loads 1.2
▪ Superimposed Loads 1.2
▪ Live Loads 1.3
▪ Wind Loads 1.3
▪ Seismic Loads 1.4
▪ Vibration 1.6

2 Anatomy of a Steel Structure Part 1 – Stabilizing Systems

▪ Horizontal Diaphragms 2.2
▪ Horizontal Braced Frames 2.3
▪ Vertical Braced Frames 2.5
▪ Vertical Rigid Frames 2.5
▪ Vertical Shear Walls 2.6
▪ Vertical Leaned Frames 2.7
Multi-storey High-Rise Structures
▪ Internal Core Structures 2.8
` ▪ Braced and Framed Tubes 2.10

3 Standard Hot-Rolled Steel Sections

▪ Noting Conventions 3.2
▪ Designations 3.2
▪ UK 3.3
▪ European 3.3
▪ American 3.3

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Contents
4 Introduction to Beams Page
▪ Hot-Rolled Sections 4.2
▪ Fabricated Plate-Girders 4.3
▪ Fabricated Box-Girders 4.3
▪ Plate and Box-Girder Construction 4.5
▪ Castellated Beams 4.6
▪ Cellular Beams 4.6
▪ Strengthening a Beam or Girder 4.7
▪ Bolted Beam Splices 4.11
▪ Welded Beam Splices 4.12

5 Introduction to Columns
▪ Introduction 5.2
▪ Columns in Multi-Storey Buildings 5.3
▪ Column Profiles 5.3
▪ Column Splices - Bolted 5.5
▪ Portal Crane-Columns 5.6
▪ Laced Crane-Columns 5.7
▪ Column Base-Plates 5.8
▪ Holding-Down Bolts 5.10

6 Crane-Girders
▪ Introduction 6.2
▪ Crane-Girder Sections 6.2
▪ Crane-Girder Stiffening 6.3
▪ Rail Sections 6.4
▪ Rail Stops 6.5
▪ Crane-Girder Seating and Lateral 6.5
Restraint
▪ Light / Medium-Duty Surge Girders 6.7
▪ Heavy-Duty Surge Girders 6.8
▪ Details to Avoid !! 6.10

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Contents
7 Flexible Connections Page
▪ Introduction 7.2
▪ Connection Types 7.2
▪ Connection Selection 7.3
▪ Selection Guide 7.3
▪ Common Problems 7.4
▪ Shared Bolts 7.6
▪ Bolt Interference 7.6
▪ Standardizing Flexible Connections 7.8
▪ Bolt Sizes 7.9
▪ Bolted End-Cleats - Standards 7.10
▪ Welded End-Plates - Standards 7.17
▪ Welded Fin-Plates - Standards 7.21
▪ Welded-Tee Connections 7.27
▪ Seated Connections 7.28

8 Moment (Resisting) Connections

▪ Introduction 8.2
▪ Connection Types 8.4
▪ End-Cleat Moment Connections 8.5
▪ End-Plate Moment Connections 8.6
▪ Flange-Plate Moment Connections 8.7
▪ Moment-Tree Connections 8.8
▪ Site-Welded Moment Connections 8.9
▪ Strengthening End-Plate Connections 8.10

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Contents
9 Vertical Bracing Page
▪ Introduction 9.2
▪ Bracing Patterns 9.3
▪ Tension / Compression Elements 9.3
▪ Bracing Sections 9.4
▪ Setting-Out Bracing 9.5
▪ Gusset Plates 9.6
▪ Typical Connections – Light / Medium 9.9
Duty
▪ Typical Connections –Heavy-Duty 9.11
▪ Typical Connections –Compression Struts 9.13

10 Horizontal Bracing
▪ Introduction 10.2
▪ Setting-Out Horizontal Bracing 10.2
▪ Locating the Gusset-Plate 10.3
▪ Typical Bolted and Welded Connections 10.4

11 Truss or Lattice-Girders
▪ Introduction 11.2
▪ Truss Configurations 11.2
▪ Welded Light Girder Truss 11.4
▪ Bolted Light / Medium Girder Truss 11.5
▪ Bolted Medium Girder Truss 11.6
▪ Welded Heavy Girder Truss 11.7
▪ Welded Heavy Girder-Truss / Cap -End- 11.8
Plates
▪ Bolted Heavy Girder Truss / End-Plates 11.9
▪ Bolted Heavy Girder Truss / Splice-Plates 11.10
▪ Welded Light / Medium Pitched Truss 11.11
▪ Bolted Light / Medium Pitched Truss 11.12

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Contents
12 Stairways
▪ Introduction 12.2
▪ Stair Risers and Treads - Terminology 12.3
▪ Calculating Tread and Riser Dimensions 12.5
▪ Stair Stringers 12.7
▪ Base Connections – To Concrete Floor 12.8
▪ Base Connections – To Steel Floor 12.9
▪ Top Connections – To Concrete Floor 12.11
▪ Top Connections – To Steel Floor 12.12
▪ Landings 12.12

13 Welding
▪ Introduction 13.2
▪ Manual Metal Arc Welding 13.2
▪ Gas Shielded Arc 13.2
▪ Submerged Arc 13.3
▪ Electro-Slag Welding 13.3
▪ Joint Types 13.4
▪ Weld Types 13.4
▪ End-Preparation 13.6
▪ Welding Positions 13.8
▪ Welding Symbols 13.9
▪ Construction of a Welding Symbol 13.10

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Appendices – Detailing Guides

Recommended Edge Distances and Bolt-Hole Centers Appendix 1

Beam-End Notches Appendix 2

European Standard Steel Sections Appendix 3

▪ European Beams – IPE Sections IPE 3.3
▪ European Wide Flange Beams HE 3.11
▪ European Extra Wide Flange
HL 3.21
Beams
▪ European Standard Beams IPN 3.27
▪ European Wide Flange Columns HD 3.31
▪ European Wide Flange Bearing
HP 3.37
Piles
▪ European Parallel Flange
UPE 3.41
Channels
▪ European Standard Channels UPN 3.45
▪ European Equal-Leg Angles L 3.49
▪ European Unequal-Leg Angles L 3.57

UK Standard Steel Sections Appendix 4

▪ UK Universal Beams UB 4.3
▪ UK Universal Columns UC 4.13
▪ UK Joists J 4.19
▪ UK Universal Bearing Piles UBP 4.23
▪ UK Parallel Flange Channels PFC 4.27
▪ UK Taper Flange Channels HP 4.31
▪ UK / Euro Equal-Leg Angles L 4.35
▪ UK / Euro Unequal-Leg Angles L 4.43

American Standard Steel Sections Appendix 5

▪ American Wide Flange Beams W 5.3
▪ American Standard Beams S 5.29
▪ American Wide Flange Bearing
HP 5.35
Piles
▪ American Standard Channels C 5.39
▪ American Channels MC 5.45
▪ American Equal-Leg Angles L 5.51
▪ American Unequal-Leg Angles L 5.55

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