Formwork or shuttering is a crucial aspect of small or large construction projects. Concrete construction depends on the formwork material and the type of structural member that is being built, such as slabs, columns, or beams. Thanks to these moulds, manufactured and supplied by Disc-O-Scaff, it allows wet concrete to cure and retain its shape, revealing a solid structure once removed.
Formwork – Indispensable Technology
The fundamental elements of formwork or shuttering make this technology indispensable to the construction industry and one that cannot be substituted.
- The ability to form concrete on-site reduces the floor-to-floor construction cycle, thereby reducing the overall timeframe and expenditure of the project.
- Concrete structures can be built rapidly at a relatively lower cost by using shuttering.
- By providing solutions for all types of overlay loads, formwork ensures structural safety and results in constructions that are both safe and practical.
- Reusable formwork, referred to as panels, can be used over multiple construction projects.
- It enables construction managers to ensure that the assembly and stripping of formwork resources is done accurately, improving project efficiency.
Various Types of Shuttering
The type of shuttering used in construction is dependent on the structural element being built and whether it is temporary or forms part of the permanent structure. As low cost as timber and plywood formwork is, it does not provide longevity and may take quite some time to complete a build. Affording most of the advantages of steel formwork, aluminium shuttering has the distinct disadvantage of not being able to be adjusted once manufactured.
Selecting steel over other materials for our formwork components ensures that the shuttering we provide is of the utmost quality. Steel can be utilised over numerous construction projects, and unlike other types of formwork, produces a clean surface finish, minimising the honeycomb effect. Easily installed and removed, the seamless design of our shuttering is moisture-proof, durable, and long-lasting.
Safe Removal of Shuttering
Constructing columns, beams, and slabs requires the careful removal of the formwork, ensuring the rigidity of the structural members.
- The formwork must not be removed until the concrete has reached a compressive strength of at least twice the stresses it will be subjected to when the formwork is stripped
- Shuttering should be removed gradually and carefully to avoid suddenly transferring the load to the concrete, which assists in preventing cracks and other damage to the concrete form.
- Non-load-bearing members forming the vertical faces, such as walls, should be removed first, then those forming architectural features, and lastly, heavily loaded formwork, such as beams and girders.
Designed to adequately withstand varying load weights, without formwork, many of the monolithic structures that scatter the urban landscape would not exist.
Whether the shuttering you require is to build a home with antebellum detailing or an arched bridge for pedestrian and vehicle traffic, contact the leader in superior quality scaffolding and formwork, Disc-O-Scaff.