Modern technologies for floor formwork

Formwork is an important element of any concrete structure. In simple terms, these are temporary or permanent forms into which concrete is poured and gradually hardens, gaining strength. The technology has been used in the construction industry for thousands of years, with one of the earliest examples being the Pantheon in Rome, built around 120 AD.

Because concrete is relatively strong in resisting compressive loads but has low tensile strength, most of the earliest concrete structures using formwork consisted primarily of arches, domes, and vaults. The earliest types of auxiliary forms were widely used in masonry, as concrete was very complex and subsequently had a limited working load. It was only in the mid-19th century that concrete became the most favorite building material in construction.

Types of formwork

Depending on the chosen material and the structural element being erected, different types of formwork are used. For example, domestically produced floor formwork is used for constructing concrete slabs, column formwork is used for constructing concrete columns, and so on.

When constructing suspended concrete slabs and consoles that do not rest directly on the ground, special formwork is required. Floor formwork includes formwork panels, uniforks, beams, racks and other auxiliary materials that allow concrete to be poured and installed at the required height. It uses a variety of materials, including:

• plywood;

• wood;

• metal;

• aluminum,

and sometimes even plastic components that are used to give the concrete its shape and strength.

What is floor formwork?

Floor formwork primarily supports the weight of concrete during the curing process, or when the concrete slab is first installed on permanent supports. It requires braces made of wood or metal, and these braces support the vertical uniforks, which in turn support the horizontal beams. Horizontal beams create a flat surface on which wood, plywood, steel sheets, aluminum or fiberglass can be used as a base for pouring concrete.

In most cases, formwork can be reused many times, and the method of removing formwork after the concrete has hardened is known as stripping. After removing the formwork, it must be cleaned so that the front sides of the panels remain at right angles and there are no concrete residues. Reusable forms are known as "panel forms" and non-reusable forms are known as "permanent formwork".

What formwork systems are used

For small jobs, wood or plywood formwork is most often used, but these types of formwork tend to warp, swell, or shrink, even when using waterproof materials. Consequently, both wooden and plywood formwork have a short service life. On the other hand, steel sheets are used for larger jobs where the formwork needs to be reused many times. Although steel sheets are more expensive to produce, they have a much longer lifespan than wood or plywood, however, other materials such as fiberglass and aluminum are used in monolithic structures where the concrete slabs must be curved or irregularly shaped.

The growing popularity of monolithic construction

Floor formwork is used not only to create horizontal and curved surfaces, but also to create diagonal and vertical concrete structures. Today, formwork is becoming more modular and flexible, allowing architects to create an almost endless number of unique concrete forms and structures.

Due to the large number of slab formworks available, it is important that the most suitable and economical type of formwork is used depending on the budget and project characteristics. Getting the right advice is of paramount importance, given that small miscalculations in formwork requirements can lead to very costly mistakes.