Confirm the Same Building Dimensions and Design Basis

Quotation comparison should start with the same building use, project location, length, width, height, clear height, span and column layout, openings, equipment and expansion assumptions. Similar floor area does not establish the same structural scope.

Confirm the applicable project design criteria, including wind, snow, seismic, crane or equipment inputs where relevant, and identify the drawings or assumptions used by each supplier. Two offers based on different structural design assumptions are not directly comparable.

• Building geometry and clearances
• Openings, doors and access
• Crane, mezzanine or equipment inputs if applicable
• Project-specific design criteria and drawing basis

Compare Structural Steel Scope and Material Specifications

Compare the structural scope item by item rather than by total weight alone. Confirm whether primary frames, secondary steel, bracing, purlins, girts, connections, bolts, anchor bolts and accessories are included, excluded or separately priced. Stairs, mezzanine or crane-related steel should be checked only where relevant to the project.

Steel grade, member sizes, plate thickness, material standard, connection method and fabrication scope should be read against the same agreed design basis. A difference in quantity may reflect a difference in assumptions or included work.

Compare Roof, Wall and Opening Scope

Roof and wall scope often explains why totals differ. Compare the material and profile or panel system, coating, insulation or core material where relevant, trims, flashing, gutters, downpipes, doors, windows, skylights, ventilation and other agreed openings. Panel thickness alone is not a complete comparison.

Documented performance requirements should follow the specific project. If material options remain open, review sandwich panel materials separately before comparing offers.

• Roof and wall material/system
• Insulation or panel core where required
• Trims, drainage and accessories
• Doors, windows and ventilation openings

Compare the Coating and Corrosion-Protection Basis

Check the specified surface preparation, primer and paint system, additional coats where explicitly required, galvanizing where specified, and the agreed inspection scope. Exposure conditions and project documents determine the needed treatment; there is no universal coating schedule for every quotation.

The structural steel paint guide covers paint-system fundamentals beyond this procurement comparison.

Compare Drawings, Records and Technical Support

Check what each quotation actually includes: structural or calculation basis, design drawings, fabrication drawings, component identification, installation drawings, material and inspection records, packing lists and shipping documents where agreed. These are contract-scope questions, not automatic deliverables from every supplier.

For the separate buyer approval decision, read the drawing approval guide. The pre-shipment QC guide addresses inspection evidence.

Compare Packing, Freight and Delivery Responsibilities

Ask each supplier to state the agreed delivery basis, such as EXW, FOB or CIF where applicable. Compare factory and container loading, export packing, component numbering, packing lists, ocean freight, insurance, destination charges, inland transport and unloading. Totals are not like-for-like when these responsibilities differ.

The packing and container-loading guide covers shipment preparation in more detail.

Confirm Foundations, Installation and Local Work Exclusions

Foundation, concrete work, site preparation, permits, local approvals, taxes, customs duties, unloading, lifting equipment, local labor, erection, supervision, MEP and fire systems may be outside the supplier’s formal scope unless stated. Confirm each included and excluded responsibility in the quotation and contract scope.