Structural Steel Detailing · Missouri
Drafting Buddies produces shop drawings, erection drawings, and connection details that Missouri fabricators can send straight to the shop floor - built to AISC 360 and AWS D1.1, and checked against the seismic and load requirements of the specific jurisdiction the project sits in.
DTL 04 / SHT S-402
MO-STL-0114
AISC 360 / AWS D1.1
Fab-Ready
Missouri Steel Work
Drafting Buddies is a CAD, BIM, and structural detailing outsourcing partner built for the pace of U.S. steel fabrication and construction firms. In Missouri, that means shop and erection drawings produced against a code landscape that isn't uniform: the state is home-rule, so St. Louis, Kansas City, and every other jurisdiction adopts its own IBC edition and amendments, and the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the southeastern part of the state pushes seismic design category and connection detailing further than a typical low-seismic Midwest project would require.
Every drawing set - shop, fabrication, erection, or connection detail - is built from a single coordinated 3D model in Tekla, SDS2, or Advance Steel, so piece marks, bolt patterns, and dimensions stay consistent from the model through to the fabrication shop floor, cutting down on RFIs and field fit-up problems.
What's included
Nine services covering the full path from structural model to fabrication-ready drawings for a Missouri steel project.
STL · 01
Structural
Full structural steel detailing from engineering drawings and specifications, producing a complete, coordinated model of the building's steel frame. Forms the foundation every shop, fabrication, and erection drawing is generated from, keeping member sizes, connections, and dimensions consistent across the entire project.
SHP · 02
Shop
Piece-by-piece shop and fabrication drawings with precise dimensions, hole patterns, welds, and material specifications for every steel member. Built to the tolerances Missouri fabricators need for cutting, drilling, and welding without field rework, and formatted for direct shop-floor use.
ERC · 03
Erection
Erection plans, elevations, and sequencing drawings that show crews exactly how a structure goes together on site, including piece marks matched to the shop drawings. Reduces field confusion and rework on multi-story and large-footprint projects across Missouri’s commercial and industrial markets.
CON · 04
Connections
Bolted and welded connection design and detailing, including moment, shear, base plate, gusset plate, and end plate connections. Detailing accounts for the seismic design category applicable to the project's location, which matters more in Missouri's southeastern counties near the New Madrid Seismic Zone.
MSC · 05
Misc. Metals
Detailing for stairs, handrails, guardrails, ladders, platforms, and canopies - the secondary steel elements that still require precise, code-compliant drawings. Coordinated with the primary structural model so miscellaneous metals fit correctly against the main frame during erection.
RBR · 06
Rebar
Rebar placing drawings and bar bending schedules for reinforced concrete elements on projects that combine structural steel with concrete foundations, footings, or composite framing. Coordinated with the steel model so embeds, anchor bolts, and base plates line up correctly with the concrete pour.
BIM · 07
BIM
3D structural steel BIM modeling in Tekla Structures, SDS2, or Advance Steel, giving fabricators and contractors a single coordinated model for clash detection, quantity takeoff, and drawing generation. Supports Missouri projects that require BIM coordination with architectural and MEP models.
CNC · 08
CNC / DSTV
CNC-ready and DSTV/NC1 files generated directly from the detailing model for automated cutting, drilling, and coping equipment, along with accurate material takeoffs for procurement and bidding. Removes a manual data-entry step between detailing and the fabrication shop.
QA · 09
QA / QC
Full or overflow steel detailing outsourcing for fabricators and engineering firms, backed by an internal QA/QC review pass on every drawing set before delivery. Gives Missouri fabricators additional detailing capacity without hiring, while keeping error rates low on high-volume projects.
Industries served
The same coordinated model-to-drawing workflow adapts to steel projects of every scale and building type.
Office buildings and mixed-use structures
Manufacturing and processing facilities
Large-span storage and logistics buildings
Steel-framed homes and apartment structures
Hospitals and medical facility steel framing
Schools, campuses, and civic buildings
Bridges, platforms, and public works steel
Direct detailing support for shop partners
Why choose us
Every Missouri project is handled by a team that treats AISC 360 and AWS D1.1 as the baseline, not the ceiling.
Every connection and weld is detailed to AISC 360 and AWS D1.1, with seismic design category checked against the project's Missouri location.
Most shop and erection drawing sets are delivered within 48 hours of a confirmed model, keeping fabrication schedules on track.
Shop, fabrication, erection, and connection drawings all come from the same coordinated 3D model, eliminating cross-drawing inconsistencies.
A dedicated bench of Tekla, SDS2, and Advance Steel detailers, not a single freelancer, so capacity scales with project volume.
Every drawing set is checked internally before delivery, catching clashes and dimension errors before they reach the shop floor.
A proven track record across commercial, industrial, and infrastructure steel, with NDAs available for every engagement.
Tools & pipeline
3D Modeling
3D Modeling
3D Modeling
Drafting
BIM
Coordination
Coordination
Markups
Standards & local accuracy
Steel detailing follows national structural standards, but Missouri's local code and seismic landscape still shape the details.
What governs a Missouri steel project
Structural steel detailing follows AISC 360 for design and AWS D1.1 for welding, the national standards referenced across virtually every jurisdiction's building code.
Missouri has no single statewide building code - cities and counties adopt their own IBC edition and local amendments, so the applicable code year is confirmed against the specific project address.
The New Madrid Seismic Zone in southeastern Missouri raises the seismic design category for projects in that region, directly affecting connection type, bracing, and detailing requirements.
Wind and snow load values vary by county across Missouri, and are factored into member sizing and connection design coordination with the engineer of record.
Where no local code has been adopted, Missouri's Architecture Practice Act points to Section 107 of the 2012 IBC as the default reference for licensed professionals.
This is a general reference for detailing coordination purposes and is not structural engineering or code-compliance advice. Final connection design and code compliance are confirmed with the engineer of record and local building department.
Coverage
Remote delivery means the same 48-hour turnaround and code-aware detailing wherever a project sits in the state. See related drafting services in Missouri.
St. Louis
Kansas City
Springfield
Columbia
Independence
Lee's Summit
O'Fallon
St. Joseph
St. Charles
Blue Springs
Joplin
Chesterfield
Jefferson City
Cape Girardeau
Branson
Client feedback
“Shop drawings came back clean enough that we didn't send a single RFI. Piece marks matched the erection set exactly.”
Steel Fabricator
St. Louis, MO
“They caught a connection detail that needed a higher seismic category than we'd assumed. Saved us a resubmittal.”
Structural Engineer
Cape Girardeau, MO
“DSTV files went straight into our CNC line. No reformatting, no delays getting to production.”
Fabrication Shop Manager
Kansas City, MO
Missouri has no single statewide building code. Cities and counties adopt their own IBC edition and local amendments, so the applicable code year is confirmed against the specific project address. Where no local code has been adopted, Missouri’s Architecture Practice Act points to Section 107 of the 2012 IBC as the default reference for licensed professionals. The New Madrid Seismic Zone in southeastern Missouri also raises the seismic design category for projects in that region, which changes connection type, bracing, and detailing.
Start A Project
Send a structural drawing or model and see a sample shop drawing before committing to a full project.