Concrete formwork is a critical component of many types of construction projects, and it must be designed to balance quality, cost and safety. This is because concrete formwork creates the mould that wet concrete pours into, and it must support the weight of the wet material until it sets up. When a concrete formwork system fails, it can expose workers to dangerous conditions and cause costly delays in the project schedule. However, the right concrete formwork system can help reduce costs by reducing the amount of plastering required on site and speeding up construction times.
The type of concrete formwork required for a construction project will depend on its size and complexity. Smaller projects may use plywood concrete formwork, which is cheap and easy to work with for carpenters. Larger projects may require more robust concrete forms, such as metal ones that can support the weight of wet concrete and prevent cracks.
Regardless of the type of concrete formwork used, it must be designed to hold wet concrete in place until it sets up and is able to support itself. In order to do this, it must account for the rate of pour and lateral pressure. Wet concrete is heavy and exerts immense lateral pressure against the interior faces of the forms. If this pressure is too great, the formwork’s connecting devices can give way and the concrete will burst out of the forms.
In order to prevent this from happening, the vertical elements of the formwork must be supported by structures called falsework. These structures are normally adjustable supports or shoring systems that have been attached to formwork decks. Some of these systems are built from wood, while others incorporate steel or aluminium.
The type of formwork that is used for a construction project will also be determined by the shape and dimensions of the structure itself. For example, if a building has circular walls, special formwork will need to be designed that can be joined together in order to form a curved mould. This type of formwork can be made from a variety of materials, but timber is commonly used because it is cheap and readily available in construction sites. Other forms are made from metal, which tends to be more expensive but can uphold a longer reusability period if cared for appropriately.
Concrete formwork can be designed for a variety of different applications, including foundations, walls and columns. It can be made from a wide range of materials, but the most common are timber, plywood and steel. Concrete formwork is often a temporary structure that can be removed once the concrete has set, but some can stay in place for permanent insulation, such as ICFs in residential construction. Whether a construction project requires permanent or temporary concrete formwork, it is crucial to select the most appropriate system to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. To achieve this, the construction team should plan carefully, seek advice from an experienced construction expert and leverage a qualified workforce to mitigate any risks.
