10 Things to Consider When Buying slab formwork

The concrete&#;s properties can affect the formwork and the entire project. That is why it is critical to understand the concrete&#;s characteristics.

In Brisbane, concrete is one of the most often utilized building materials. This is because it combines strength, durability, and lifespan with affordability and flexibility, to name a few advantages.

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However, while concrete has seen many improvements and new variants throughout the years, it is far from a novel material. According to many historical sources, it has been in use for about 2,500 years. Nowadays, it is utilized in many ways, from laying strong foundations to constructing pools and hardscapes and adding beautiful finishing touches.

Basics of Concrete Forming

Concrete forming is the act of securing liquid concrete in place as it chemically cures into a solid material utilizing prefabricated structures, ranging from plants to polymers. To achieve this, the forms must be robust, flush with the floor to prevent spillage, and, in most instances, detachable and reusable.

Concrete must be poured into an enclosed area and allowed to solidify enough to retain its form. Newly poured concrete can be kept in form by existing features such as walls and edgings. Alternatively, temporary shuttering, commonly known as formwork, may be required.

Formwork construction on vertical buildings can be challenging and is thus often performed by experienced formwork erectors. On the other hand, ground-level slab work is often less complex and requires just basic formwork.

In all instances, whether vertical constructions or ground-level work, the formwork must be robust. It must be strong enough to withstand the forces generated by the wet concrete, as well as the weight of the vibration-generating equipment. In addition, the formwork joints must be securely secured to prevent the wet concrete from leaking during vibration and curing.

Any expert formwork contractor from Brisbane will follow all the safety regulations and provide expert services. You can visit sites like www.formworkcontractorsbrisbane.com to get a better understanding of how such companies work.

But a thing to remember is that if you are from Brisbane or any other part of Australia, you need to comply with the Australian concrete formwork standard.

Standards for Concrete Formwork

There is a general guideline called the Australian standard AS - formwork for concrete.

You must comply with this standard if you plan to engage in any of the following activities, regardless of whether you live in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, or any other city in Australia. They are:

• The design, erection, fabrication, and stripping of formwork.
• The assessment, specification, and repair of the formed concrete surface. 
• And the design and construction of an on-site concrete structure.

Importance of Formwork

1. Formwork is essential for a variety of reasons. However, one of the most compelling reasons is that any other technology cannot replace it. 
2. Concrete buildings can be built rapidly and affordably using fiberglass reinforcement.
3. Throughout the building process, formwork provides adequate access and working platforms that significantly improve scaffold safety for employees.
4. By reducing the floor-to-floor building cycle time, formwork significantly reduces the project&#;s schedule and cost, allowing more projects to meet their financial requirements.
5. Formwork enables construction managers to provide precise and on-time mobilization and demobilization of formwork resources, increasing project effectiveness and resource utilization.
6. Formwork is linked with the surface finishing of concrete structures. The higher the quality of the formwork employed, the better the surface finish.
7. Formwork ensures structural safety by providing solutions for all overlay loads, resulting in safe and practical construction.

Things to Consider for Concrete Framework

Materials

Concrete formwork can be constructed using a variety of materials. Steel and aluminum are two of the most prevalent. Steel is usually less expensive and offers the strength necessary for some building projects, but it is also heavier and bulkier. On the other hand, aluminum is lighter and more adaptable than steel, but it is usually costlier.

Scale

The scale should also be taken into account in the calculation. Numerous factors, such as the kind of formwork that will work best, are determined by the size and complexity of the building project. It will also affect the total cost of developing the formwork and other variables.

Strength

Additionally, strength is critical. The formwork must be robust enough to support both the weight of wet concrete and dried concrete. It should also be capable of withstanding any extra structural components that can be needed, as well as the pressure placed on it by your employees, equipment, and other factors. But it is advised to avoid too much pressure when placing concretes.

Cost

Cost is a significant consideration for all projects as well as each component. Formwork is no exception. It will affect the project&#;s cost regarding the materials and labor required to construct the formwork. Additionally, it can result in additional costs if it is not appropriately constructed and planned according to your particular requirements. Finally, if the formwork is heavy and difficult to handle, you can incur extra costs by renting the necessary equipment.

Texture and Appearance 

Different materials used in formwork have different textures. As such, they can affect the final concrete&#;s surface. If you need a smooth surface, make sure to choose the appropriate formwork materials. When different materials are used to cover the surface, the textures and effects of the formwork may not be an issue.

Usability

Whatever project you are working on, it is critical to have simple formwork to handle, install, and remove. This will assist you in staying on schedule and within budget for your project. On the other hand, difficult-to-manage formwork can result in expensive delays, unanticipated costs, and other complications.

Joints

Joint strength is essential in formwork from various perspectives. For one thing, the strength of the joints affects the formwork&#;s total strength. Second, suppose the joints are not strong and secure. In that case, you risk wasting a lot of material and producing a subpar final product.

Safety

Formwork should add to, not detract from, the safety of your building site. This feature is influenced by the materials used to construct the formwork, its strength, the strength of its joints, and its simplicity of usage. Strong materials that are well-assembled, suitable for the task at hand, and easy to deal with will contribute significantly to job site safety.

Types of Concrete Forms

A square foot of ordinary concrete weighs about 150 pounds, and a typical concrete project may need the placement of hundreds to thousands of square feet of concrete at once. Concrete forms must support all weight, so most forms are constructed of sturdy wood or metal. Although advances in concrete forms made of plastic, fiberglass, and resins have occurred in recent years, the cost and strength of these materials have not yet surpassed the established performance of metal and wood.

Concrete Wall

Pre-manufactured forming systems are often utilized for pouring walls or bigger structures such as piers or foundations. These wall systems, usually constructed of engineered wood with a metal frame or entirely metal, connect through a pin or latch mechanism. Additionally, these kinds of forms use a tie system to attach reinforcing bars inside the form and connect adjacent sections during the pouring of the walls. These forming sections are available in various sizes and forms. The majority of manufacturers can accommodate special sizes for particular applications.

Wood

Concrete slabs are most often constructed using hardwood planks bolted or fastened to wood or metal pegs. Contractors drive stakes into the prepared subbase and then level the forming boards using leveling equipment (manual, laser, or string lines). Following that, more boards are utilized to secure the places where one board interconnects with another.

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When turns, rounded edges, or free-form designs are needed, thinner cross-section boards are used. To keep concrete from sticking to the forms, they are often coated with a low-grade oil or form-release agent. This also keeps the forms cleaner and allows them to be used multiple times before being discarded.

Insulated Concrete (ICFs)

The drive toward more energy-efficient house building has resulted in a meteoric rise in insulated concrete forms (ICFs) popularity. ICF systems are made out of hollow insulation blocks (often expanded Styrofoam) that fit together similarly to children&#;s construction blocks. ICF systems are built on the foundation slab and then stay in place to serve as both the foundation and outer wall system.

A network of metal reinforcing bars is installed within the block wall construction. The walls are subsequently filled with high-slump concrete. The resulting sandwich of foam and concrete is highly energy-efficient. The foam serves as both an interior and exterior building surface. Using ICFs avoids the requirement for form removal since the hollow block walls stay in place after the concrete is poured.

Conclusion

These are just a few variables to consider when planning a building project and choosing the kind of formwork that will best suit your requirements. Formwork should always be seen as a tool to assist you in effectively completing a project. If you need assistance in determining the precise requirements for the formwork you will require, feel free to contact the professionals.

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Summary

Whether it&#;s better for a company to rent or purchase formwork items and systems depends on the kind of project under development and the time it will take to complete. Either way, the supplies needed must be of high quality and durability to ensure the timely, accident-free completion of the work. This means that your formwork provider should be a professional who has the requisite capacity to meet a project&#;s needs, as well as the technical know-how to customize options and deliver.

Therefore, it is advisable that you watch out for suppliers with a limited product range. Often they will cut prices on standard-forming jobs but will have to quit when it comes to the more challenging part where know-how is needed. By contrast, a more experienced provider with an extensive range can supply custom-made forms.

Ultimately, it pays to only buy or rent from established companies with extensive experience. Ensure that the company you select offers professional and on-time design, with the technical capabilities to provide support to your engineering teams. You should be wary of formwork companies that offer discounted rates as they tend to use counterfeit products. Moreover, they do not maintain equipment to the best standards. This fails to provide the safety and peace of mind that you need to ensure quality work on your project.

In this report, we highlight what you should look out for when choosing a formwork provider for your construction needs.

INDEX

ADDITIONAL FORMWORK RECOMMENDATIONS

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING YOUR FORMWORK PROVIDER

When it comes to choosing your formwork provider, you cannot afford to make your decision too quickly. There are specific things that you need to look for when purchasing or hiring formwork systems. The correct formwork can make a construction project a success, whereas using the wrong systems can literally bring down a building.

Formwork makes up about 1.2% of the total costs of a building&#;s structural work. But you would be incorrect in thinking the role it plays is simple and insignificant. In fact, choosing good quality from a reliable provider is one of the most important decisions you&#;ll make for your project.

Here are five things you need to look for when selecting a formwork provider for your next construction project.

1. Safety and quality

It goes without saying that safety and quality are of the utmost importance with any type of formwork or scaffolding. That&#;s why you should look for a provider who is committed to the following:

• Meets certification: Devastating accidents can happen when forms are removed too soon before the building material has set. Equally, poor and under-designed formwork can bend or even break during the filling process because it does not meet certification.
  Make sure your supplier and their products meet the necessary safety standards set by your country or region for construction work and products. It pays to familiarize yourself with the certificates required, and cross-check if your formwork provider has them.
• Cares about quality: You must consider your provider&#;s product in the decision-making process.
  For example, steel-framed wall formwork with standard plywood facing requires more maintenance and repair than a hot-dipped galvanized steel frame that uses specially manufactured plywood designed for longer life.
• Meets maintenance standards: Before deciding on your formwork provider, you need to ensure that they thoroughly inspect and test their hire equipment to guarantee the strength and quality of each piece.
  You will be surprised to find out that not many companies invest in the meticulous upkeep and maintenance of their hire equipment.
• Does not use counterfeit materials: The use of counterfeit products is a major cause of accidents on project sites. That&#;s why it&#;s important to know the difference between a genuine product that can bear your required workload.
  Sourcing from an inexperienced or questionable formwork provider means that you may receive a faulty product, which can have dangerous consequences. It helps to know that the Middle East is a major market for counterfeit products due to the high number of imports and exports in the region.One way you can identify counterfeit formwork products is if the discount is too good to be true. Products certified by the manufacturer will not be available at steep discounts, whereas counterfeit items, which use inferior materials, can offer a lower price point, but it comes with the potential for catastrophic consequences.
• Enjoys good industry reputation: A formwork provider who has repeat business and customer recommendations will also have a market reputation for safety and quality.

2. Value for money

The simple truth is that quality formwork systems do not have to be exorbitantly expensive. In designing and building formwork, you should aim for maximum economy, which you can do by focusing on the following points:

• Clever design can contribute greatly to the overall costs. Find a form provider who can offer expert engineering and technical support to projects of all shapes and sizes.
  The formwork should be well-priced, with systems that are durable, reusable, and quick to erect. Well-engineered formwork will give your project enhanced productivity whilst reducing expense.
• Your formwork provider should offer updated systems to help you reduce, or ideally altogether remove, the need for conventional formwork like timber and plywood.
  More old-fashioned kinds of formwork have more wastage and are typically designed as single-use.  Using a modern, more up-to-date system is better for your project&#;s bottom-line and the environment.
• Be wary of huge price differentials. Expanding on the point above, as a buyer you need to be conscious of how products should be priced so that you can understand when you are getting a cost-effective solution versus a suspect, possibly counterfeit, product.
  If the product is more than 20% cheaper than other systems, that should raise some red flags. More likely than not, heavily discounted products are counterfeit and could be ineffective, or possibly dangerous.

3. Experience

Look for someone with proven formwork experience across a variety of sectors. The following factors will help you determine if a possible provider has the experience you need for your project.

• Market reputation: Reputations are built through repeat success, over several different kinds of projects.
  Not all projects are the same, and you want a provider with a commitment to service excellence and a &#;can-do&#; approach, no matter the type of project.
• Low accident rate: Whilst it may not be possible to find a formwork provider with absolutely no accidents in their entire history, you should look for someone with the least number of incidents.
  Ensure that the formwork they provide is strong and well-maintained and can work across all weathers &#; especially bear the expansion and contraction that comes from extreme heat and cold.
• Local industry familiarity: Sourcing someone who has worked in the local market means that they are familiar with the nuances of climate constraints, logistics support, as well as local workforce idiosyncrasies. It also gives them the added advantage of responding quickly and with flexibility.
• Credit history: It&#;s an industry fact that the formwork and scaffolding sector continues to grapple with payment challenges, especially with the pandemic disrupting all industries.
  As a customer looking to hire modular support, it is better to use caution and choose a company with a reliable credit history. A formwork provider who is caught between payment cycles will be strapped for cash and may fall behind on material upkeep.

4. Ease of assembly

Formwork systems should be quick and easy to erect and dismantle and have the following attributes:

• Scalability: Finding a local formwork provider means that, in addition to being able to respond quickly to your need to scale scaffolding or modular formwork up or down, they can also quickly recycle panels, beams, and features.
  Sourcing from a smart provider who has provisions means that vertical formwork products with fewer components than traditional econo-form panels have the added advantage of saving you time and effort on shutter assembly.
• Customizable solutions: A formwork company needs to be able to identify each project&#;s needs and develop an appropriate solution. You should choose a provider who can customize existing modular structures to suit your specific requirements. Some projects may require a self-climbing system, for example, and your formwork supplier needs to be able to provide such solutions.

5. Capacity and deliverables

Make sure your formwork supplier has sufficient product and capacity by examining these elements.

• Resources: It is imperative that your formwork provider has adequate manpower (including labor if required) and the technical expertise to do the job well.
  To determine the most efficient solution for a project, a contractor will evaluate several options to optimize resource utilization. Among the other considerations, the choice of formwork and how it is applied is of prime importance.
• Network: It also helps if a formwork company has multiple branches across cities, especially near your project sites. This gives you added coverage to ensure the timely supply and wide distribution of products and services.
• Consumables: If your formwork provider sells a range of handy formwork consumables, like tie cases, slab and wall separators, steel wool, and molding agents, among others, it is an added advantage as they can function as a one-stop-shop for your formwork needs and advice.
• Timeliness: During the construction process, the concrete formwork has a very central role to play in the construction timelines of the project. A provider who keeps to schedule will be an asset.

ADDITIONAL FORMWORK RECOMMENDATIONS

It goes without saying that you need to source the right kind of materials for specific construction requirements. A professional formwork provider knows these requirements.

Although many formworks have certain commonalities that can be used in most construction situations, in modern times, the design specificity and related mechanical requirements are more demanding on the bearing capacity of concrete buildings, and their shapes.  Therefore, you must be careful to choose an informed provider who has the latest equipment at their disposal.

To guide buyers through the challenge of sourcing technical formwork, we list some products here to help you familiarize yourself with available options.

You may consider asking your provider for more details when it comes to supporting your construction needs.

• Dokaflex: The Dokaflex is a hand-operated floor formwork system, which consists of only a few components, making it easy and fast to set up.
  The props&#; high load-bearing capacity is complemented by numbered holes for easier height adjustment. With special thread geometry, it is easier to release, even when under a high load. This reduces the user&#;s handling time.
• Framax Xlife: Framax Xlife has been developed to meet the increasing demand for faster and more cost-effective forming by including long-life plywood.
  Due to the plastic coating on the Xlife sheet, the pre-designed panels offer durability and a high number of re-use cycles. Applicable to different wall heights and cross-sections of columns, the panels can be erected quickly and re-used for new applications.
• Peri GT24: The Peri GT24 is a girder, which is used for slab and wall formwork solutions. The product can be used in systems such as Peri&#;s Multiflex, a slab formwork system used for any slab thickness, floor plan, and height, and Vario GT24, a girder wall formwork system with adjustable element connections.
• ACS climbing bracket: The ACS is a bracket, which climbs smoothly and evenly on climbing rails using hydraulic pumps. It has a lifting power of 100 kilonewtons and raises the unit to the next pour without the need for an intermediate anchor.
• Mammut 350: This wall formwork system has been on the market since . It incorporates an all-plastic facing, which lasts as long as the frame, never needs to be replaced, and survives an unlimited number of re-uses.
  The Mammut 350 is ideal for civil engineering projects, as well as for industrial and engineering construction. The system can take 100 kilonewtons per meter square of concrete.
• MEP shoring system: The MEP shoring system can support slab formwork at all heights, from underground carparks to high structures, and is integrated with a safety latch and two prop options for normal and heavy-duty loads in one system.
• H20 Wall and Column Formwork: With this system, wall and column elements are pre-assembled on-site and are used for all types of shear, core, and single-sided walls.
• GFT 20 Support Tower: This system incorporates galvanized steel frames. It is mainly used for high and heavy slabs, beams, and bridges.
• Ulma CC-4: CC-4 is a modular aluminum drop-head panel system used for large areas of flat deck slabs. It is a portable and light slab system that requires no crane. Early striking can be achieved with this product.
  Its main elements are made of aluminum, and it can be erected quickly as its stand-alone grid structure allows one team to set up the grid, whilst another team puts the panels in place.
• Ulma LGR: Launched in January , the LGR system is an engineer-profiled steel lightweight panel system specially designed for columns and extensively used in villa projects.
  LGR allows for an easy and fast erection because it is portable, and its accessories are fixed to the panel so there are no lost parts. Its formwork surface includes long-lasting plastic (no plywood) and it can withstand pouring pressures of up to 80 kilonewtons per meter square.
• Ischebeck Titan: The Ischebeck Titan&#;s range of legs and props offers fast, effective support for formwork during in-situ and precast casting operations as well as for back-propping of recently cast slabs. Buyers can choose from Titan aluminum legs, push-pull props, steel props, and aluminum props.
• Ischebeck Noetop: Ischebeck Neotop is a large, high-strength formwork system used for efficient casting of walls in a wide variety of situations. The system sustains concrete pressures up to 88 kilonewtons.

For more information on modular formwork and scaffolding, what would work best for your project, and how you can get the support you need to ensure your construction is safe and efficient, contact the experts at SSF by clicking here.