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