7/24/2018 Formwork - Designing Buildings Wiki

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Last edited 13 Apr 2018

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Related articles

Architectural concrete
(/wiki/Architectural_concrete).
Caisson (/wiki/Caisson).

CDM (/wiki/Cdm).
Cement (/wiki/Cement).
Cofferdam (/wiki/Cofferdam).
Concrete (/wiki/Concrete).
Crane supports (/wiki/Crane_supports).
Deleterious materials

(/wiki/File:Formwork.jpg)

Contents

1 Introduction
2 Shuttering
3 Formwork specifications
4 Beam formwork
5 Column formwork
6 Plastic formwork
7 Requirements of good formwork
8 Find out more
8.1 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
8.2 External references

Introduction (https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/adserver/www/delivery/ck.php?
oaparams=2__bannerid=42__zoneid=1__cb=69740a534a__oadest=https

Formwork is the term used for the process of creating a temporary mould into which concrete
(/wiki/Concrete) is poured and formed. Traditional formwork is fabricated using timber Featured articles and news
(/wiki/Timber), but it can also be constructed from steel (/wiki/Steel), glass fibre reinforced
plastics (/wiki/Glass_fibre_reinforced_plastic) and other materials (/wiki/Materials). Room data sheet (/wiki/Room_data_sheet)

While formwork is a broad term that is used in relation to the forming process using a wide
variety of materials (/wiki/Materials), shuttering (/wiki/Shuttering) is a term that is often used to
refer to the process of using plywood (/wiki/Plywood) to form the mould.

All kinds of construction (/wiki/Construction) projects are likely to employ formwork and
shuttering (/wiki/Shuttering) techniques.

Shuttering (/wiki/Shuttering)

(/wiki/Room_data_sheet)
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Formwork 1/4
7/24/2018 Shuttering (/wiki/Shuttering) is perhaps the most popular type of formwork
Formworkand -isDesigning
normally BuildingsRoom
Wikidata sheets are used to communicate the
constructed on site using timber (/wiki/Timber) and plywood (/wiki/Plywood). A special grade of client’s requirements for each room on a project.
plywood (/wiki/Plywood) is necessary (/wiki/NEC) for shuttering (/wiki/Shuttering), and it must
be water (/wiki/Water)-resistant. It is easy to produce, although it can be time consuming for
Earth overshoot day
larger structures (/wiki/Structure). It is used when the labour costs (/wiki/Cost) are lower than
(/wiki/Earth_overshoot_day)
the cost (/wiki/Cost) of producing re-usable formwork from materials (/wiki/Materials) such as
steel (/wiki/Steel) or plastic (/wiki/Plastic). It also has the advantage of being built in such a way
that a significant amount of concrete (/wiki/Concrete) can be poured at once.

Simple plank shuttering (/wiki/Shuttering) can be used for the construction (/wiki/Construction)
of a path or hardstanding. The planks should be trimmed so they are level with the top surface
of the slab (/wiki/Slab), allowing a tidy concrete (/wiki/Concrete) finish to be achieved.

Formwork specifications (/wiki/Specifications)

(/wiki/Earth_overshoot_day)
When selecting formwork, the type of concrete (/wiki/Concrete) and temperature
Earth's resources being consumed in ever
(/wiki/Temperature) of the pour are important considerations as they both effect the pressure
greater volumes as symbolic 'overshoot' day
exerted.
moves forward again.
The formwork sides must be capable of resisting the hydrostatic pressure of the wet concrete
(/wiki/Concrete) which will diminish to zero within several hours depending on the rate of
Approved Document B
setting and curing.
(/wiki/Approved_Document_B#Updates)
The formwork base or soffit (/wiki/Soffit) must be capable of resisting the initial dead load of the
wet concrete (/wiki/Concrete) and the dead load of the dry set concrete (/wiki/Concrete).

Once the concrete (/wiki/Concrete) has gained sufficient strength the formwork can be struck
(removed). A minimum value of 5 N/mm2 is recommended in all cases when striking vertical
formwork as so not to damage the permanent concrete (/wiki/Concrete) in the process.

High quality (/wiki/Quality) workmanship (/wiki/Workmanship) and inspection (/wiki/Inspection)

are necessary (/wiki/NEC) to ensure a high standard and appearance of the resulting concrete
(/wiki/Approved_Document_B#Updates)
(/wiki/Concrete) structure (/wiki/Structure).

Full-scale review of fire safety guidance

Both shuttering (/wiki/Shuttering) and formwork in its various forms will be supported by
announced for the autumn.
falsework (/wiki/Falsework). This refers to poles, stabilisers, or other units that keep the
shuttering (/wiki/Shuttering) or formwork in place as the concrete (/wiki/Concrete) dries. For
more information, see Falsework (/wiki/Falsework). Traditional construction materials
(/wiki/Traditional_construction_materials_on_the_Is

Beam (/wiki/Beam) formwork

Formwork for beams (/wiki/Beam) takes the form of a three-sided box which is supported and
propped in the correct position and to the desired level. The removal time for the formwork will
vary with air temperature (/wiki/Air_temperature), humidity (/wiki/Humidity) and consequent
curing rate. Typical striking times are as follows (using air temperature (/wiki/Air_temperature)
of 7-16 ºC):

Beam (/wiki/Beam) sides: 9-12 hours.

(/wiki/Traditional_construction_materials_on_the_Is
Beam (/wiki/Beam) soffits (/wiki/Soffit): 8-14 days.
Beam (/wiki/Beam) props: 15-21 days.
The Isle of Man’s naturally-occurring materials
and distinctive building techniques.
Column (/wiki/Column) formwork

Modern slavery
This consists of a vertical mould of the desired shape and size of the column (/wiki/Column) to
(/wiki/Australian_ethical_labour_sourcing_standard
be poured. As a means of keeping the formwork material thickness to a minimum, horizontal
steel (/wiki/Steel) or timber (/wiki/Timber) clamps (or yokes) are used at equal centres for batch
filling and at varying centres for filling that is completed in one pour.

The head of the column (/wiki/Column) formwork can be used to provide support for the beam
(/wiki/Beam) formwork, but while this gives good top lateral restraint it can make the formwork
complex. Alternatively, the column (/wiki/Column) can be cast to the underside of the beams
(/wiki/Beam). Later on, a collar of formwork can be clamped around the cast column
(/wiki/Column) to complete the casting and support the incoming beam (/wiki/Beam) formwork.

Plastic (/wiki/Plastic) formwork

Re-usable plastic (/wiki/Plastic) formwork is generally used for quick pours of concrete
(/wiki/Concrete). The formwork is assembled either from interlocking panels or from a modular
(/wiki/Australian_ethical_labour_sourcing_standard
system and is used for relatively simple concrete (/wiki/Concrete) structures (/wiki/Structure). It
is not as versatile as timber (/wiki/Timber) formwork due to the prefabrication BRE partner with Global GreenTag to develop
(/wiki/Prefabrication) requirements and is best suited for lost-cost (/wiki/Cost), repetitive an Ethical Labour Sourcing Standard for
structures (/wiki/Structure) such as mass housing schemes. Australia.

Annex SL (/wiki/Annex_SL)
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Formwork 2/4
7/24/2018 Stay-in-place structural formwork is generally assembled on site using prefabricated
Formwork - Designing Buildings Wiki
(/wiki/Prefabricated) fibre-reinforced plastic (/wiki/Plastic). It is used for concrete
(/wiki/Concrete) columns (/wiki/Column) and piers (/wiki/Piers) and stays in place, acting as
permanent axial and shear reinforcement (/wiki/Reinforcement) for the structural member. It
also provides resistance to environmental damage for both the concrete (/wiki/Concrete) and
reinforcing bars.

Proprietary systems are used to support vertical formwork while concrete (/wiki/Concrete)
cures, consisting of a series of tubes and ties. (/wiki/Annex_SL)

The Chartered Quality Institute explain the

Requirements of good formwork pathway to success for organisations
implementing management systems.
The following requirements should be satisfied by good formwork:

Strong enough to withstand dead and live loads (/wiki/Loads). Duty of care
Capable of retaining its shape by being efficiently propped and braced horizontally and
(/wiki/Duty_of_care_in_building_design_and_const
vertically.
Joints should prevent leakage of cement (/wiki/Cement) grout (/wiki/Grout).
Should be capable of being removed in various parts without damaging the concrete
(/wiki/Concrete).
Material used be suitable for reuse.
Should be set accurately to the desired line.
As lightweight as possible.
Material should not warp or distort on exposure to the elements.
Should rest on a firm base.

Find out more (/wiki/Find_out_more)

(/wiki/Duty_of_care_in_building_design_and_const
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki (/wiki/Designing_Buildings_Wiki)
An introductory article looking at where a duty of
Architectural concrete (/wiki/Architectural_concrete).
care can arise in the construction industry.
Caisson (/wiki/Caisson).
CDM (/wiki/Cdm).
Cement (/wiki/Cement).
Cofferdam (/wiki/Cofferdam). Off-site manufacturing (/wiki/Off-
Concrete (/wiki/Concrete).
site_manufacture_for_construction:_Building_for_c
Crane supports (/wiki/Crane_supports).
Deleterious materials (/wiki/Deleterious_materials).
Designers (/wiki/Designers).
Design liability (/wiki/Design_liability).
Demolition (/wiki/Demolition).
Facade retention (/wiki/Facade_retention).
Falsework (/wiki/Falsework).
Hoists (/wiki/Hoists).
Plywood (/wiki/Plywood).
Rebar (/wiki/Rebar).
Reinforced concrete (/wiki/Reinforced_concrete).
Scaffolding (/wiki/Scaffolding).
Shoring (/wiki/Shoring).
Slip form (/wiki/Slip_form). (/wiki/Off-
Temporary works (/wiki/Temporary_Works).
Trench box (/wiki/Trench_box). site_manufacture_for_construction:_Building_for_c
Trench support (/wiki/Trench_support).
House of Lords committee encourages the use
of off-site manufacturing in new report.
External references

BS5975 (http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030240690) :2008 + A1:

2001 Code of Practice for Temporary Works Procedures and the Permissible Stress Buildings and microclimate
Design of Falsework (BSI 2011).
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