The Different Types of Formwork - Future Form

13 May.,2024

 

The Different Types of Formwork - Future Form

Types of Formwork in Construction

 

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Timber Formwork

Timber formwork is the most popular formwork among all others because it has been extensively used in construction since ancient times. In small constructions, timber formwork is popularly used because it offers you an onsite fabrication for the required shape and size of concrete. However, for larger constructions, using timber formwork is very time-consuming. One thing to note is that timber formwork has less life than other formwork.

On the flip side, timber formwork is typically cheaper than aluminium, steel, or aluminium formwork when used for comparably smaller works. The best timber formwork should have the following characteristics:

– It should be easily workable.
– The best timber formwork should be free from termite attacks.
– It should be lightweight.
– The best timber formwork should be well-seasoned.

 

Advantages of using Timber Formwork.

Timber formwork is easy to form in any size, height, or shape.
It is very economical for smaller projects.
Timber formwork can be easily made using locally available timber.

 

Steel Formwork

Steel formwork is popular due to its durability, strength, and long reusability. This type of formwork is normally costly for small projects. However, it offers you an impressively smooth surface finish to concrete compared to timber formwork. The steel framework is great for curved or circular structures such as columns, chimneys, tunnels, sewers, etc. Steel formwork normally consists of panels fabricated from thin steel plates hardened on the edges by small steel angles. The panel units on the steel formwork are connected using suitable bolts and clamps and can be fabricated in any size or shape. Steel forms are commonly used for larger projects and have the following advantages!

 

Advantages of Steel Formwork

Steel has a considerably longer life.
Steel formwork gives you a smooth finish on the concrete.
It is totally moisture-proof and is effective at reducing the honeycombing effect.
Steel formwork is highly reusable.

 

Plywood Formwork

Plywood formwork features re-molded, resin-bonded sheets attached to timber frames to create panels of the most suitable sizes. Plywood frameworks are usually strong, flexible, and simple to handle. However, one of its unimpressive characteristics is its short life. In many instances, the cost of plywood formwork is relatively less compared to timber formwork if you consider the following things:

If you use relatively larger-sized panels, you can get significant cost reductions associated with dismantling and fixing.
Plywood formwork offer you a relatively greater number of reuses in comparison with timber formwork.

 

Fabric Formwork

The advancement of technology and the emergence of newer trends in designing and building planning, have resulted in the construction of more complex structures like fabric formwork. These are highly sophisticated shapes and large sizes. Therefore, fabric formwork comes in handy in developing fantastic concrete structures with greater flexibility and various shapes.

 

Aluminum Formwork

As is common knowledge, the density of aluminium is less than steel’s, making it relatively lighter than steel. This is actually the main advantage of the aluminium formwork when you compare it to steel. Aluminium formwork has generally been proven to be super economical if there are large numbers of repeated usage during the construction of a particular project. Its major drawback is that no alteration is possible once the formwork is constructed.

Some advantages of aluminium formwork in construction are:

– Aluminium formwork is very economical when the construction area is large.
– It is relatively lightweight when you compare it to steel formwork.
– Aluminium formwork does not usually suck water from the concrete. The resulting surface of the concrete has fewer chances of being honeycombed.
– It provides the smooth surface of your concrete surface, making re-finishing this surface unnecessary.

 

Plastic Formwork

Plastic formwork are lightweight, made from robust plastic, and characterised by interlocking systems. One of the best things about plastic formwork is that you can use it approximately more than 100 times. It is handy for normal concrete constructions and large housing schemes. It is also a fantastic choice for small, repetitive construction projects and low-cost housing estates. Reusable plastic formwork have panels made of plastic, and this implies they do not need formwork removing agents. They can simply be cleaned with water.

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Advantages of Plastic Formwork

Plastic formwork is usually lightweight and comes with less handling cost.
When you install and use it properly, you can enjoy multiple reuses with this formwork.

 

Tunnel Formwork

Tunnel formwork is a type of formwork in construction that is most commonly associated with developing high-rise structures and buildings. The tunnel formwork is a type of room formwork in which the RCC slab and wall are cast in a continuous pour. After that, hot air blows thermal curing is used to accelerate the curing process of concrete. The cycle time for the tunnel formwork system is usually around 1-3 days only. The tunnel formwork system is very handy for repetitive room design.

Formwork 101 - MEVA USA

3. Wall

Wall formwork comes in different types and classifications, as outlined below.

Conventional
Conventional wall formwork consists of boards or sheets and squared timber. It is flexible, but it can be costly and time-consuming as each component must be assembled on-site. In addition, all of its parts should be made according to the project’s specifications, and they must be nailed together and dismantled again after concreting.

Girder

This is a better version of the conventional formwork. Its components, which usually consist of dimensionally stable girders with two chords and one web, have been standardized to facilitate the assembly of identical and ready-to-use panels. The connection of the panels has also been systematized.

Frame
This type of wall formwork helps reduce labor time since its essential components (forming face, support for forming face, and steel walers) are assembled as one panel. The profile nose of the frames protects the edges of the forming face, thereby extending its lifespan. Connecting devices are used when assembling the frame panels to large-sized units, which are then usually transported by crane.

Crane-independent (hand-set)

This type of formwork can be moved by hand. Because of weight considerations, it is usually made of aluminum or plastic. It can take less concrete pressure than crane-dependent formwork, and is often used in housing and municipal construction projects.

Crane-dependent 

Crane-dependent formwork systems feature a large frame and formwork panels, usually made of steel. As a result, they cannot be moved manually. Since they can resist more fresh concrete pressures than crane-independent forms, they are suitable for the construction of commercial buildings and other extensive infrastructure projects.

Two-sided
As the name implies, two-sided formwork is erected on both sides of the wall. Its formwork ties, which are usually sleeved by spacing plastic tubes so they can be reused, take up the fresh concrete pressure. Push-pull props or large heavy-duty braces are attached to the formwork to align and secure it against wind loads during operation.

Single-sided
Single-sided formwork is used when the concrete has to be poured against existing structures or when builders need to do concreting against a hill or soil. This is why it is most suitable for reconstruction jobs. With this type of formwork system, concrete pressure is transferred from the formwork to the base plates through a support structure. 

Prefabricated
This formwork consists of two prefabricated concrete panels which are assembled in advance, and then transported and filled with concrete on-site. Braces and push-pull props are often used to secure the walls, while working and safety scaffolds are installed with the help of special adapters to make the construction process more cost-effective. Prefabricated formwork helps minimize project duration and labor costs. However, pre-planning is required to ensure that it is transported safely to the site.

Circular
Circular formwork is designed for the construction of curved and polygonal walls. It is also quite useful in the construction of specific concrete structures, such as septic tanks and car park ramps. This formwork system comes in three different types:  

  • Round girder – timber spacers are added between the timber girders and steel walers so the formwork can be adjusted to the required radius. 
  • Flexible girder – ideal for the construction of curved walls with different radii. It comprises timber/steel girders and a spindle, which allows builders to adjust the formwork to the required radius without having to reassemble the panels.
  • Polygonal – existing “flat” frame formwork panels can be refurbished as polygonal formwork by adding supplementary radius panels and rails, allowing builders to minimize their project costs.

Climbing
Climbing formwork is quite useful in the construction of high-rise concrete structures, such as control towers and skyscrapers, because it climbs with the wall. It comprises large wall formwork mounted to a climbing scaffold. There are three different types of climbing formwork:

  • Crane-dependent – the climbing unit (scaffold and formwork) requires the use of a crane to reach the next cycle.
  • Self-climbing – an automatic climbing system that does not require the use of a crane to reach the next suspension point. Hydraulic rams/pumps lift the scaffold, secondary platform, and formwork to the next pouring cycle. It is ideal for the construction of very tall concrete structures.
  • Slipform – a two-sided formwork that slides upwards along the structure being built at a rate of 20–25cm per hour. A system of pipe rods, which is integrated into the already-set concrete, supports the slipform.
     

MEVA is an industry leader offering a wide variety of wall formwork systems that provide highly efficient shuttering, flexibility, and reliability. Our products are lightweight and easy to assemble, and therefore will facilitate the rapid completion of your construction projects. Click here to learn more.

The Different Types of Formwork - Future Form

Types of Formwork in Construction

 

Timber Formwork

Timber formwork is the most popular formwork among all others because it has been extensively used in construction since ancient times. In small constructions, timber formwork is popularly used because it offers you an onsite fabrication for the required shape and size of concrete. However, for larger constructions, using timber formwork is very time-consuming. One thing to note is that timber formwork has less life than other formwork.

On the flip side, timber formwork is typically cheaper than aluminium, steel, or aluminium formwork when used for comparably smaller works. The best timber formwork should have the following characteristics:

– It should be easily workable.
– The best timber formwork should be free from termite attacks.
– It should be lightweight.
– The best timber formwork should be well-seasoned.

 

Advantages of using Timber Formwork.

Timber formwork is easy to form in any size, height, or shape.
It is very economical for smaller projects.
Timber formwork can be easily made using locally available timber.

 

Steel Formwork

Steel formwork is popular due to its durability, strength, and long reusability. This type of formwork is normally costly for small projects. However, it offers you an impressively smooth surface finish to concrete compared to timber formwork. The steel framework is great for curved or circular structures such as columns, chimneys, tunnels, sewers, etc. Steel formwork normally consists of panels fabricated from thin steel plates hardened on the edges by small steel angles. The panel units on the steel formwork are connected using suitable bolts and clamps and can be fabricated in any size or shape. Steel forms are commonly used for larger projects and have the following advantages!

 

Advantages of Steel Formwork

Steel has a considerably longer life.
Steel formwork gives you a smooth finish on the concrete.
It is totally moisture-proof and is effective at reducing the honeycombing effect.
Steel formwork is highly reusable.

 

Plywood Formwork

Plywood formwork features re-molded, resin-bonded sheets attached to timber frames to create panels of the most suitable sizes. Plywood frameworks are usually strong, flexible, and simple to handle. However, one of its unimpressive characteristics is its short life. In many instances, the cost of plywood formwork is relatively less compared to timber formwork if you consider the following things:

If you use relatively larger-sized panels, you can get significant cost reductions associated with dismantling and fixing.
Plywood formwork offer you a relatively greater number of reuses in comparison with timber formwork.

 

Fabric Formwork

The advancement of technology and the emergence of newer trends in designing and building planning, have resulted in the construction of more complex structures like fabric formwork. These are highly sophisticated shapes and large sizes. Therefore, fabric formwork comes in handy in developing fantastic concrete structures with greater flexibility and various shapes.

 

Aluminum Formwork

As is common knowledge, the density of aluminium is less than steel’s, making it relatively lighter than steel. This is actually the main advantage of the aluminium formwork when you compare it to steel. Aluminium formwork has generally been proven to be super economical if there are large numbers of repeated usage during the construction of a particular project. Its major drawback is that no alteration is possible once the formwork is constructed.

Some advantages of aluminium formwork in construction are:

– Aluminium formwork is very economical when the construction area is large.
– It is relatively lightweight when you compare it to steel formwork.
– Aluminium formwork does not usually suck water from the concrete. The resulting surface of the concrete has fewer chances of being honeycombed.
– It provides the smooth surface of your concrete surface, making re-finishing this surface unnecessary.

 

Plastic Formwork

Plastic formwork are lightweight, made from robust plastic, and characterised by interlocking systems. One of the best things about plastic formwork is that you can use it approximately more than 100 times. It is handy for normal concrete constructions and large housing schemes. It is also a fantastic choice for small, repetitive construction projects and low-cost housing estates. Reusable plastic formwork have panels made of plastic, and this implies they do not need formwork removing agents. They can simply be cleaned with water.

 

Advantages of Plastic Formwork

Plastic formwork is usually lightweight and comes with less handling cost.
When you install and use it properly, you can enjoy multiple reuses with this formwork.

 

Tunnel Formwork

Tunnel formwork is a type of formwork in construction that is most commonly associated with developing high-rise structures and buildings. The tunnel formwork is a type of room formwork in which the RCC slab and wall are cast in a continuous pour. After that, hot air blows thermal curing is used to accelerate the curing process of concrete. The cycle time for the tunnel formwork system is usually around 1-3 days only. The tunnel formwork system is very handy for repetitive room design.

Formwork 101 - MEVA USA

3. Wall

Wall formwork comes in different types and classifications, as outlined below.

Conventional
Conventional wall formwork consists of boards or sheets and squared timber. It is flexible, but it can be costly and time-consuming as each component must be assembled on-site. In addition, all of its parts should be made according to the project’s specifications, and they must be nailed together and dismantled again after concreting.

Girder

This is a better version of the conventional formwork. Its components, which usually consist of dimensionally stable girders with two chords and one web, have been standardized to facilitate the assembly of identical and ready-to-use panels. The connection of the panels has also been systematized.

Frame
This type of wall formwork helps reduce labor time since its essential components (forming face, support for forming face, and steel walers) are assembled as one panel. The profile nose of the frames protects the edges of the forming face, thereby extending its lifespan. Connecting devices are used when assembling the frame panels to large-sized units, which are then usually transported by crane.

Crane-independent (hand-set)

This type of formwork can be moved by hand. Because of weight considerations, it is usually made of aluminum or plastic. It can take less concrete pressure than crane-dependent formwork, and is often used in housing and municipal construction projects.

Crane-dependent 

Crane-dependent formwork systems feature a large frame and formwork panels, usually made of steel. As a result, they cannot be moved manually. Since they can resist more fresh concrete pressures than crane-independent forms, they are suitable for the construction of commercial buildings and other extensive infrastructure projects.

Two-sided
As the name implies, two-sided formwork is erected on both sides of the wall. Its formwork ties, which are usually sleeved by spacing plastic tubes so they can be reused, take up the fresh concrete pressure. Push-pull props or large heavy-duty braces are attached to the formwork to align and secure it against wind loads during operation.

Single-sided
Single-sided formwork is used when the concrete has to be poured against existing structures or when builders need to do concreting against a hill or soil. This is why it is most suitable for reconstruction jobs. With this type of formwork system, concrete pressure is transferred from the formwork to the base plates through a support structure. 

Prefabricated
This formwork consists of two prefabricated concrete panels which are assembled in advance, and then transported and filled with concrete on-site. Braces and push-pull props are often used to secure the walls, while working and safety scaffolds are installed with the help of special adapters to make the construction process more cost-effective. Prefabricated formwork helps minimize project duration and labor costs. However, pre-planning is required to ensure that it is transported safely to the site.

Circular
Circular formwork is designed for the construction of curved and polygonal walls. It is also quite useful in the construction of specific concrete structures, such as septic tanks and car park ramps. This formwork system comes in three different types:  

  • Round girder – timber spacers are added between the timber girders and steel walers so the formwork can be adjusted to the required radius. 
  • Flexible girder – ideal for the construction of curved walls with different radii. It comprises timber/steel girders and a spindle, which allows builders to adjust the formwork to the required radius without having to reassemble the panels.
  • Polygonal – existing “flat” frame formwork panels can be refurbished as polygonal formwork by adding supplementary radius panels and rails, allowing builders to minimize their project costs.

Climbing
Climbing formwork is quite useful in the construction of high-rise concrete structures, such as control towers and skyscrapers, because it climbs with the wall. It comprises large wall formwork mounted to a climbing scaffold. There are three different types of climbing formworkclimbing formwork:

  • Crane-dependent – the climbing unit (scaffold and formwork) requires the use of a crane to reach the next cycle.
  • Self-climbing – an automatic climbing system that does not require the use of a crane to reach the next suspension point. Hydraulic rams/pumps lift the scaffold, secondary platform, and formwork to the next pouring cycle. It is ideal for the construction of very tall concrete structures.
  • Slipform – a two-sided formwork that slides upwards along the structure being built at a rate of 20–25cm per hour. A system of pipe rods, which is integrated into the already-set concrete, supports the slipform.
     

MEVA is an industry leader offering a wide variety of wall formwork systems that provide highly efficient shuttering, flexibility, and reliability. Our products are lightweight and easy to assemble, and therefore will facilitate the rapid completion of your construction projects. Click here to learn more.