| Though most people have never even heard of | | | | programs that offer a degree in structural steel |
| the position, structural steel detailing provides the | | | | detailing are rare in the United States. However, |
| framework for every building that is erected | | | | there are certification programs and steel |
| today. The professional whose job it is to create | | | | construction companies often pay to have their |
| drawing for the steel fabricators is called a steel | | | | younger, less experienced steel detailers attend |
| detailer. Whenever a new building is erected in a | | | | them. This is due to the fact that the profession |
| large metropolis or a growing suburb, a steel | | | | has come to rely more and more on computers |
| detailer is an indispensable member of the | | | | and advanced technology in recent years. |
| construction team. The detailer provides in depth | | | | Previously, most of the drafting and design was |
| plans for the steel construction company so that | | | | done manually. But nowadays computer-aided |
| they will know exactly what is required for each | | | | drafting software is employed by most of the |
| job. Structural steel detailing is used almost | | | | top steel construction companies. |
| exclusively on industrial or commercial projects | | | | But in spite of all of the technological |
| since those are the only projects large enough to | | | | improvements, structural steel detailing is more |
| need structural steel. | | | | about on the job experience than it is about |
| Structural steel detailing requires input from | | | | classroom theories, which is probably why a |
| engineers, architects and general contractors if it | | | | college degree is not required for steel detailers in |
| is to be successful. A good steel detailer is | | | | the U.S. It is responsibility of the steel construction |
| expected to work closely with a wide range of | | | | company that hires a new steel detailer to |
| professionals so that he may provide his client | | | | properly train him in his new profession. This |
| with a superior product. Steel detailers often work | | | | training often requires a kind of apprenticeship, |
| for steel construction or engineering firms, they | | | | with the new detailer or trainee working under an |
| may even be self-employed and offer their | | | | experienced detailer for at least five years before |
| services to steel construction companies on a | | | | he learns everything he needs to know about the |
| regular basis. | | | | trade. In the end, structural steel detailing is a |
| Structural steel detailing is unusual in that it is one | | | | profession that relies almost entirely on |
| of the few highly technical construction jobs that | | | | experience and on the job training rather than |
| do not require a college degree. In fact, college | | | | classroom training. |