Construction workers use concrete formwork to shape structures until the concrete becomes strong enough to support its own weight. It is used to create not just foundations, but also core walls, columns, beams, staircases, suspended slabs, and other building components. Read on to find out about the best practices for using formwork in construction.

Use Prefabricated Forms

It used to be the case that property owners and contractors had no choice but to construct their own formwork at construction sites using wood, aluminum, or steel. Today, they have a better option. Prefabricated forms improve concrete workers’ speed, efficiency, and accuracy and make it easier to include enhanced safety features. They can also reduce lifecycle costs and open up possibilities such as using Circular Concrete Formwork that would otherwise be too difficult for all but the most skilled concrete contractors.

Avoid Common Design Flaws

Many concrete formwork failures occur due to inadequate design. Builders must account for factors like construction loads, wind, and lateral forces when designing formwork systems. If they fail to install adequate bracing, the system may collapse when a load is applied. The best way to ensure that a framework design will work as intended is to have it approved by a licensed engineer.

Use New Formwork or Inspect Each Component Before Use

Unless they are using prefabricated forms, concrete workers should use new formwork components each time they pour a foundation. The capacity of formwork components is reduced with each use due to corrosion, rot, and environmental damage so the best way to ensure structural integrity is to use new materials.

Ensure Proper Connections

It may be tempting to prioritize easy disassembly when installing formwork, but improper connections can lead to collapses. Make sure the forms are sufficiently supported by bolts, nails or splicing, or professional welds and that all of them are connected securely.

Create a Boundary Zone Before Laying Concrete

A proper boundary zone will prevent workers from accessing the areas beneath the formwork. Establish this boundary zone before pouring the concrete and maintain it until the concrete has dried sufficiently to remove the forms.

Monitor the Forms

Weight overloading is a common problem with poorly designed or constructed forms. Even when using prefabricated forms, concrete workers should monitor them carefully during the pouring process to identify early warning signs of system failures. That being said, workers should never access the areas beneath the formwork until after a thorough risk assessment has been performed.

Be Patient

Removing the formwork prior to achieving proper curing can destroy the foundation and damage the forms. Concrete workers need to exercise patience and wait until the concrete has dried sufficiently to allow safe removal. Don’t fall prey to external factors like tight scheduling requirements. Leaving the forms in place while the concrete dries is the only way to ensure that the foundation will be strong enough to support the weight of a full structure, so adequate curing time is very important.

The Bottom Line

Working with concrete forms requires specialized skills and knowledge, so formwork system failures are a common complaint on construction sites that are not being managed by a licensed engineer. Property owners who don’t have experience with fabricating concrete forms are always better off using prefabricated forms. Using high-quality prefabricated forms and following the best practices described above is the easiest way to avoid system failures and unnecessary project delays.