Misc. metals takeoff that finds what hides on the A-sheets.
Misc. and decorative metals live everywhere except the structural framing plans: lintel schedules, stair and rail details, elevator pits, roof screens, ornamental features. RenderDraw searches the whole set and lists them with the sheet attached, so nothing is found after award.
Send one plan set. See what the AI extracts and what it flags for review. No obligation.
- Lintels, stairs, rails, embeds
- Ornamental and decorative items
- Architectural + structural sheets
A checklist for Division 05 50 00 scope.
| Item | Typical source | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Loose lintels | Lintel schedule, wall sections | Count and length by size |
| Stairs and landings | Stair plans, sections, details | Flights, risers, landings |
| Handrails and guardrails | Stair and floor plans, details | Linear feet by type |
| Ladders, ships ladders | Roof plans, mechanical sheets | Count, height |
| Embeds and anchors | Structural and architectural details | Count by type |
| Bollards, pipe guards | Site and floor plans | Count |
| Decorative / ornamental metal | Elevations, interior details | By item, LF or SF |
| Elevator pit ladders, sill angles, hoist beams | Elevator sheets | Count and length |
The quantities a steel estimator actually needs
These are the items RenderDraw proposes from the drawings, each linked to the sheet it came from, for your estimator to accept, correct or reject.
| Item | What is measured or counted | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Members by shape | Beam, column and brace counts by size (W, HSS, L, C) with lengths | Framing plans, schedules, sections |
| Weights / tonnage | Length × weight per foot, rolled up by piece type | Member marks + AISC shape tables |
| Connections | Shear tabs, moment connections, base plates, embeds | Typical details, connection schedules |
| Misc. metals | Lintels, stairs, rails, ladders, embeds | Architectural sheets, details |
| Deck & joists | Deck area by gauge/profile, joist counts by designation | Roof and floor framing plans |
From plan set to reviewed quantities.
AI-powered, human-approved. Each stage records what ran, what changed and who approved it.
Send one plan set
Upload framing plans, column and beam schedules, typical connection details, the structural general notes and the spec sections for structural steel and misc. metals. Add an addendum if you have one.
AI proposes quantities
Counts, lengths and areas come back with the source sheet and location attached to every row.
Estimator review
Low-confidence items surface first. Your estimator accepts, corrects or rejects each one.
Map to your assemblies
Approved quantities map to your items, assemblies and estimating assumptions.
Price reviewed rows
Labor units, material pricing and supplier quotes apply only to rows that passed review.
Hand off with evidence
Approved quantities move on to pricing and visual CPQ with the evidence trail still attached.
Supported files and tasks depend on your trade and implementation. Confirm them in the free sample run.
What we checked (November 2026)
- Handrails (IBC 2021, §1014.2): 34–38 in above stair nosings or the ramp surface.
- Guards (§1015.3): at least 42 in high, with exceptions for some R-2 and R-3 dwelling units.
- Guard openings (§1015.4): must not pass a 4-in sphere up to the required height (4⅜ in between 36 and 42 in). Picket spacing drives picket count, so check it before you count.
- Where misc. metals hide:
- lintel schedules on architectural sheets
- elevator pit ladders and sill angles
- roof hatches and ladders
- bollards
- embed plates on structural details
- edge angles at slab openings
The AI drafts. Your estimator decides.
Speed is easy to promise. Defensible numbers are the job, so RenderDraw keeps the estimator in control of every quantity that gets priced.
- Source on every row. Each quantity keeps its source sheet, location and reviewer decision.
- Lowest confidence first. The review queue shows the drawing tile with the detection highlighted and the extracted value.
- Uncertain items flagged, not hidden. Anything the AI can't confirm goes to the estimator rather than being guessed.
- Nothing priced before approval. Rows move on to pricing only after they are accepted.
Questions estimators ask
What are misc. metals?
Metal fabrications outside the primary structural frame, typically in spec Division 05 50 00: lintels, stairs, rails, ladders, embeds, bollards and similar items.
Why are misc. metals easy to miss?
They appear across architectural, structural, MEP and site sheets rather than in one place.
Does RenderDraw do decorative metal takeoffs?
It finds and lists items from elevations and details with the source attached; complex ornamental pieces still need estimator judgement.
What should we send?
The full architectural and structural set plus the misc. and ornamental metals spec sections.
See what the AI reads on your own drawings.
Send one representative steel plan set. RenderDraw reviews it and follows up with what the AI extracted and what it flagged for review. Your files remain private while the request is assessed, and there is no obligation.
- Upload framing plans, column and beam schedules, typical connection details, the structural general notes and the spec sections for structural steel and misc. metals.
- RenderDraw reviews the set and the scope you want tested.
- We follow up with extracted quantities, flagged items and next steps.
Related tools and guides
Keep reading on renderdraw.com
Sources and further reading
Vendor pages, standards and references checked for this page. Product features and prices change; confirm current details with each vendor.
- International Building Code 2021 Chapter 10 (UpCodes viewer) — 1014.2 handrail height, 1015.3 guard height, 1015.4 opening limits
- AISC 303-22 Code of Standard Practice — Structural steel vs. other items (scope definitions)
Last reviewed November 2026.