A practical guide to preparing structural drawings for steel building quotations, technical review and procurement.
01. Why Are Structural Drawings Important?
Structural drawings provide the technical information needed to understand the building structure, dimensions, layout and major components.
For a steel building project, clear drawings can help suppliers better understand:
- Building dimensions — 建筑尺寸
- Structural layout — 结构布局
- Column and beam positions — 柱梁位置
- Roof structure — 屋面结构
- Bracing system — 支撑系统
- Openings — 门窗及洞口
- Loads and design requirements — 荷载及设计要求
- Connection requirements — 连接要求
Good drawings can reduce unnecessary clarification and help suppliers prepare a more accurate quotation.
02. What Should a Structural Drawing Include?
A complete steel building drawing package does not necessarily need to be complicated.
The most useful information usually includes the following.
1. General Building Dimensions
Provide the main dimensions of the building, including:
- Length — 建筑长度
- Width / Span — 建筑宽度 / 跨度
- Eave Height — 檐口高度
- Ridge Height — 屋脊高度
- Bay Spacing — 柱距
- Roof Slope — 屋面坡度
If some dimensions are not confirmed, mark them as approximate or “To Be Confirmed”.
03 Show the Structural Grid
The structural grid is one of the most useful pieces of information for a steel building supplier.
结构轴网是钢结构供应商判断建筑布局的重要信息之一。
A drawing should ideally show:
- Grid lines — 轴线
- Column positions — 柱位置
- Bay spacing — 柱距
- Building span — 建筑跨度
- Building length — 建筑长度
For example:
Grid A–F
Grid spacing: 6 m
This allows the supplier to understand the basic structural arrangement before reviewing detailed drawings.
04. Show Columns and Main Beams
Clearly identify the locations of:
- Steel Columns — 钢柱
- Main Beams — 主梁
- Rafters — 屋架梁 / 斜梁
- Secondary Beams — 次梁
- Bracing — 支撑
If the member sizes are already designed, they can be shown on the drawing.
For example:
H-section column
I-section beam
Box section
RHS / SHS
If the final member sizes have not yet been determined, the drawing can simply show the required positions and design intent.
05. Include Roof Information
Roof information is particularly important because it affects both structural design and the roof system.
The drawing should ideally indicate:
- Roof slope — 屋面坡度
- Roof type — 屋面形式
- Ridge location — 屋脊位置
- Eaves — 檐口
- Roof openings — 屋面洞口
- Skylights — 天窗
- Roof ventilation — 屋面通风
- Rainwater drainage — 屋面排水
For insulated buildings, indicate the expected roof insulation system if known.
06. Show Wall Openings
Doors, windows and ventilation openings can significantly affect the wall system and steel framing.
Try to provide:
- Door locations — 门的位置
- Door dimensions — 门尺寸
- Window locations — 窗的位置
- Window dimensions — 窗尺寸
- Roll-up doors — 卷帘门
- Sliding doors — 推拉门
- Ventilation openings — 通风洞口
For example:
Roll-up door: 4,000 × 4,500 mm
If the exact dimensions are not confirmed, indicate them as preliminary dimensions.
07. Show Bracing and Structural Connections
Structural drawings should show the main bracing arrangement where applicable.
This may include:
- Roof bracing — 屋面支撑
- Wall bracing — 墙面支撑
- Cross bracing — 交叉支撑
- Tie rods — 拉条
- Struts — 撑杆
Connection details may also be included if they have already been designed.
08. Indicate Design Loads When Available
Load information is important for structural assessment.
Depending on the project, this may include:
- Dead Load — 恒载
- Live Load — 活载
- Wind Load — 风荷载
- Snow Load — 雪荷载
- Seismic Requirements — 抗震要求
- Equipment Loads — 设备荷载
- Crane Loads — 行车荷载
If the project has already been structurally designed, provide the applicable design information.
If these values are not available, do not invent them.
They can be confirmed during the engineering review process.
09. What File Formats Should You Provide?
For international steel building projects, the following formats are commonly useful:
| File Format / 文件格式 | Typical Use / 常见用途 |
|---|---|
| Easy review and communication / 方便查看和沟通 | |
| DWG | CAD drawing and detailed technical review / CAD图纸及详细技术审核 |
| DXF | CAD-compatible drawing exchange / CAD兼容格式交换 |
| JPG / PNG | Reference images or sketches / 图片或草图 |
| Excel | BOQ, material list or schedules / 工程量清单、材料表等 |
Recommended approach
If available, provide both:
PDF + DWG
PDF is convenient for quick review, while DWG can provide more detailed technical information when CAD data is required.
10. If You Do Not Have Complete Drawings★
This is very common for early-stage projects.
You can still provide the information you already have.
For example:
- Building dimensions — 建筑尺寸
- Building purpose — 建筑用途
- Project location — 项目所在地
- Approximate height — 大致高度
- Required span — 所需跨度
- Number of buildings — 建筑数量
- Roof requirements — 屋面要求
- Wall requirements — 墙面要求
- Available sketches — 现有草图
- Photos of the site — 项目现场照片
A simple sketch can sometimes be useful as a starting point.
The key is to clearly identify which dimensions are confirmed and which are still preliminary.
11. Structural Drawing Preparation Checklist
Before sending your drawings for quotation, check the following:
| Check Item / 检查项目 | Customer Notes / 客户填写 |
| Building Length / 建筑长度 | __________________________ |
| Building Span / 建筑跨度 | __________________________ |
| Eave Height / 檐口高度 | __________________________ |
| Roof Slope / 屋面坡度 | __________________________ |
| Bay Spacing / 柱距 | __________________________ |
| Column Locations / 钢柱位置 | __________________________ |
| Main Beam / Rafter Layout / 主梁或斜梁布局 | __________________________ |
| Bracing / 支撑系统 | __________________________ |
| Doors / 门 | __________________________ |
| Windows / 窗 | __________________________ |
| Ventilation / 通风 | __________________________ |
| Roof Openings / 屋面洞口 | __________________________ |
| Design Loads / 设计荷载 | __________________________ |
| Steel Grade / 钢材等级 | __________________________ |
| Design Standard / 设计标准 | __________________________ |
| Available File Format / 文件格式 | __________________________ |
12. Common Drawing Preparation Mistakes
Mistake 1: Missing Overall Dimensions
Without basic dimensions, suppliers may not be able to estimate quantities accurately.
Mistake 2: Missing Building Location
Environmental and design requirements can vary between countries and locations.
Mistake 3: No Door or Window Information
Openings affect wall panels, framing and accessories.
Mistake 4: Unclear Units
Always identify whether dimensions are in:
mm / m / ft / in
Mistake 5: Mixing Preliminary and Final Information
Clearly mark information as:
Confirmed
or
Preliminary
or
To Be Confirmed
This makes communication much easier.
13. A Good Drawing Package for RFQ
For an initial steel building quotation, a useful drawing package may include:
Recommended
1. General Arrangement Drawing
2. Floor Plan
3. Elevations
4. Roof Plan
5. Structural Framing Plan
6. Sections
7. Door & Window Schedule
8. Structural Details
9. BOQ / Material List
10. Design Information
You do not need to have every item before starting an inquiry.
Provide what is currently available and identify what still needs to be confirmed.
14. Preparing Drawings for Better Procurement Decisions
A good drawing package does more than help suppliers calculate quantities.
It also allows buyers to compare quotations more effectively.
When comparing suppliers, check whether the quotations are based on the same:
- Building dimensions — 建筑尺寸
- Steel grade — 钢材等级
- Design standard — 设计标准
- Roof system — 屋面系统
- Wall system — 墙体系统
- Insulation — 保温系统
- Accessories — 配件
- Doors and windows — 门窗
- Delivery scope — 交付范围
A lower quotation is not necessarily a better quotation if important components have been excluded.
15. Need Help Preparing Your Project Information?
You do not need to have a perfect drawing package before contacting us.
Provide the information and files you currently have.
If some details are not yet confirmed, you can leave them open for discussion.
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