The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Formwork for Your ...
Choosing the right kind of formwork is important when you are starting a building construction project. This will affect the durability and efficiency of the building or other structures. The choice depends on the project and there are many options available in different materials and designs.
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The following is a guide on how to select the proper formwork for your project:
Understanding Formwork and Its Importance
Formwork plays a key role in any concrete-based construction, as it defines the shape of the concrete.
It is exposed to the pressure both of the poured-in fresh concrete and other elements acting upon the building such as wind or vibration forces, so it has to be of good quality and able to retain its shape. Ultimately, the better the formwork, the better the concrete structure.
Types of Formwork Materials
Timber Formwork
Traditional and versatile, it is suitable for customised shapes but has a limited lifespan.
Timber formwork is one of the most conventional types of formwork. Due to the ease of cutting it into any shape and size, it can be used to build irregular and complex structures.
Timber formwork is manufactured onsite; hence, it is mostly suited for small to medium-scale projects. It has good thermal insulation and is relatively low in initial cost. Its main disadvantages are warping and low durability, resulting in reduced reusability.
Steel Formwork
A stronger and longer-lasting material than timber, which is well-suited for repetitive structures in large-scale developments
Steel formwork is also known as panelised formwork, which contains a large steel frame that is a highly versatile material. It is a compact, long-lasting material that can deal with heavy workloads.
Steel formworks are highly reusable, and they can be used for several cycles of building, which makes them economical. Sometimes, it can provide decent surface finishing to concrete surfaces.
It is the most convenient for mass construction. It is also known to be heavier among all of the forms of construction formworks making it difficult to assemble sometimes. Contractors need to use a lifting device to assemble them.
Aluminium Formwork
Lightweight and easy to handle, with a longer lifespan than timber.
Aluminium formwork weighs less than steel. It is easy to handle, and less support is needed. There are many particles with aluminium formwork that cannot be used anymore.
Reusing the aluminium formwork can reduce the cost. It can be used to build different kinds of buildings like residential and high-rise towers as well. Aluminium formwork can make the construction cycle punctual and it promises surface quality.
Plastic Formwork
A cost-effective, eco-friendly option for small, repetitive structures.
It is made from lightweight and durable plastic. It is easy to transport and install. Also, this product can be used for many types of applications, such as:
Walls
Columns
Slabs and more...
The plastic system is able to withstand harsh environments also. It is a recyclable material, and it can be reused many times at low cost.
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Furthermore, it is waterproof and corrosion-resistant. Finally, I can say that PLASTIC FORMWORK is highly and greatly recommended for bridges and arches restrictions.
In conclusion, it is better and strongly recommended for any type of construction.
Formwork Ply
In the jargon of carpenters, they call it &#;shuttering ply&#; &#; a shot of phenolic paper over plywood that produces a super-smooth concrete finish.
Plywood formwork is widely used with buildings and bridges, and the most common form is called formwork ply or form ply, which is made by gluing multiple layers of wood veneers from above and below together through special glue.
It is called ply because it consists of more than one layer of veneers and formply or formwork ply.
Why is it called formwork ply or formply? Because it can be used as formwork to construct:
Pillars
Columns
Beams
Slabs
And Walls&#;
And also refers to formboard, veneer formboard or general formply.
This type of form has a very smooth surface, and if there are excellent operations, it can also be repeated several times. Formplying is also called the veneer-faced family because it is made of gluing wood veneers, especially a smooth wood veneer without other outer layers, also called veneer.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Formwork
Cost - Cost will be a factor in the choice of formwork material. Consider initial cost, the lifespan of the formwork, and any opportunities for reuse or refabrication to get the most value for your money.
As manufacturing techniques in formwork evolve, efficiency and reduced environmental impact become key considerations. Some innovations include modular construction that can be constructed and deconstructed quickly and recyclable, natural, sustainable materials that offer high-quality finishes.
Sustainability and Formwork
Sustainable construction is currently a big focus on formwork: systems that can be recycled help reduce the CO2 footprint; certified raw materials, such as aluminium that has been responsibly sourced, are now the norm; and prompt installation also plays a part.
Summary
Getting the right formwork is a key element in ensuring the successful outcome of your building construction project. Using the tips outlined in this guide and keeping up to date with the latest developments, you will be able to make a choice of formwork that guarantees safety, durability and efficiency. Choose timber, steel, aluminium or ply form. Get in touch with the LFCS team if you need advice on choosing the right formwork for your project.
Types of Formwork for Concrete Structures
Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials, thanks to its exceptional properties. However, to create building elements with concrete, it must be poured into a specially designed mold. This is known as formwork or shuttering.
Formwork can use temporary or permanent molds, which hold the poured concrete in shape until it hardens and achieves enough strength to support itself. Formwork can be classified in many ways:
- Type of material used
- By the concrete element supported
- Removable or permanent
Formwork has a fundamental role in concrete construction. It must have enough strength to bear all the loads present during casting operations, and must then hold its shape while concrete hardens.
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Which Are the Requirements for Good Formwork?
Although there are many formwork materials, the following are general performance features to meet the needs of concrete construction:
- Capable of withstanding dead and live loads.
- Retaining its shape with adequate props and braces.
- Joints must be leak-proof.
- If formwork is removable, the process must not damage the concrete.
- Reusable material.
- As lightweight as possible.
- The formwork material should not warp or distort.
When selecting formwork it is important to consider the type of concrete and the pouring temperature, since both affect the pressure exerted. Also, formwork must be capable of resisting the loads of wet and dry concrete.
Formwork requires structures such as poles and stabilisers to avoid movement during construction procedures, and these are called falsework. To ensure high quality when working with concrete, a qualified workforce and adequate supervision are necessary.
The following sections provide an overview of some common formwork materials.
Timber Formwork
Timber formwork was one the first types used in construction industry. It is assembled on site and is the most flexible type, bringing the following advantages:
- Easy to produce and remove
- Lightweight, especially when compared with metallic formwork
- Workable, allowing any shape, size and height
- Economical in small projects
- Allows the use of local timber
However, before using timber its condition must be checked carefully, making sure it is free of termites. Timber formwork also has two limitations that must be considered: it has a short life span and is time consuming in large projects. In general, timber formwork is recommended when labor costs are low, or when complex concrete sections require flexible formwork.
Plywood Formwork
Plywood is often used used along with timber. It is a manufactured wooden material, which is available in different sizes and thicknesses. In formwork applications, it is mainly used for sheathing, decking and form linings.
Plywood formwork has similar properties as timber formwork, including strength, durability and being lightweight.
Metallic Formwork: Steel and Aluminum
Steel formwork and steel hardware is becoming more popular due to its long service life and multiple reuses. Although it is costly, steel formwork is useful for multiple projects, and it is a viable option when many opportunities for reuse are expected.
The following are some of the main features of steel formwork:
- Strong and durable, with a long lifespan
- Creates a smooth finish on concrete surfaces
- Waterproof
- Reduces honeycombing effect in concrete
- Easily installed and dismantled
- Suitable for curved structures
Aluminum formwork is very similar to steel formwork. The main difference is that aluminum has a lower density than steel, which makes formwork lighter. Aluminum also has a lower strength than steel, and this must be considered before using it.
Plastic Formwork
This type of formwork is assembled from interlocking panels or modular systems, made of lightweight and robust plastic. Plastic formwork works best in small projects consisting on repetitive tasks, such as low-cost housing estates.
Plastic formwork is light and can be cleaned with water, while being suitable for large sections and multiple reuses. Its main drawback is having less flexibility than timber, since many components are prefabricated.
Fabric Formwork
Fabric formwork is also known as flexible formwork. This system uses lightweight and high-strength sheets of fabric, designed to adjust to the fluidity of concrete and create interesting architectural forms.
This formwork type uses less concrete than rigid systems, which yields savings. It is an emerging technology in the shuttering industry, especially suited for constructions of irregular and complex shapes.
Stay-In-Place Formwork
This formwork is designed to remain fixed after the concrete has set, acting as axial and shear reinforcement. This formwork is made on-site from prefabricated and fibre-reinforced plastic forms. It is mainly used in piers and columns, and also provides resistance against corrosion and other types of environmental damage.
Another type of stay in place formwork is called coffor, which can be used in any type of building:
- It is composed of two filtering grids, reinforced by stiffeners and linked with articulated connectors.
- Thanks to its construction, it can be easily transported from a factory to the point of use.
Tunnel Formwork
Tunnel formwork is a common construction method used in residential apartments & hotels which involves producing repetitive structural elements for buildings with the same layouts. It employs a steel formwork system that is built on the construction site to pour concrete walls and slabs in a continuous cycle. This strategy is especially effective for tasks that require quick construction and consistent design.
Tunnel formwork is extensively used in high-rise construction projects when speed and efficiency are crucial. The advantages are faster construction, high quality control, and less labor cost. The approach allows the creation of long-lasting structures fast and efficiently, making it one of the popular choices in the infrastructure industry.
Permanent Insulated Formwork
This is one of the most advanced formwork systems, offering permanent insulation. It may also include thermal, acoustic, fire-resistance and rodent-resistance properties. Insulating concrete forms (ICF) are the most common type of permanent insulated formwork, where concrete structures are insulated with polystyrene boards that stay in place after concrete has cured.
Permanent insulated formwork offers energy efficiency and sustainability, contributing to a lower environmental impact from the building sector.
Classifying Formwork Based on Structural Components
In addition to being classified by material, formwork can also be classified according to the building elements supported:
- Wall formwork
- Beam formwork
- Foundation formwork
- Column formwork
All formwork types are designed according to the structure they support, and the corresponding construction plans specify the materials and required thickness. It is important to note that formwork construction takes time, and it can represent between 20 and 25% of structural costs. To mitigate the cost of formwork, consider the following recommendations:
- Building plans should reuse building elements and geometries as much as possible to allow formwork reusing.
- When working with timber formwork, it should be cut into pieces that are large enough to be reused.
Concrete structures vary in design and purpose. Like in most project decisions, no option is better than the rest for all applications; the most suitable formwork for your project varies depending on building design.
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Contact us to discuss your requirements of Steel Concrete Formwork Manufacturer(pt,ta,th). Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
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