Form systems Only demanded in construction when in it must be molded vertically or suspended horizontally.

The cost of false work (either cost per use or overall lifetime costs) varies dramatically as to system chosen. Systems are chosen considering many factors, including; The number of repeat uses. The desired finish The amount of labor to install each use Availability of experienced personnel to install it Handling equipment available to move large sections around The amount of wet concrete deliverable per cast The amount of capital available The speed of project Versatility Pour to strip times The acceptability of cold joints.

Generally speaking, the faster you can strip the less wear on your forms. The faster you strip the greater the damage to the concrete possible. Coarse finishes will result even from smooth forms when they are stripped under 48 hours... (particles of sand are not well "stuck" and will leave surface and damage other particles by sliding) In the 3rd world I try to strip in 6 hours so I can get 2 casts a day and keep the crew busy. The smother the surface and stiffer the form will determine the earliest strip times. Materials Note! When we say advantages or disadvantages, we are only talking general terms, as formwork jobs come in all ranges and one persons crippling cost disadvantage may be insignificant to another. Back to top. Untreated wood Advantages: low initial cost low experience factor low weight versatile usually contains sugars that act as a retardant preventing sticking

Formwork materials - Rough sawn timber used as formwork here to provide an architectural effect. Disadvantages: poor finish patching almost demanded if in a place where finished concrete will be seen low per unit use (4-7) high labor as each set must be "re-built" must wait till concrete is well set (24 hours) to strip leaves a dusty finish as there are sugars in the sap of soft woods.

Back to top. Untreated plywood Advantages:-Same as above for untreated timber but a smoother finish. Disadvantages:- Same as above but greater cost and availability in some countries. Back to top. Coated Plywood Advantages: Will increase durability. Many commercial pre-coated plywood systems are available:Oil saturated paper. vinyl and water resistant glue surface.

Simple oil based paint will increase the number of uses by double as long as the edges are not exposed to setting cement. Epoxy paint coatings will extend the use of plywood to over 100 uses If uncoated surfaces are exposed the number of uses will equal un treated plywood. Increased initial cost increased weight (thick paint is heavy), more work to clean before each use, release agents almost a must.

Disadvantages:-

Back to top.

Steel formwork Advantages has very high re use rates, tens of thousands of uses possible Example, cast cement in hollow blocks use a steel form. Very smooth surfaces are possible. STRONG and can be stripped late. fast to install in simple walls and the like low versatility (short walls can't be formed as nobody cuts steel for a single use), many flooring systems use steel form as re-enforcement for single use.

Formwork materials - Permanent formwork that is left in place and becomes part of the structural strength of the slab. The steel angles around the

perimeter also can be said to be part of the formwork. Disadvantages. Costs are 6 to 10 times a plywood form and much higher for specialty forms. The thicker the surface of the steel sheet, the greater the weight. Release agents are demanded as, if not used, cleaning labor will quickly overcome any economy gained by durable surfaces. Steel dents easy, so if your boys claim it is 'strong as steel' soon your formwork will be very much less than flat.

Formwork materials - permanent formwork for a column. In this case steel spiral formed on a machine primarily used for air ducts. Concrete pipes are also popular permanent column forms.

Formwork materials - Aluminium extrusion edge form for tilt slabs.

Formwork materials - Cement blocks produced in steel forms in their thousands, are in turn used to form complex reinforced concrete walls.

Back to top. Fiberglass formwork. I have not seen non-custom fiberglass systems, but they may be out there. A good use for fiberglass pans would be center floor decks in a high rise where the underside of the floor was visible, or in custom arch. designs on exterior of building. Very smooth clean lines in unusual shapes are possible. Many re-uses, 1000's depending on handling. Strips fast. long lead times. Building fiberglass forms requires first to build a form to shape the glass, then each cast has considerable work before your first concrete cast is possible. Not as heavy as steel, but usually cast in such large sections weight exceeds the ability of non mechanized handling.

Back to top. Aluminum formwork. Mostly for basements where nice finishes are needed. some very nice designs or finishes are possible, "brick" look or "rock wall" look are some examples. not as easy to damage as steel Assembles fast. Can be very costly to buy.

Back to top. Concrete itself as formwork. Commonly called "pre-cast". Shapes that are built in such a way that when concrete is added it will build the final structural shape and are never "stripped'. Advantages: A single form can be used to build components of a large cast increasing form repeats and decreasing the amount of forms needed. It is possible to cast light shapes to build beams and hold dead loads. Concrete is heavy. Set times before handling are a factor. Must be built strong enough to resist normal loads plus handling loads (increased re-bar).

Disadvantages.

Back to top. Fabric formwork A system where a fabric membrane is stapled to very lightweight forms. Back to top. Latex, rubber formwork

Used in the production of small moulded concrete pieces that would be extremely hard by other means. The rubber nature of the mould allows it to stretch when being stripped off the piece. Typically used as a cottage industry type business making moulded garden ornaments etc. Back to top.

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Additional Information in Pdf Please take a look at the following pdf documents for in dept detail about the formworks systems.
Tub Tub Panel Tub Assembly Manual Panel Assembly Manual Modulo Public Buildings Modulo Technical Characteristics Modulo Residential Elevetor Technical Sky Full RC Slab Skyrail Skydome Defender - Installation Handbook Geotub Standard Report Geotub QR Report ASTM 3610 Test of Formwork Antisismic Slab Solutions

picture gallery
COLUMNS ROUND COLUMNS SQUARE COLUMNS WALLS SLABS ELEVETOR PANEL TUB TUB PANEL TUB MODULO

With todays advances technology, concrete construction has reached a gigantic scale, which no longer allows the use of timbers as a material for concrete forms. Timber foams requiring an army of skilled carpenters and craftsmen at construction sites have now mostly been replaced by standardized factory made steel forms, which are more efficient to use, and are accurate and economical. The Metal Formwork System is our response to global demands for advanced formwork methods for concrete structures providing numerous advantages: 1) Precision in engineering and fabrication ensures both strength and minimum weight for static load conditions. Our formwork maintains absolute rigidity throughout the concrete pouring process with fewer supporting members and it can withstand rough treatment so it provides greater safety for the on-site workmen. 2) Accurately aligned concrete structures with a smooth finish, even density and a minimum fin are made possible by the greater (erection) rigidity of the Metal Formwork System. 3) Deterioration does not occur even under adverse conditions. The forms so not wrap, swell or shrink. 4) Design cost is reduced for any specify job because the standardized units can be adapted to suit any particular requirement. 5) Erection and removal costs are also reduced because the bracing and tying works requires no special skills of the workmen and can be done mechanically. Thereby construction time and costs are kept to a minimum. 6) Greater durability allows the Metal Foams to be used repeatedly on successive construction sites, cutting costs. 7) Standardized sizes and shapes allow for greater ease in stacking and transporting. 8) The metal forms can be used for all concrete structures such as walls, columns, beams, slabs, etc

Graphical Construction Glossary >> Temporary Work. >> formwork >> Beam Formwork
Beam Formwork Formwork for beams. This particular page shows a low tech all timber method of forming a perimeter beam to a suspended slab. Brace An angled member working in compression only. Used to stiffen, straighten or support shutters etc. Kicker A member parallel to the shutter being supported, hard up against the shutter and fixed to the support. A member parallel to the shutter being supported but offset from the shutter to allow for the fixing of braces.

The sketch above shows a cross section through the formwork for for a perimeter beam to a suspended slab. The props are all timber in the traditional low tech manner adjusted with fox wedges, but if the materials are available then steel props or steel shore frames would be used with a similar layout for the beam itself. Also shown is the use of steel floor centers. These are rarely seen these days and timber joists are commonly used. For non glossary articles of a general and how to nature go to the formwork section on this site.
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"What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience? Adam Smith 1723-1790 "When we build, let us think that we build for ever."John Ruskin 1819-1900

Formwork solution for all projects

Formwork is when concrete or a similar material is poured into a temporary or permanent mould (according to wikipedia). It is mainly used in building and construction. Traditionally concrete, wood, and steel are the more common materials used in formwork. However, a new and revolutionary material has taken over - plastic. There are numerous advantages to using plastic in formworks; the most important being its cost effectiveness and environmentally friendly benefits. In addition, you save on time-consuming labor and man power. Most jobs can be

completed with two to three personnel. Planning and material requirements are simplified concreted. Plus, the formwork is continually adjustable. Benefits of Plastics in Formworks:
1. Due to the fact that concrete does not stick to plastic, formworks systems are recyclable. Each component can be re-used for about 100 times as long as properly cleaned and maintained, adding up to dollars saved and waste eliminated! 2. Formworks systems are easy to clean and maintain. There is no need for detergents and stripping agents. All that is required is water. 3. Formworks systems are modular and light-weight. This allows for faster and more efficient set-up, disassembly, operation and storage. 4. The unique design of Formwork systems provide the option of results to remain in sight therefore eliminating the need for rework.

Columns

Reusable plastic formworks for concrete columns come in all shapes such as round, rectangular and square. There are many advantages to using formworks systems specifically for columns as opposed to disposable formworks made of cardboard or other materials.
1. The biggest advantage is that they are recyclable and may be used time and again for an average of one hundred pours. This makes them environmentally friendly and cost efficient. 2. Cleaning and maintenance of the formworks are also eco-friendly and cost efficient. Since concrete does not stick to plastic, there is no need to use detergents and stripping agents. Rinsing with water does the job. 3. Ease of set up and handling and assembly on construction site make for a faster, smoother and more efficient job. This is due to the way that the formworks systems are made. They are small modular elements with special handles that lock perpendicularly. Column surfaces can be left in sight without the need for further rework. 4. Storage becomes hassle free with formworks systems since they can be completely disassembled and do not need to be stored in a dry environment.

Walls

Formworks systems make building concrete walls, basements, foundations, and pillars fast and easy. The formworks come in various sizes that interlock via nylon handles to make up the wall. The speed and ease of set up make it much handier and cost effective than traditional wood or steel systems. Wall thickness ranges from 10-40 cm based on different combinations of the various elements. Advantages of using formworks system specifically for walls:
1. Ease and speed of assembly- The walls or foundations built using this system can be done so with only one person. Each element is light in weight and uses nylon handles that lock into the forms with a 90 degree turn. Each element is modular eliminating the need to cut to length. 2. Setting up - The external surface of the panels is ribbed making posting and plumbing much simpler. They have holes to fit standard off the shelf tie-rods. 3. Storage & handling - Formworks can easily be disassembled on site due to components light weight and easy off handles. This eliminates the need to use a crane. Little maintenance and care is required making storage easy. The system does not need to be stored in a dry environment. 4. Formworks systems can be re-used up to 100 times and can remain in sight with no further work necessary.

Slabs

The one-way ribbed concrete slabs created by formworks systems are used both in residential and industrial buildings. In comparison to traditional slabs of hollow clay blocks or concrete, Formworks systems slabs are lightweight and significantly reduce consumables. The ribbing of the slab allows for cable, wires, sanitary fittings and lighting and air conditioning system installations.

Advantages of using formworks systems specifically for slabs:

1. Save on cost due to reduction in consumables 2. Increased job site safety- The system is self-supporting, can be erected from below with no need for special safety features. 3. Provides greater structural efficiency by eliminating consumable materials between ribbing 4. Handling and storage - There is no need for detergents and releasing agents due to the nature of the material. Concrete does not stick to plastic so that all the slabs need in order to remain clean are a good rinsing. The slabs are easily disassembled due to their light weight. They can be stored in little space and do not suffer from moisture. 5. The unique ribbing design of the slabs provides several options for use such as cables, wires, lighting, air conditioning systems, etc. 6. Slabs can be left in sight or plastered with standard paneling. 7. Recyclable and durable for up to 100 time