LAYOUT

PROCEDURE FOR
STEEL COLUMNS
Prepared by:
Rhea Joy B. Celzo

Two methods used to mount steel

columns to concrete foundations:
1. PREFABRICATED COLUMN METHOD.
- columns are prefabricated off-site in a steel fabricators shop.
- shipped to the job site with the base plates and other fastening
tabs installed and with all necessary holes drilled.
-if the column is to be mounted on anchor bolts, the base plates will
have anchor bolts holes pre-drilled to the specified pattern.
-smaller, lighter, prefabricated columns, those made of pipe or
round or square structural tubing are sometimes called
lally columns

Two methods used to mount steel

columns to concrete foundations:
2. FIELD ASSEMBLY ON PRE-INSTALLED BASE PLATE METHOD.
- if the column do not have the base plates installed when delivered
to the job-site, they will usually be set on pre-installed base
plates
and field welded on place.
-may be mounted on anchor bolts or they may have bolt-like
pro
trusion called studs welded to the back side of the plate
and embedded
in the concrete of the foundation.

Step by step procedure for establishing

layout lines for steel columns:
Step 1. Same as for concrete column layout as described.
Step 2. Same as for concrete column layout as described.
Step 3. Transfer the first construction control line to the area near the column
mounting points. Rotate the barrel of the transit downward and focus on a point
close to the foundation on the near side of the structure. Direct your assistant to
drive a stake so that the top of the stake is visible and the cross hairs of the
transit scope falls on the top of the stake.
Step 4. Transfer the second construction control line to the area near the
column mounting points. Move the transit to an adjacent side of the excavation and
repeat steps 2 and 3. This has established four stakes with tacks or marks on
their tops that correspond to two construction control lines, one at 90
degrees
to the other.

RULES FOR LOCATING STEEL COLUMN ERECTION

LINES ON THE COLUMN CENTER LINES
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.

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There must be a clean, flat surface on which the column erection lines can be scribe. The
area should be larger than the column base plate by at least .
The column base plates should be installed at a fabrication facility, rather than field
welded.
The column base plates should be of uniform size.
The column base plates should be welded to the column so that the axes of the base
plates conform to the axes of the column. That is, the column should be precisely
centered on the base plate.
Anchor bolts must be set precisely using templates and not disturbed during
concrete placements.
Any anchor bolt holes in the column base plates should be precisely drilled to
conform to the anchor bolt template used to set the anchor bolts, and vice versa.

RULES FOR LOCATING STEEL COLUMN ERECTION

LINES ALONGSIDE THE COLUMN CENTER LINES
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.

If any of the rules listed above are violated, the field engineer should consider
placing the column erection lines alongside the column center lines.
Use this technique if the columns are to be field welded to pre-installed base plates or
plates embedded in the foundation structure or the slab.
If the anchor bolts are out of position, requiring the use of a torch to elongate
column base plate holes.
If several different sizes of columns are to be installed on one column line or any of the
AISC W or S shape members, columns are used and some are oriented with
flanges
on opposite axes. That is, the end columns may have the flanges parallel to the N-S
lines while interior columns have the flanges parallel to E-W lines
If there are obstructions that will prevent viewing or marking the column axes
locations
If the transit used to locate the bases of the columns is to be used to plumb the
columns. It is easier to measure from a line of sight over to a column face during the
plumbing operation. The same thing applies if a laser is to be used for plumbing a line
of columns.

Step by step procedure for establishing

layout lines for steel columns:
Step 5. Establish offset lines or center lines for column placement. If the choice has been
made to use a column erection line which is to run alongside the column center lines, two
options are open to the field engineer. One option is to run a string line from stakes placed on
the offset line. The ironworkers then simply measure from the string to the face of the column,
compensating for one-half the thickness of the column at the point of tape
contact. The
other option is to set up the transit on the offset line, sighting down the line
alongside
the columns. The ironworkers then measure from the line of sight over to the
face of the
column, again compensating for one half of the column thickness at the point of tape contact.
If the choice has been to run the column erection on the column center
line, set the transit
up on the column center line, sighting down the line toward the
position of the column on
the line. Direct your assistant to scribe a line on each column mounting point on the line of
columns. Continues the procedure until each column
mounting point has been marked
with a set of lines which should cross at the exact center of each column location.

Step by step procedure for establishing

layout lines for steel columns:
Step 6. Inspect the work.
Step 7. Record the procedure, dimensions, and locations in a field notebook.
a.
Record the location of the transit and which control points were
used
b.
Record the method used in establishing the offset lines.
c.
Note whether the column erection lines were run on the column
lines or if they were offset. If offset, record the offset distance.
d.
Record the time of the day, elapsed time, weather, and the names of
the personnel involved in the procedure.
e.
Record the page and date of the latest revision of the blueprint
used.
f.
Record any unusual events which may have occurred prior to,during, or
after this procedure that may have an effect on the results.

Step by step procedure for establishing

layout lines for steel columns:
Step 8. Secure the equipment, field notes,
and prints in accordance with accepted
procedures. Report that the operation has
been completed to the proper authority.