Licensed Connection Support

Connection Design Engineering For Steel That Has To Perform In The Field

Every connection carries a real load, whether or not the calculation package makes it clear. SSD builds connection designs around actual structural and field conditions, not just a passing code check, so contractors and fabricators can move forward with confidence rather than second-guessing.

Force Transfer Evaluation
Member Behavior Review
Calculation Package Accuracy

Architectural Interface Review
Visual Condition Checks
Fabrication Feasibility Review

Version-Controlled Calculations
Change History You Can Trace
Model-Referenced Documentation

What Actually Goes Into A Connection Package

The Work Between "Load Received" And "Package Released"

A connection design is only as good as the assumptions behind it. Before a single calculation is run, our engineers confirm the actual member sizes, framing conditions, and field constraints for the project, because a connection built on the wrong assumption fails just as easily as one built on no analysis at all.

Our engineering design process is built to catch problems before they reach a fabricator’s shop, not after. Every stamped package reflects that review, along with the load-transfer analysis and code-compliance work behind it.

What Makes A Connection Package Worth Trusting

Three Things We Won't Compromise On

Full Calculation Backup
Version-By-Version History
Clear Submittal Trail

Cross-Discipline Review
Field Condition Checks
Scope Gap Identification

Tekla Structures
SDS/2 Modeling
Autodesk Revit

Detailers

Engineers

Support Staff

Project Capacity

0 TONS

How A Connection Package Actually Comes Together

Four Steps From Drawing To Release

Questions We Get Asked A Lot

Straight Answers About Connection Engineering

Here’s what Minnesota contractors and fabricators usually want to know before requesting connection design support.

How fast can SSD turn around a connection design once we submit our drawings?

Turnaround depends on scope and complexity, but our engineers prioritize active fabrication schedules and will flag realistic timelines upfront rather than after the fact.

Do you review the condition of architectural steel, or just structural load requirements?

Both. Architectural steel still has to work structurally, so we check visible conditions and structural requirements together before finalizing a connection.

What happens if a fabricator has a question about a stamped calculation mid-project?

Our engineers remain available after a package is released. If a question comes up during fabrication, you’re talking to the engineer who did the work, not a general support line.

Can SSD handle delegated engineering requirements for complex or fast-track projects?

Yes. Delegated engineering, PE-stamped calculations, and structural connection packages are core to what we do, including for accelerated project timelines.

What information do you need from us to start a connection design?

Drawings, design criteria, and any known field constraints are the minimum. The more context we have upfront, the fewer revision cycles a package usually needs.