To highlight the difference between design and detailing;
Design is the creative process of taking an idea from conception and putting that concept to paper for the purpose of manufacture where Detailing is the first practical step of steel fabrication and as such is critical to the construction program.
Steel detailers (usually simply called detailers within their field) work closely with architects , engineers, builders and steel fabricators. They usually find employment with steel fabricators, engineering firms, or independent steel detailing companies. Steel detailing companies and self-employed detailers subcontract primarily to steel fabricators and sometimes to builders and design consultants.
The engineer should provide arrangements (plans, sections & elevations) that show all of the structural elements required. This is usually done in skeletal fashion (stick diagram) with steel members being represented by a single line. All of these elements must be given a member size, orientation and design of their respective end connections.
The architect’s drawings should flesh-out the engineer’s skeleton, by providing all necessary construction details, dimensions, levels and steelwork locations.
Please refer to the ACMA Design Document Completion Checklists for more information on this topic.