To quote structural steelwork accurately a fabricator needs your structural engineer's drawings, a member schedule, the connection design or a delegated-design brief, and the specification: execution class, surface treatment and fire rating, plus site location, access and programme. The more complete the package, the faster the quote and the less risk we have to price in.
The drawings and models
Price hangs on geometry, so the drawings are the most important thing you send. A fabricator can quote from PDFs, but a complete set removes the guesswork that forces a higher, risk-loaded number:
- General arrangement (GA) drawings showing the frame in plan and section
- The structural engineer's design drawings and member sizes
- A member or section schedule if you have one, listing beams, columns and bracing with grades
- Architectural drawings for co-ordination, so the steel suits the building it sits in
- Any 3D or BIM model (IFC is ideal): it speeds detailing and clash detection considerably
If your drawings are still developing, send what you have and say so. An early budget figure based on tonnage and outline geometry is useful; just expect it to firm up once the design is fixed.
The specification details that move the price
Two frames of identical tonnage can differ markedly in price because of what the specification asks for. Tell the fabricator:
- The required execution class (EXC1–EXC4). Where none is stated the standard's fallback is EXC2, but the right class depends on the structure, so tell us the execution class your project needs. The class affects the quality control and testing, and therefore the cost
- Connection design responsibility: designed by your engineer, or delegated to the fabricator
- Surface treatment: galvanising, a paint system or intumescent fire protection
- Any fire-resistance period the steel must achieve
- Steel grades and any special material or testing requirements
If connection design is being delegated, say so up front. It changes what the fabricator prices and who carries the design responsibility. See our note on design and steel detailing.
Site, programme and logistics
Fabrication is only half the job. If you want erection priced too, the fabricator needs to understand the site:
- Site address and access: city-centre, constrained or open
- Craneage constraints and any restrictions on delivery vehicle size or timing
- Programme: when steel is needed on site and the erection sequence
- Whether you need fabrication and erection together as one package, or fabrication only
A tight or awkward site changes the lift plan and the crane, and therefore the price. Flagging it early avoids a re-quote later.
File formats we accept
Send whatever you have. We work from PDF drawings, DWG and DXF CAD files, and IFC models. Photographs of marked-up drawings are fine for an initial look. If a file is too large to email, tell us and we'll arrange a transfer.
What happens after you send it
We review the package, flag anything missing, and come back with a fabrication quote. Where you need it, that includes an erection price and an indicative programme. The clearer the information in, the firmer the number out.
Common questions
- Can you quote from PDF drawings only?
- Yes. We can produce a quote from PDF drawings. CAD files (DWG/DXF) or an IFC model let us detail and price more precisely, but they are not essential for an initial quote.
- What if my design isn't finished yet?
- Send what you have and tell us it's developing. We can give an early budget figure from tonnage and outline geometry, then firm it up once the design and connections are fixed.
- Do I need to specify an execution class to get a quote?
- It helps. Where no class is stated the standard's fallback is EXC2, but the right class depends on the structure, so tell us the execution class your project needs. The class affects the quality control and testing the job carries.