Steel Detailing | Precast Detailing | Estimation

Category: Steel Detailing Blog

This page show cases some of the Steel Detailing projectgs completed in Melbourne, Sydney, WA, Brisbane Tek1 has completed

  • Steel Detailing Tips – How to fix “path” too long errors

    Steel Detailing Tips – How to fix “path” too long errors

    In the construction business – you will often find yourself zipping / unzipping large sets of documents, and copying them from A to B etc. Often when dealing with deeply nested folder structures, you will get an error – regarding long path names. Like this:

    Path too long error.

    This is especially annoying if you are copying large sets of documents.

    Ordinarily I would suggest that clients avoid deeply nested folder structures – but then I thought: who am I to presume to how anyone should structure their affairs?

    Why not allow for long file paths in the first place? This is how you can do it?

    • In the Administrator terminal, run the following command

    Set-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem' -Name 'LongPathsEnabled' -Value 1

    Here’s how to open the terminal in admin mode:

    • So to the Windows search bar.
    • Type in “CMD”
    • Then click on “Run as administrator”

    How you can unzip deeply nested folder structures, in your own deeply nested folder.

  • TEK1’s Steel Detailing for Sydney Metro – Resolving Design Challenges – 5

    TEK1’s Steel Detailing for Sydney Metro – Resolving Design Challenges – 5

    We hope you found our previous blogs on the Sydney Metro project insightful. If you missed them, check them out.

    In this blog, I’d like to share an important lesson about concrete encasement for conduits that every steel detailer should keep in mind.Normally, conduit encasement falls under electrical scope, so detailers don’t focus much on it. However, the encasement’s location and size can directly affect the steel layout — as we discovered in one of our projects.

    We detailed the steel as per design drawings, but on-site, the encasement dimensions varied. Some conduits were larger, others smaller, which caused clashes between the steel and the encasement, and in some areas, created unwanted gaps. This required on-site modifications to our steel.

    When detailing steel near conduit encasements, always verify the actual encasement size and location before releasing fabrication drawings. Small checks early in the process can prevent major issues and rework on-site.

  • QR Code on Drawings

    We are now placing smart QR codes on drawings. Why? What benefit is accrued by doing so?

    1. You can see a 3d view of an assembly.
    2. You can conduct spot measurements of the assembly.
    3. You can check whether your drawing is the latest revision.
    4. You can add markups directly to a document number – and see it’s revisions over time

    Instructions on how to make it work

    • Set up a project on prolox.io
    • Get the project’s public access token.
    • Log into the Prolox’s Tekla’s client application. Use your prolox login email and password and the project’s public access token.
    • Using Tekla 2023 and with the relevant model open (please open only 1 model) – run the client code.
    • All the values will be updated.

    Rules – To prevent obsolete data from being used or shown

    • If you update the model, you must re-upload the IFC file in prolox.
    • If you update the revision number, you must re-do the prolox Tekla client program. This will update the revision numbers in prolox.
    • If you delete a drawing you must update the revision number for the deleted drawing and re-run the TeklaQRCode program. (so that all revision numbers are updated on the cloud, and so that if anyone scans an old drawing, they will be immediately notified.)

    Updating the Drawings:

    • When you update the drawing PLEASE USE THE SAME REPOSITORY. This is so that we can have old revisions.

    Setting up the template

    • You must set up the drawing template to that the QR Code program works and puts the QR code in the right location. If you don’t set it up properly it will fail.
    • Assume each page has an origin point of (0,0) at the bottom left hand side of the page.
    • The drawing template’s borders start at (5,5).
    • There must be a good amount of white space between the QR code and borders, otherwise the QR code may fail to be read. Which means the entire thing fails.
    QR standards / documentation.

  • Mezzanine floor & stair handrails

    Mezzanine floor & stair handrails

    TEK1 recently completed a Mezzanine steel & stair for a prominent organization in Australia. The goal was to provide detailed support steelwork for mezzanine floor & stair including handrails.

  • Do not stick your neck out

    Do not stick your neck out

    While detailing a project for a leading organization in Australia, the client asked us to calculate material quantities for production and procurement.

    However, this involves high risk.As detailers, we don’t control the nesting process — which depends on factors like sheet size, scrap management, and fabrication methods. Each fabricator uses different nesting techniques. If we provide material calculations without knowing their exact process, the numbers could be inaccurate.Any miscalculation could lead to over- or under-procurement, and the blame may fall on the detailer.

    Even if the client is willing to pay for it, detailers should avoid taking on such high-risk tasks. Stick to your scope and let the fabricator handle material estimation based on their own nesting and production methods.

  • Dont Lose time with missing dimensions

    Do you loose time with missing dimensions

    Have you ever used the wrong revision?

    Here is what is cooking at Tek1.

    If you would lik to to know more

    Here is a solution where you can scan the QR code and bring up the assembly model. know the revision number of the drawing which you should be using

    you may visite tek1.com.au for more information

  • Spotting the Hidden Error in an “Approved” Stair Project

    Spotting the Hidden Error in an “Approved” Stair Project

    Recently, we received a stair project that had already been detailed by another party and even approved by the design consultants. For reasons unknown, the project eventually came to Tek1.

    The scope involved a large five-flight stair with a 90° turn. We were provided with the GA drawings and assemblies prepared by the previous detailer, stamped with approvals, and instructed to simply follow the approved drawings for any RFIs raised.

    At first glance, it would have been easy to assume everything was in order. But at Tek1, we believe that blindly following drawings — even “approved” ones — is risky. Every project deserves a careful check against standards.

    The Error That Changed Everything

    During our review, we noticed a critical issue: while all risers were at 190 mm, one riser was set at just 149 mm. This not only broke the uniformity but also violated the applicable stair standards.

    We immediately highlighted this to the client. What seemed like a “small” mismatch in a single tread had major implications. To correct it, the entire stair had to be revised:

    • Riser height was adjusted to 188 mm.
    • All mid-landing RLs shifted.
    • Stringer slopes changed.
    • Handrails and support frames were reworked.

    In short, one overlooked error had a ripple effect on the entire structure.

    Lessons Learned

    Projects that land with us after being dropped by other detailers often arrive with extreme urgency, as valuable time has already been lost. But no matter how hectic the schedule, Tek1 follows one principle: check the input drawings against standards before proceeding.

    This extra step not only avoids costly errors but also ensures safety and compliance — something no deadline should compromise.

  • Section Profiles for SS and Aluminium

    If you are detailing Aluminium or SS sections always confirm the section profiles.

    If you model without that confirmation, there is good chance that you will be spending additional hours and it will be wasted time for all

  • Important Note regarding TEK1 MTO:

    Please note that once we assign a job to the team members, the next step is to provide your ETA.

    • Whether our ETA is within or beyond the client’s expected date, it must be clearly updated in the status.
    • If the client decides to cancel the job due to late delivery, they will respond to the status, and Ben will inform us.
    • If there are any RFIs in the received documents, they must be raised immediately, and the status should be updated as “RFI raised on [date]” & “xxx days required to deliver the take-off reports.”