In the world of construction, formwork plays a pivotal role in shaping the architectural landscape. Serving as temporary molds, these structures hold freshly poured concrete, ensuring it sets into the desired shape with precision.
From towering skyscrapers to intricate bridges, formwork is the unsung hero that supports the weight of wet concrete without distortion.
With a history spanning thousands of years, formwork has evolved into various forms, each tailored to specific construction needs.
Traditional timber formwork, known for its flexibility, remains widely used despite its labor-intensive nature.
Meanwhile, modern alternatives like steel, plastic, and composite materials offer durability and reusability, catering to diverse project requirements.
Understanding the different types of formwork is crucial for any construction project. It ensures not only the structural integrity of the build but also efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
As construction continues to advance, the choice of formwork becomes a critical decision in achieving architectural excellence.
1. Plastic Formwork
Plastic formwork is lightweight with interlocking systems. It allows use over 100 times, making it cost-effective for repetitive projects.
Due to its durability, it’s ideal for small to medium projects. This formwork provides a smooth concrete finish without additional work. Its resistance to moisture and chemicals suits harsh environments.
However, plastic formwork isn’t as strong as steel or aluminum. Despite less flexibility compared to timber, it requires less handling and cleaning, enhancing its practicality in construction.
2. Timber Formwork
Timber formwork is crafted from solid wood like pine or spruce. It’s ideal for small to medium-sized projects due to its ease of use and cost-effectiveness.
Unlike metal, timber provides good insulation, helping regulate temperature and humidity during curing. However, it’s more prone to warping or splitting.
Regular maintenance, such as checking for termites, is necessary due to its relatively short lifespan.
Plywood is often paired with timber for durability in sheathing and decking. Despite its limitations, timber formwork remains popular where labor costs are low.
3. Steel Formwork
Steel formwork consists of panels made from thin steel plates. This type of formwork is known for its long-term durability, ideal for concrete construction.
Panels are reinforced with small steel angles at the edges. Steel’s strength provides a smooth, clean concrete finish compared to timber.
Its versatility allows use in temporary and permanent molds. Although initially expensive, it’s cost-effective due to reusability, capable of over 100 uses.
Its moisture-proof nature minimizes honeycombing, and it’s suitable for circular structures like columns and tunnels.
4. Aluminum Formwork
Aluminum formwork provides a lightweight and versatile solution for construction projects. It offers long-term durability, making it ideal for large-scale developments and high-rise buildings.
Assembly and disassembly processes are quick, reducing construction time and labor costs. Its high-quality surface finish withstands weathering and corrosion, though it’s more expensive than timber options.
Unlike steel formwork, aluminum lacks the same strength, yet, its cost-effectiveness becomes apparent with repeated use, despite initial charges.
Aluminum’s adaptability includes the use of telescoping beams, accommodating varied support distances.
5. Fabric Formwork
Fabric formwork involves stretching fabric over a mold to shape concrete. It’s lightweight, making it easy to handle for complex designs.
Canvas, PVC, and polypropylene are common materials used. The aesthetic appeal sets it apart, as the fabric’s texture imprints unique patterns onto concrete surfaces.
However, reduced durability limits its application compared to more traditional materials. It’s best suited for projects where the size and shape fit within its constraints, offering distinct design opportunities.
6. Plywood Formwork
Plywood formwork excels in handling large or complex projects. It’s crafted from thin wood veneer layers bonded with adhesive.
Many appreciate plywood for its adaptability, as it can be easily cut to specific shapes and sizes. While plywood is more costly than timber, its strength and flexibility make it worthwhile.
Handling is straightforward due to its lightweight nature. Though additional support may be needed to prevent deformation, plywood offers more reuses compared to timber.
7. Tunnel Formwork
Tunnel formwork creates structures with repetitive layouts efficiently, like high-rise apartments. This method uses steel forms for walls and slabs in one pour, saving time and costs.
It’s ideal for projects needing quick construction, consistent designs, and minimal labor. With tunnel formwork, entire floors can be cast simultaneously using large room-sized forms.
Projects with similar layouts benefit as forms can be reused floor to floor. High labor cost regions especially see reduced expenses using this technique.
8. Stay-in-Place Formwork
Stay in place formwork stays attached to the concrete, eliminating the need for removal. This formwork, often fiber-reinforced, acts as shear reinforcement and helps in resisting corrosion.
Construction workers primarily use it for columns and piers, assembling it onsite to provide a smooth finish.
It can be adapted to complex shapes, making it cost-effective by reducing concrete usage. Not suitable for all applications, it’s valuable when permanent reinforcement is needed.
9. Column formwork
Column formwork is crucial for shaping vertical structures. It often uses metal formwork, like steel or aluminum, known for durability and a smooth finish.
This formwork supports circular and other complex architectural columns. In comparison, timber and plywood formwork might be employed for smaller projects needing less strength.
Stay-in-place versions, typically fiber-reinforced plastic, offer the added benefit of acting as reinforcement after concrete sets, reducing corrosion risks and maintenance.
Prefabricated options ensure efficiency and cost savings with minimized labor requirements.
10. Permanent insulated formwork
Permanent insulated formwork offers advanced thermal, acoustic, and fire-resistant benefits. Once the concrete cures, insulating concrete forms (ICF) remain, providing eco-friendly, long-lasting structures.
Incorporating polystyrene boards boosts energy efficiency while enhancing construction speed and strength.
This solution suits projects needing superior insulation and structural integrity, contributing to a reduced environmental impact.
Its versatile features, including space for utilities and integrated furring strips, make it a compelling choice for modern building needs.
11. Beam formwork
Beam formwork supports the construction of horizontal structures, ensuring stability and precise shape. It consists of side panels, a soffit for the bottom, and a head support.
Typically, timber or plywood is suitable for small to medium projects due to its cost-effectiveness.
For larger structures, steel or aluminum panels offer durability and reusability. Proper assembly minimizes deflection and surface blemishes, crucial for achieving a smooth finish in high-quality concrete beams.
12. Wall formwork
Wall formwork supports the construction of vertical concrete walls, ensuring precise dimensions and structural stability.
Conventional types, using boards and timber, offer flexibility but require extensive on-site assembly. Girder formwork innovates with standardized panels for quicker setup.
Crane-dependent systems, often steel, handle higher concrete pressures, making them ideal for commercial projects, while crane-independent forms, typically aluminum or plastic, suit smaller sites due to their lighter weight.
Prefabricated options, transported and filled on-site, reduce labor costs and expedite project timelines.
13. Foundation formwork
Foundation formwork shapes and supports concrete for building bases. Often constructed from materials like timber, plywood, or steel, it endures the significant load of wet concrete.
In construction, it ensures dimensions are accurate and structural integrity is maintained. Timber and plywood are common for smaller projects, balancing cost and effectiveness, while steel offers robust support for larger foundations.
Professionals should prioritize precision during setup to prevent defects such as concrete displacement or honeycombing. Properly installed formwork bolsters the foundation’s durability and longevity.
14. Flexible formwork
Flexible formwork employs lightweight fabric sheets to mold concrete. This system optimizes building forms using the fluidity of concrete, reducing material use.
Concrete structures require less material compared to traditional prismatic sections, saving embodied energy.
The fabric remains strong, allowing for fluid shapes and unique architectural designs. Flexible formwork offers environmental benefits by cutting embodied carbon, improving life cycle performance.
It provides an innovative approach to concrete casting, achieving both cost-efficiency and aesthetic appeal in construction.
15. Coffor formwork
Coffor formwork features two filtering grids reinforced by stiffeners. These grids, linked with articulated connectors, provide stability.
Easy transportation from factory to construction site is possible due to its design. Use this formwork for various building types as its construction supports versatility.
Its unique structure reduces labor costs and enhances installation efficiency. Coffor’s assembly versatility also enables adaptation for different project needs and complex architectural forms. Its resilience against environmental wear supports long-term durability.
16. Aluminium shuttering
Aluminium shuttering offers a lightweight construction solution due to its lower density compared to steel. It’s nearly identical in design to steel formwork, making it suitable for repetitive use in large projects.
Construction becomes cost-effective with aluminum because of its rapid assembly process. However, once assembled, the structure allows no modifications.
Telescoping aluminum beams enable adaptability by spanning various structural supports, enhancing its utility in high-rise building construction.
