Steel Economics — Fab Hours by Complexity
Shop hours from tonnage and a complexity-honest hours-per-tonne rate.
Hours-per-tonne is the fabricator's true currency: simple beams run 6–8, connection-heavy braced frames 15–20, AESS and stairs 25+. Tonnage prices the steel; hours price the JOB.
Formula
Note: Erection-planning estimate only. Member weights, connection capacities and tolerances for execution must come from the issued drawings, the EOR and the erection engineer — never from a generic calculator.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Shop hours from tonnage and a complexity-honest hours-per-tonne rate. A free structural steel delivery & erection tool — no sign-up, no upload, instant results in your browser.
About Steel Economics — Fab Hours by Complexity
Steel Economics — Fab Hours by Complexity computes the governing relationship hours = t × h/t; weeks = hours/capacity live as you type. Hours-per-tonne is the fabricator's true currency: simple beams run 6–8, connection-heavy braced frames 15–20, AESS and stairs 25+. Tonnage prices the steel; hours price the JOB. Defaults are pre-filled with realistic values for this exact scenario, and the worked example substitutes your numbers step by step so the math is never a black box.
How to use Steel Economics — Fab Hours by Complexity
- 1Enter your values — Tonnage, Hours per tonne, Shop hours/week available (sensible defaults are pre-filled).
- 2Read the live results: Total shop hours, Shop duration.
- 3Check the "with your numbers" line to see hours = t × h/t; weeks = hours/capacity substituted step by step.
- 4Adjust inputs until the scenario matches yours, then copy or share the result.
Why use Steel Economics — Fab Hours by Complexity?
- ✓Instant, free and private — every calculation runs client-side in your browser; nothing is uploaded
- ✓Built on the stated formula hours = t × h/t; weeks = hours/capacity with authoritative sources cited on the page (AISC 303 — Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings)
- ✓Hours-per-tonne is the fabricator's true currency: simple beams run 6–8, connection-heavy braced frames 15–20, AESS and stairs 25+.
- ✓Niche-specific defaults give a meaningful worked answer the moment the page loads
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the steel economics — fab hours by complexity use?+
It evaluates hours = t × h/t; weeks = hours/capacity, exactly as published. Sources: AISC 303 — Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings. The substituted worked example on the page lets you verify every step against the textbook.
How should I read the result — and how far can I trust it?+
Hours-per-tonne is the fabricator's true currency: simple beams run 6–8, connection-heavy braced frames 15–20, AESS and stairs 25+. Erection-planning estimate only. Member weights, connection capacities and tolerances for execution must come from the issued drawings, the EOR and the erection engineer — never from a generic calculator.
When is this calculator the right tool for the job?+
Shop hours from tonnage and a complexity-honest hours-per-tonne rate. A free structural steel delivery & erection tool. Tonnage prices the steel; hours price the JOB. For neighbouring scenarios, the related tools below cover the same engine with different presets.
Do I need to install anything or create an account?+
No. The tool is pure client-side JavaScript: open the page and it works, offline once loaded, with no account, no quota and no data leaving your device.
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