6.12 Review of Shop Drawings - Steel Structures - Format, Content, and Review Checklist

Oct 23, 2026

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6.12 presents a technical review framework for producing, reviewing, and authorizing steel bridge shop drawings. It explains how shop drawings and camber calculations help ensure conformity with contract and standard plans before fabrication, and clarifies responsibilities between the contractor/fabricator and the department. It details required submittal format and content, including assembly/erection sequences, welding procedures, alignment, match-marking, connection details, tolerances, fracture-critical identification, deviations, and camber calculations, followed by a checklist-oriented review approach.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

6.12 Review of Shop Drawings - Steel Structures

6.12.1 General

6.12.2 Process for Producing, Reviewing and Authorizing

6.12.3 Format, Content, and Presentation

6.12.4 Review Checklist

6.12 REVIEW OF SHOP DRAWINGS – STEEL STRUCTURES 6.12.1 GENERAL This BDM discusses the processes for producing, reviewing , and authorizing shop drawings, and provides checklists and examples for the technical review of shop drawings for steel bridges and other major steel structures. These guidelines pertain primarily to plate girder bridges, but most items would also apply to other types of steel bridges. The AASHTO/NSBA Shop Detail Drawings Review/Approval Guidelines (AASHTO/NSBA, 2000) include advice and comprehensive checklists that are excellent resources for thereview of steel shop drawings. Contract plans provide details to the Contractor to bid a project by showing materials and dimensions. However, fabrication details are not necessarily included. Contract plan details may be generic or typical and may not show all locations, some of which may vary slightly. Additionally, alternative details may be presented on the Contract Plans. The Contractor may or may not chose to use these alternative details. Shop drawings, therefore, are required to be prepared and submitted to the Department for review and authorization by the Contractor to facilitate the construction of the project , as specified in the Standard Specifications, Section 5-1.23B(2) (Caltrans, 2018a) . 6.12.2 PROCESS FOR PRODUCING, REVIEWING AND AUTHORIZING The process of producing, reviewing and authorizing shop drawings assures the project will be built in conformance with the Contract Plans, the Standard Plans, the project special provisions, and the Standard Specifications. It has the added benefit of requiring the Contractor to be familiar with the details of a project and identify errors and omissions from the plans before any fabrication begins, rather than during fabrication or at the project site. The Contractor or the Fabricator is responsible for preparing and submitting shop drawings and camber calculations for steel structures as specified in Standard Specifications Section 55-1.01C(2) (Caltrans, 2018a) and the project special provisions. Shop drawings provide the fabrication shop with the necessary information including fracture control plan and testing requirements to cut, shape, weld, punch, drill, sub-assemble, shop paint, and otherwise produce the pieces and assemblies required to complete the project. Shop drawings also provide a plan to use in the field to properly place and install the fabricated members. Figures 6.12.2.1 to 6.12.2.3 show three shop drawing examples. The Department is responsible for reviewing and authorizing shop drawings. Review and authorization schedules of shop drawings for steel structures are addressed in the Standard Specifications, Section 55-1 .01C(2) (Caltrans, 2018a) . A project may have specific schedule requirements regarding the submittal and review of shop drawings in the project special provisions. The detailed submittal, review, and authorization process, and responsibilities for shop drawings are addressed in Chapter 6.4 Shop Drawings Review and Authorization of the Bridge Design Process and Procedure Manual, (Caltrans, 2018b) . 6.12.3 FORMAT, CONTENT, AND PRESENTATION Standard Specifications, Section 5-1 .23B(2) specifies the basic shop drawing format. Standard Specifications Section 55-1.01C(2) specifies that the shop drawings submittals for steel structures must include: 1. Sequence of shop and field assembly and erection. For continuous members, include proposed steel erection procedures with calculations that show girder capacity and geometry will be correct. 2. Welding sequences and procedures. 3. Layout drawing of the entire structure with locations of butt welded splices. 4. Locations of temporary supports and welds. 5. Vertical alignment of girders at each stage of erection. 6. Match-marking diagrams. 7. Details for connections not shown or dimensioned on the plans. 8. Details of allowed options incorporated into the work. 9. Direction of rolling of plates wh

FAQs

What is the purpose of the shop drawing review and authorization process for steel structures?

The process ensures the project is built in conformance with the contract plans and specifications and requires the contractor to identify errors and omissions before fabrication begins.

What responsibilities are assigned to the contractor or fabricator versus the department?

The contractor or fabricator prepares and submits shop drawings and camber calculations, while the department reviews and authorizes the submitted shop drawings based on established schedules and requirements.

What must steel structure shop drawing submittals include?

Submittals must include assembly and erection sequence information, welding sequences and procedures, full layout drawings with splice locations, temporary support and weld locations, vertical alignment at erection stages, match-marking diagrams, connection and option details, rolling direction guidance, distortion control and dimensional tolerances, material specifications/grades, tension and fracture-critical identification, proposed deviations, plan references, and camber calculations.

Oct 23, 2026

Upload by Hazel