How do you read a beam schedule or column schedule?

Anatomy of a beam schedule

Most beam schedules have these columns, in some order:

The mark on the plan is the key. Everything else is looked up from it. A quantity column is rare. You get the count by counting marks on the plans, not from the schedule.

Anatomy of a column schedule

A column schedule is usually laid out as a grid: rows are gridline locations or column marks, columns are floor levels. Each cell gives the column size for that level, and the table also gives splice elevations, base plate size and anchor rod information.

Read it vertically for one column line. A column that is W14x90 from the foundation to level 2 and W14x61 above that is two different pieces, or one piece with a splice, depending on the splice elevation. That affects both length and piece count. For a full walk-through, see Column schedule takeoff example and What is a column schedule?.

How do you connect the schedule to the plan?

1. Take off the schedule first and write down every mark and size.
2. Go to the framing plan and count every instance of each mark.
3. Multiply the count by the length from the plan to get lineal feet.
4. Multiply by weight per foot from the shape table to get pounds.

Marks you find on the plan that are not in the schedule are a red flag: ask the engineer. Marks in the schedule that never appear on a plan may be members that show only in a section or an elevation, so do not throw them away without checking.

What goes wrong with schedules?

The common failures are:

• Two schedules on different sheets that disagree after a revision.
• A mark reused for different sizes on different levels.
• A schedule that lists sizes for several buildings or wings under one mark.
• Counting the schedule rows as quantities.
• A direct label on the plan that contradicts the schedule.

Software that only reads direct labels will miss everything defined by marks. SteelFlo reads member schedules and resolves marks to sizes, and flags marks it could not resolve so that a person checks them. The difference between the two labeling styles is covered in Schedule vs direct labels.

An example schedule and how to use it

Here is an invented beam schedule for a small floor, to show the mechanics:

On the plan you count 14 marks reading B1, 4 reading B2 and 6 reading B3. With a 24 ft B1, a 30 ft B2 and a 20 ft B3, the weights are 14 x 24 x 26 = 8,736 lb, 4 x 30 x 35 = 4,200 lb and 6 x 20 x 26 = 3,120 lb, for a total of 16,056 lb, about 8.0 tons. The studs are 14 x 24 + 4 x 32 = 464. Cambered beams are the B1s and B2s, 18 pieces.

The schedule did not give you any quantities. The plan did. This is the single most important habit when working with schedules.

What about other schedules?

Several kinds of schedule matter to a steel takeoff:

• Lintel schedules list masonry opening lintels by mark, size and length. They are often on a separate sheet from the framing.
• Joist schedules give joist designations (such as K-series or LH-series) and bridging. Joists are often supplied by a specialist.
• Brace or frame schedules give sizes for braced-frame members and connections.
• Base plate and anchor rod schedules list plate sizes and rods per column mark.
• Footing and grade-beam schedules are concrete, not steel, and should not end up in a steel BOM.

Read the title of each schedule so you pick up what you need and skip what you do not. See Grade beam and footing schedules explained.

What if the schedule and the plan disagree?

Raise an RFI. Do not pick the version you like. In many contracts the order of precedence is spelled out in the general notes (schedules over plans, or the reverse), so check there first. Whatever you decide, record the assumption in the bid. Disagreements are common after a revision where one sheet was updated and another was not, which is another reason to log revisions carefully. See RFIs from your steel takeoff.