Steel and Structural Takeoff
Structural steel — columns, beams, bracing, and connections — requires precise quantities for both bidding and procurement. This article covers how to extract steel quantities from a BIM model in Sparkel, including how to handle the common problem of models where steel profiles aren't consistently named or classified.
What you're typically measuring
Columns — by profile type (e.g. HEB 200) and length or weight
Beams — by profile type and length or weight
Bracing and secondary structure — length or weight
Trusses — component count or total weight
Steel plates and connections — m² or kg
Weight (kg or tonnes) is often the preferred output unit for steel procurement, as suppliers price by weight. See The Quantity Table for how to use dynamic quantity formulas to calculate weight from geometry.
Step 1: Inspect the model's steel data
Before setting up items, click on a few steel elements in the viewer to inspect what properties the model contains. Look for:
Profile name or description (e.g. "HEB200", "IPE300")
Material type — filter on "steel", "stål", or a specific grade
IFC class — typically
IfcColumn,IfcBeam, orIfcMemberWeight properties — some models include calculated weight; others don't
If the model has inconsistent property naming — which is common — you'll identify this here. This tells you whether dynamic linking will work cleanly or whether you'll need to supplement with manual selection.
Step 2: Set up items by profile type
Create items reflecting how your steel supplier or subcontractor will price the work. If you need quantities per profile, create one item per profile type. If a total weight by element type is sufficient, create one item per category.
Step 3: Link with dynamic rules or manual selection
Where profile naming is consistent, use dynamic linking to filter by profile name or material property. Where it isn't, use manual selection — select all columns visually in the viewer, verify they look correct, and link them in one action.
The viewer is your quality check: isolate the linked elements after linking to confirm you've captured exactly what you intended.
Step 4: Handle missing weight data with shapes
If the model doesn't include calculated weight, you have two options:
Use length (m) as the unit and convert to weight in your Excel export using standard profile weight tables
Draw shapes in 3D to manually represent elements the model misses entirely
Step 5: Export and send
Export to Excel for use in your bid or cost model, or send the takeoff directly to your steel fabricator or supplier via Sparkel's ordering flow.