Category: Steel Detailing Blog
This page show cases some of the Steel Detailing projectgs completed in Melbourne, Sydney, WA, Brisbane Tek1 has completed
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Muswellbrook Tafe
The Stage 3 Works at Muswellbrook TAFE, located on Maitland Street, NSW, represent a significant milestone in the campus’s ongoing development and modernization.
The new development comprises a storage warehouse, a curved amenities area, and multiple classrooms housed within a large integrated structure. The project involved a complex structural steel framework designed to support diverse functional spaces under one roof.
A key challenge during this stage was coordination with the mechanical services contractor, as several ducts and ventilation systems initially clashed with the structural steel members. Through collaborative design reviews, practical solutions were agreed upon—relocating steel members at certain locations and adjusting duct routes at others—to achieve optimal constructability without compromising structural integrity or service performance.
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How to Scope your project, and why?
Why scope?
- To define an outcome, and to define a problem.
- To give clients certain on what they’re getting: price, quality and timeline.
- To sell yourself as capable to do the job.
- To fix resources. Everything costs time, money and skill. You will need to allocate resources to get the outcome.
Scope must be white listed in.
- If you don’t white list something IN, then new items will CREEP in. This is called “scope creep”. If this happens, and you are being constrained by resources, this means you haven’t accounted for it in the above step(s). Perhaps the entire job needs to be de-scoped.
- Without a scope, you are handing over a blank cheque. DON”T DO THIS. Clients want people to make a good margin.
- White-listing also forces everyone to be clear on what they want.
Clear Unambiguous Objective:
- If you can’t quantify it, then you have a problem.
- Scoping will help the client to be satisfied, which is the ultimate objective.
Summary:
- Scoping allows you to make resourcing decisions to meet an outcome.
- Gives you happy clients.
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Design Guide for Galvanizers for Design Guide for Hot Dip Galvanizing – best practice venting and draining.
Design Guide for Hot Dip Galvanizing – best practice venting and draining This document outlines the design guide for detailers to provide venting and draining holes for galvanizing.
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Difference Between TEKLA “Export IFC” and IFC4
When we export models from TEKLA Structures, we mainly see two options:
- Export IFC (this mostly means IFC2x3 format)
- IFC4 Export
Both formats serve the same purpose—model interoperability—but they work differently, support different levels of data, and offer different quality of geometry.
In this blog, we explore the key differences, benefits, and when to use each format.
1. What is “Export IFC” (IFC2x3)?
This is the old IFC format used by most companies for many years.
Key points
- Works in almost all BIM software
- Shows Geometry is basic and sometimes rough
- Limited property information
- The File size is Bigger
Best For
✔ General coordination
✔ Clients who request IFC2x3
✔ Old software compatibility2. What is “IFC4 Export”?
This is the newer and more advanced format.
Key Points
- Geometry looks cleaner and smoother
- Curved members (Hollow sections, pipes, elbows, etc.) look perfect
- More detailed data (bolts, welds, assemblies)
- Smaller file size in many cases
- Better for new BIM tools
Best For
✔ Modern BIM tools
✔ Better visual quality
✔ Detailed model sharing3. Quick Comparison
Feature IFC2x3 (Export IFC) IFC4 Geometry Basic (Rough) Smooth & Accurate Curved Shapes Approximate Perfect & Precise File Size Larger Smaller Compatibility Very High Medium Details Limited More Detailed convert IFC object to Steel Member Work well Can’t convert 4. Which One Should You Use?
- Use Export IFC (IFC2x3) if the client asks for it or if compatibility is important.
- Use IFC4 if you want cleaner geometry and more detailed information.
5. Final Summary
- IFC2x3 (Export IFC) → Best for compatibility
- IFC4 → Best for quality and smooth geometry
If your client or BIM Execution Plan (BEP) does not specify the format, use IFC4 for best geometry
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Always Check Beam Stock Lengths Before Detailing
When detailing steel, one important factor that’s often overlooked is the stock length of the beams. Confirming this early can prevent major rework later in the project.
Recently, we worked on a façade support steel project that involved several CHS beams. Normally, CHS sections are available up to 12 meters in length. However, in this case, the client informed us that for smaller CHS sizes, the maximum available length was only 6.5 meters.
Please see the below email from the client.
“Hi Ganesh
Have just noticed some of your Member lengths for the 101 CHS are longer than 6.5m stock lengths.”
Then we have raised RFIs for the stock lengths. See the below replies from the client.
Always confirm the available stock lengths with the client or fabricator before starting the detailing. Early coordination like this saves time, reduces rework, and ensures a smoother fabrication process.
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TEK1’s Steel Detailing for Sydney Metro – Resolving Design Challenges – 6
In this blog, I’d like to share an issue we faced related to hanger locations.
In this job, the floor steel was supported from the slab soffit. Initially, we placed the hangers as per the design drawings. However, during coordination with the concrete model, we discovered a slab void exactly at one of the hanger locations — meaning there was no concrete support available for that hanger.
Fortunately, we identified the issue before fabrication and raised it with the respective manager for correction.
When detailing steel, especially hangers or supports connected to concrete, it’s crucial to check the concrete model. Focusing only on the steel scope can lead to such clashes. Always verify slab and concrete details at the steel connection points to avoid costly rework later.
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IRON_ARENA_SPORTS_CENTRE
Our detailing team worked closely with architects to ensure tolerances and offsets were met without compromising design intent With a limited fabrication and erection window, our detailing team adopted a fast-track workflow using Tekla Structures for 3D modeling.
We are proud to be a part of the team in IRON_ARENA_SPORTS_CENTER project.
This allowed us to provide early shop drawings for procurement and parallel review of sections still under coordination.
