Structural steel fabrication is an industry responsible for the ability to erect many of the nation’s structures. From bridges to skyscrapers, steel fabrication holds the structures together both literally and figuratively. With so much depending on its reliability, durability, and functionality, fabrication companies must be precise and systematic in their approach. They must be aware of the demands of any construction project and the crucial steps needed to ensure its safety and the success of all involved. This is true throughout the country in states as far apart as Texas and California and cities as diverse as Cleveland and San Diego.
Basic Construction Needs
Before accepting a fabrication project, it is imperative to understand its intended use. The design process that precedes every project distinctly designates whether the final product is commercial, industrial, residential, or mixed. Only after being aware of the specific design can companies select the right approach. Furthermore, companies that focus on structural steel fabrication must have sufficient knowledge of the project to know the following:
- The intent of the structure
- What is being requested e.g., angles, beams, hollow sections, plates, trusses
- The grade of steel best suited for the specific project
- The technique(s) best suited to produce the quality of steel required for the structure
- Specific erection techniques and demands e.g., tower cranes, mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)
Those companies who produce and work with structural steel must always be conscious of what rests on their ability to provide the right steel component for each and every project.
Structural Steel Fabrication
Fabricating the right steel for a project and actually erecting the steel structures is a complex and lengthy process. It requires skills, knowledge, technological know-how, and experience to get it right. Structural steel fabrication shops must be aware of their own responsibility to their customers and the public to produce safe, strong, and durable structures that meet the demands of the customer, the government and average America.
