To someone who is not in the construction business, reading blueprints may sound like a scary task. However it is really quite simple. As described below, there are only seven main components to your steel building blueprints:

1. Front and Rear Elevations

• Shows the endwall designs of your metal building, including the correct height and width of your building and framed openings such as garage doors.

2. Side Elevations

• Illustrates the total length of your steel building.

3. Foundation Plans

• Depicts out-to-out dimensions of concrete requirements and references the foundation details. Also, portrays a cross-section of endwalls and arch foundation with reinforcement metal included.

4. Anchorage

• Describes the placement of anchor bolts for industry standard keyway foundation.

5. Arch Profile

• Details the correct placement and gauge of panels within an arch.

6. Design Data

• Lists information required for local and county building departments to review before approving construction permits (i.e. reinforcing steel grade, arch design, live load, wind load, snow load, etc.) All standards and building codes are followed in our design and materials.

7. Nomenclature Block

Contains:

• Customer’s Name
• Building Site
• Model #
• DWG/PO #
• Engineer’s Seal

That’s all there is to it! Come back to Ask the Steel Master next week to learn about the anchor bolts used on steel building foundations.