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Contents
1 Introduction
2 Shuttering
3 Formwork specifications Featured articles and news
4 Beam formwork
5 Column formwork
6 Plastic formwork
7 Requirements of good formwork Clean indoor air for healthy living
8 Find out more
8.1 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
8.2 External references
Introduction
Formwork is the term used for the process of creating a temporary mould into which concrete is
poured and formed. Traditional formwork is fabricated using timber, but it can also be constructed
from steel, glass fibre reinforced plastics and other materials.
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While formwork is a broad term that is used in relation to the forming process using a wide variety Read about the measures that can be taken by
of materials, shuttering is a term that is often used to refer to the process of using plywood to individuals to protect and minimise exposure to
form the mould. outdoor sourced air pollution.
All kinds of construction projects are likely to employ formwork and shuttering techniques.
Leasehold ban
Shuttering
Shuttering is perhaps the most popular type of formwork and is normally constructed on site using
timber and plywood. A special grade of plywood is necessary for shuttering, and it must be water-
resistant. It is easy to produce, although it can be time consuming for larger structures. It is used
when the labour costs are lower than the cost of producing re-usable formwork from materials
such as steel or plastic. It also has the advantage of being built in such a way that a significant
amount of concrete can be poured at once.
Simple plank shuttering can be used for the construction of a path or hardstanding. The planks
should be trimmed so they are level with the top surface of the slab, allowing a tidy concrete finish
to be achieved. Government announces leaseholds on new-
build houses will be banned.
Formwork specifications
Crossrail 2
When selecting formwork, the type of concrete and temperature of the pour are important
considerations as they both effect the pressure exerted.
The formwork sides must be capable of resisting the hydrostatic pressure of the wet concrete
which will diminish to zero within several hours depending on the rate of setting and curing.
The formwork base or soffit must be capable of resisting the initial dead load of the wet concrete
and the dead load of the dry set concrete.
Both shuttering and formwork in its various forms will be supported by falsework. This refers to
poles, stabilisers, or other units that keep the shuttering or formwork in place as the concrete
dries. For more information, see Falsework.
Beam formwork
Formwork for beams 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 Have a look at some of the most impressive
temperature, humidity and consequent curing rate. Typical striking times are as follows (using air concert stage designs of all time, including Pink
temperature of 7-16 C): Floyd, U2, Rolling Stones, and more...
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This consists of a vertical mould of the desired shape and size of the column to be poured. As a
means of keeping the formwork material thickness to a minimum, horizontal steel or 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 formwork can be used to provide support for the beam formwork, but
while this gives good top lateral restraint it can make the formwork complex. Alternatively, the
column can be cast to the underside of the beams. Later on, a collar of formwork can be clamped
around the cast column to complete the casting and support the incoming beam formwork.
Re-usable plastic formwork is generally used for quick pours of concrete. The formwork is
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assembled either from interlocking panels or from a modular system and is used for relatively
simple concrete structures. It is not as versatile as timber formwork due to the prefabrication
requirements and is best suited for lost-cost, repetitive structures such as mass housing
schemes.
Proprietary systems are used to support vertical formwork while concrete cures, consisting of a Business Secretary launches 246m Faraday
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Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki regulations to improve safety and security
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