Steel reference

Structural steel glossary

Practical definitions that connect drawings, models, material information, and the people who use them.

These explanations are orientation aids. The definitions and requirements in the governing project documents and adopted standards control a particular job.

Search every guide and steel shape

Steel detailing terms and abbreviations

Approval documents: Drawings, models, or related information submitted for review under the project's defined approval process. Related reference
Base plate: A plate at a steel column or support that forms part of its connection to the supporting construction. Related reference
Bill of materials: A structured list of pieces, materials, quantities, and identifiers used to coordinate a defined scope of work. Related reference
BIM: Building information modeling: organizing model geometry with information that supports coordination and project decisions. Related reference
Camber: An intentional curvature specified for a member. Its direction, amount, and measurement context must be understood together. Related reference
Connection: The assembly that joins structural members and transfers the actions assigned by the engineer's design. Related reference
Cope: A cut at a member end, often near a flange, that provides clearance for a connection or intersecting member. Related reference
Design documents: The drawings, specifications, and other governing design information that establish requirements for the project. Related reference
DXF: Drawing Exchange Format, a CAD data format used by the site's profile exports and PDF Rescue output. Related reference
Erection drawings: Drawings that locate and identify assemblies and communicate information needed to coordinate their placement on site. Related reference
Field weld: A weld assigned to field installation rather than shop fabrication. The drawings and procedures control its execution. Related reference
HSS: Hollow structural section, a structural product family with round, square, or rectangular hollow profiles. Related reference
Member mark: An identifier used to associate a member or assembly with the information that describes it. Project marking conventions vary. Related reference
Mill test report: A material producer's report of identified product test results and material information; match it to the required traceability records. Related reference
Nominal dimension: A designation or reference dimension that may differ from the dimension required for a specific calculation or inspection. Related reference
Piece mark: A project identifier connecting a piece or assembly to its drawing, material information, production records, and placement references. Related reference
RFI: Request for information: a documented question seeking clarification of an unresolved project requirement or conflict. Related reference
Revision: A controlled change to issued information, identified so recipients can distinguish the current record from earlier versions. Related reference
Section properties: Geometric properties of a cross section, such as area and moments of inertia, used with an appropriate structural model. Related reference
Shop drawings: Detailed production information describing the parts and assemblies to be fabricated, including their geometry and requirements. Related reference
Takeoff: A documented extraction of quantities and material descriptions from a defined set of project information. Related reference
Tolerance: An allowed variation from a specified condition. Its source, measurement method, and applicable stage matter. Related reference
W shape: A wide-flange structural shape. In common US designations, the numbers identify nominal depth and weight per foot. Related reference
Weld symbol: The symbol identifying a weld type within a welding symbol. Read it with the reference line, dimensions, and other instructions. Related reference

Use a term in its drawing context

Consider a fictional note that says “B12 revised; hold for RFI response.” B12 is the piece reference. The revision identifies a changed issue. The RFI records a question. The hold describes a workflow state. None of those words alone tells the receiver which geometry is approved or which file may be used.

When a term is unfamiliar, locate the drawing legend or specification definition first, then read the related guide here. Keep the source reference with the definition if it affects your work. A company shorthand may have a narrower meaning than a general industry explanation.

Use the drawing register for source issues and the RFI log for unanswered questions. These records connect the terminology to the information you can verify.

Read the governing references

Use the AISC Code of Standard Practice for the applicable project framework, the AISC Shapes Database for the source of the site's shape data, and the Learning Hub for longer explanations.