Document Completeness Is the Biggest Variable
Detailing speed is directly limited by the completeness of the input documents. A complete, IFC-stamped structural drawing set with a connection load table allows modeling to proceed uninterrupted. A package missing addenda, architectural drawings, or connection criteria generates RFIs — and each RFI cycle adds 1–3 weeks while the team waits for a response.
- Incomplete IFC package — structural drawings still in revision during detailing
- Missing connection design criteria — each unknown connection becomes an RFI
- Absent architectural or MEP drawings — copes and clearances cannot be determined
- Unresolved miscellaneous steel scope — what is in and what is out affects modeling sequence
Connection Complexity Drives Phase 2 Duration
Standard AISC shear connections on a repetitive warehouse frame detail quickly. Seismic moment frames, transfer trusses, curved members, and complex embed conditions are time-intensive per connection — not per ton. A 300-ton project with 40 moment connections may take longer than a 600-ton project with simple shear-only framing. Always ask your detailer how they assess connection complexity when building a schedule.
EOR Review Turnaround Is Outside the Detailer's Control
The submittal review cycle is almost always the longest single phase of a detailing engagement. EORs typically take 10–14 business days per review cycle; some take longer. Two review cycles is standard; three is common on complex projects. This time is entirely outside the detailer's control and is the variable most often missing from fabricators' schedule expectations. Build 4–6 weeks of EOR review time into any project schedule before fabrication can begin.