Removable formwork. Types, characteristics and scope of application. Selection of formwork for various objects

Formwork material

An important characteristic is the material from which the wall formwork is made. The calculation of the required amount of concrete, as well as its weight, strength, cost, installation and finishing depends on this. Formworks are made from:

reinforced concrete;

Each of the materials has its own advantages and disadvantages. Metal formwork is widely used in industrial construction (withstands high pouring speeds). However, it is very heavy and its installation requires the use of special equipment.

The polystyrene foam form is lightweight and serves as an additional insulating layer. However, the low strength of the material complicates construction (for example, a concrete pump cannot be used for pouring).

Wood, chipboard and plywood are also easily deformed, but at the same time provide easy and quick installation. Plastic is sensitive to negative temperatures, but durable and airtight. The main area of use is private construction (if you need to make a shallow foundation or a lightweight building with your own hands), because their installation does not require special skills.

Large developers prefer to carry out work using removable structures, which also includes Gamma formwork. Depending on its purpose, it can be used for the construction of:

floors.

The required volume of concrete is calculated taking into account the type of formwork.

Advantages of removable structures

If we are not talking about one-time construction, prefabricated large-panel or panel formwork is the best option, due to the following advantages:

Versatility. Components (special fasteners, rotating elements) allow you to create complex structures.

Classifications by degree of disassembly ↑

One of the fundamentally important criteria by which formwork is classified in construction is the degree of disassembly. In this regard, it is divided into two categories:

removable;
non-removable.

The choice of one type or another depends on the degree of responsibility of the structure, the customer’s budget, the type and purpose of the building, the expected construction time and other factors.

Features of using the removable version ↑

Removable or collapsible formwork is widespread in private construction. Removable forms can be made of wood or metal. Depending on the volume of concreting, edged boards with a thickness of 25, 30 or 40 mm are used. There is a wide range of different ready-made formwork systems on sale, but you can do it yourself.

The main requirements for collapsible concrete forms:

rigid connection of parts;
precise joining and absence of gaps and cracks;
material strength;
lack of adhesion to the concrete mixture.

Use of wood on an industrial scale

When constructing formwork from boards, especially homemade ones, all elements must be made with a large margin of safety. This is due to the fact that the concrete mixture itself is quite heavy and dense. It puts a lot of pressure on the walls of the mold, and if low-quality materials are used or the parts are not firmly connected, it can simply crumble into components.

Advantages of the removable option:

reusable;
possibility to rent;
simple design;
simple and quick installation and dismantling;
efficiency.

Removable metal system

The main feature of using this type of system is its reusable use. With large volumes of concreting, the cost of formwork work can reach 30-40%. Repeated use of shields reduces total costs and allows for significant savings.

Another important nuance is to correctly position the vertical elements. Often this process takes half the time spent on formwork. A good alternative is metal shields. This formwork is installed faster, since all the elements are already aligned and welded at the correct angle.

Features of using a non-removable system ↑

Recently, permanent formwork made from modern materials, in particular polystyrene foam, has become increasingly widespread. The essence of the permanent option is that the material that is used to form concrete is not dismantled after hardening, but remains and sometimes performs additional functions.

The advantages of such formwork:

construction speed;
ease of use;
additional functionality.

Fixed polystyrene foam blocks

Since formwork blocks and foam systems are sold ready-made, their installation takes virtually no time. The material is light and quite durable. Depending on the size of the element being concreted, foam plastic of different thicknesses is used, which guarantees the required strength of the structure.

Decorative formwork is used for the construction of external walls. One side of it looks like a finished wall after finishing work. This significantly reduces the costs of subsequent finishing and exterior decoration of the building.

Polystyrene foam has very low thermal conductivity, so it is used as insulation. In the form of formwork, this material continues to perform its thermal insulation function. In addition, expanded polystyrene solves the problem of sound insulation and also protects the structure from moisture.

Facing formwork element

Expanded polystyrene is not the only material that is used as permanent formwork. In bridge construction, such an unusual type of reinforced concrete is used as pipe concrete. It consists of steel pipes filled with concrete. The pipe performs two functions at once - reinforcement and formwork.

Another option for permanent formwork is glass-magnesium sheet (GMS). It is used if you need to concrete large objects, for example, walls or ceilings. The frame is assembled from a steel profile, and the LSU is attached to it with self-tapping screws. The result is a lightweight and durable structure that can be installed without special equipment.

Installation of removable formwork

The main components are a block and fastening elements (). Depending on the type of structure (panel, large-panel), the block can have dimensions from 90*60 cm to 330*120 cm. The required size of the panels is calculated taking into account the scale of construction. For the construction of a small house, or conventional panel formwork with 1.5 * 1 m blocks is the best option.

Panel formwork is easy to assemble with your own hands; installation does not require the use of special equipment, and various components allow you to assemble a structure of any shape. This makes it indispensable for pouring a foundation or erecting walls and ceilings of a one- or two-story building.

The shield frame is made of metal profile (high carbon steel or aluminum alloy). The shield is plastic or plywood, in some cases it is finished with reinforcing material. Installation of additional stiffening ribs guarantees the strength of the structure.

A significant advantage of a permanent form is its cost and easy installation. The construction of monolithic houses with this design allows minimizing labor costs. Installation of other structures consists of the following stages:

a corner block is installed and walls are erected;

door and window openings are being installed;

concreting is carried out (each stage of pouring is performed after the previous layer has hardened).

Features of large-panel formwork

In addition to the listed elements, Gamma large-panel formwork has the following components:

shields on hinges, with the help of which you can form internal and external corners of any radius;

arc-forming element to obtain a rounded section of a wall or ceiling;

ties that rigidly fix the panels to each other.

Also, to facilitate work at height, the kit can be supplied with scaffolding for workers, which can be easily attached to a block at the level of any floor. You can purchase additional components as needed; specialists will calculate the required quantity.

Large-panel formwork is used in the construction of large-scale projects, therefore, special requirements are placed on it. The block must withstand high pouring speeds, and its rigidity must ensure the ideal geometry of the walls and foundation. This is ensured by the following design features:

a special lock that allows additional sheets up to 10 cm thick to be inserted between the panels (to strengthen the structure or provide additional heat and waterproofing);

fastening elements simultaneously tighten and fasten the panels together;

The block is covered with a special protective coating (powder paint), this external finish helps prevent corrosion.

Today, Gamma adjustable removable formwork is the most optimal solution in terms of price-quality ratio.

Application of wall formwork (video)

Selection of formwork for various objects

They are mainly used when constructing foundations for small objects (dacha, garage) with their own hands. Installation in the trench and pouring are done manually. For heavy structures, the foundation and walls are strengthened by reinforcement. Exterior and exterior finishing is possible immediately after the concrete has hardened.

Permanent panel formwork made of expanded polystyrene has become a popular solution for the construction of small private houses. The thermal insulation properties of expanded polystyrene can significantly save space heating costs. In addition, finishing such a building (both inside and outside) is not particularly difficult. Most finishing materials (plasterboard, facing boards, lining, veneer) are easily attached to sheets of expanded polystyrene.

Removable panel formwork can be installed to build a shallow strip foundation, in which case it acts as a basement. Wooden or is the most cost-effective solution, since a shallow foundation does not imply the use of complex structures. It is easy to assemble and disassemble with your own hands, using available tools.

Large-panel formwork (for example, Gamma 330) is used in the construction of multi-storey buildings, industrial facilities, etc. At the same time, thanks to its configuration, it can easily be transformed into a form for ceilings and supporting elements. The accompanying documentation indicates possible assembly schemes and calculations of the necessary elements.

Monolithic construction is at the forefront of all technologies today. And this is quite natural, because in most cases it is more economically justified. In the field of foundations, concrete materials are very advantageous because they allow foundation structures of almost any shape and size to be poured. But in order for this to be possible, it is necessary to use formwork.

In design documents, formwork is given a separate place. It is customary to make formwork drawings especially for foundation work, describing in detail the specification of formwork panels and their standard sizes, connecting elements, fastening fittings, etc.

This is done so that you can imagine how much of this equipment is needed for foundation work. When the size of the foundation changes, the configuration of the formwork also changes.

The very first formwork, like modern formwork, was made from wood materials. It was wood, due to its ability to be processed, that made it possible to quickly draw the outline of a form for filling and assemble it from individual elements together. Today there are two main types of formwork:

Removable formwork
is the most common type of formwork used in construction. Depending on the size of the element being concreted, a variety of materials are used for its manufacture. Preference is given to moisture-resistant ones, which allow this equipment to be used repeatedly. Individual panels of removable formwork are connected to each other by various elements - ties, bars, spacers, etc. This makes it possible to make a continuous formwork structure of almost any length. Using typesetting panels you can make various forms of formwork. Upon completion of the work, the removable formwork panels are dismantled;
Non-removable
- often used for foundation work, and allows you to save on dismantling work. It is made from expanded polystyrene foam (PSB). This formwork has a closed shape and is not afraid of frost and changes in humidity conditions.

The smoother the formwork panels, the easier it is to position them in place as accurately as possible and without gaps. It is this drawback that can subsequently lead to unnecessary costs for trimming the plane of the monolithic element, changing its dimensions and compromising the integrity of the form.

Types of modern formwork systems for industrial construction (using the example of nuclear power plants)

PromStroyKontrakt Group of Companies has been developing, producing and supplying formwork systems for industry (including nuclear) since 1993. Taking into account the highest equipment requirements for the construction of special-purpose facilities, we have developed and are implementing high-tech solutions for the formation of monolithic load-bearing structures.

1. One of the main formwork systems that allows performing work of any level of complexity is the MSK-Monolitstroykomplekt small-panel inventory formwork. The formwork is produced using high-precision welding equipment equipped with welding robots, which guarantees high consumer properties of each formwork element. Due to the small size of the shield, it is possible to perform any monolithic work and form the most complex units. The formwork belongs to the first accuracy class according to the current GOST.

At the stage of primary mobilization during the construction of the Novovoronezh NPP, construction companies purchased a set of MSC formwork. This kit allowed us to complete the assigned tasks in the shortest possible time and prepare for the main concrete structures. A typical formwork panel measuring 1.5 by 1 m has a weight of 59 kg, which allows it to be installed manually without lifting mechanisms. The supporting frame of the shield is strip steel. The board is veneered with Finnish plywood with a turnover of at least 100 cycles. The load-bearing capacity of the shield is 6t/m2.

The boards are connected using a standard PSK lock through standard holes in the side ribs of the board. Using one lock, the panels are fixed, aligned, and the gaps between them are removed. The simplicity of this connection guarantees that a builder of any qualification will master this equipment in the shortest possible time.

To speed up installation work, the panels are assembled using cards and delivered by crane to the installation site in assembled form.

Small panel formwork from the PSK holding is convenient to use when forming load-bearing monolithic walls of mines, canals, walls of industrial buildings, as well as administrative buildings.

If necessary, any foundation can be formed with a standard set of formwork: strip, slab, columnar types. At the Balakovo hydroelectric power station, a unique technology was used for the restoration of structures using MSC formwork.

If necessary, formwork can be used to form radius walls. The panels are connected by a form-building element that allows you to create radius walls of arbitrary sizes and shapes. During the construction of the Boguchanskaya HPP, the builders used their existing set of MSC formwork for pro-linear walls and were able to form radius monolithic structures at minimal cost.

MSC formwork was used in the construction of supporting structures up to 10 m high. At Sredneuralskaya GRES, a high degree of repeatability of structures made it possible to develop a special formwork system, which reduced construction time by 24%.

If necessary, as mentioned earlier, the formwork panels are easily carried by hand and can be mounted without lifting mechanisms. This degree of versatility allows the use of MSK formwork in any of the most inaccessible places without compromising the performance characteristics of the equipment.

2. Beam-transom formwork PSK-CLASSIC. This is the most high-tech formwork system used in modern Russian industrial construction. High load-bearing capacity of up to 20t/m2 allows the use of this formwork system in the most difficult conditions. Engineering calculations of structures and optimization can reduce construction labor costs by up to 40% compared to standard systems. Formwork has been produced since 1999 and over the past years has found its consumer: these are construction companies carrying out critical projects with increased requirements for formwork equipment.

It is convenient to use formwork when forming load-bearing monolithic walls of mines, canals, walls of industrial buildings, as well as administrative buildings. The formwork is delivered to the installation site by a crane.

Beam-transom formwork has a record load-bearing capacity of up to 20t/m2, which allows it to form monolithic walls up to 15m high with one-time concreting using concrete pumps without the formation of working joints and technological holes. The main factor also contributing to the wide range of applications of this system is the high quality of the resulting concrete surface, which in Germany is called Architectural Concrete

Formwork of supports with a cross-section over 2×4m or more to a height of up to 18m. One-time concreting for the entire height. It is possible to use special concretes, including high mobility concretes and high density concretes.

A difficult issue that was successfully resolved by engineers during the construction of the Novovoronezh NPP is the tightness of monolithic shells. This requirement is dictated by the high safety indicators of the structures under construction. The most effective solution to this issue was the use of embedded elements embedded in walls and reusable steel cones. After dismantling the formwork and steel cone, the resulting niche is re-solidified without the use of additional chemical multicomponent compounds and ensures tightness as in the case of one-time concreting without the formation of technological holes.

2.1. The radius formwork system has been widely used at various nuclear industry facilities under construction. Of the latter, we can note the use of this system at the Novovoronezh NPP for a monolithic internal reactor containment shell. In this case, the use of radius formwork made it possible to obtain a high-quality concrete surface and fully comply with all current building codes. In comparison with the simultaneous concreting of two shells (an option for working at LNPP), this technology and equipment has such important criteria as: ease of work, the ability to work with numerous embedded parts, lack of dependence on external factors, including the design features of the outer containment shell. Also, the use of this system is characterized by lower labor intensity and higher versatility. The use of this formwork made it possible to ensure 100% safety of work at the Novovoronezh NPP site.

2.2. The lifting and adjusting system is used in the formation of reactor and other monolithic structures, which are characterized by large heights and cramped working conditions. Formwork consoles serve as a natural flooring and support for formwork panels, which ensures 100% safety during construction and high speed of moving the system from grip to grip.

3. Large-panel steel formwork "Delta" has been produced since 2006. A high-precision production line allows you to obtain a product that meets the 1st accuracy class in accordance with the current GOST. The bearing capacity of the formwork was already recorded in 2008 and amounted to 8 tons/m2, and was subsequently increased. A wide range of formwork elements allows you to form any complex section. The main advantage of this formwork system is its durability and rigidity.

Delta formwork was used at LNPP, Novovoronezh NPP as formwork for columnar foundations, walls of monolithic chambers, canal walls and other concrete structures. The simplicity of the formwork system design allows it to be used in all weather conditions. The use of Delta formwork at LNPP was facilitated by the speed of engineering calculations and ease of delivery to the site.

The powerful formwork profile and steel thickness of 3 mm in all load-bearing elements of the formwork, with timely re-veneering and good construction culture, allow us to achieve a turnover of over 400 cycles. Application at the Novovoronezh NPP was not limited to administrative buildings. Using this formwork, the walls of many buildings and the reactor compartment were built.

4. The PSK-KAP formwork system (universal beam-frame formwork for floors) has been produced in Russia since 1999. Its main distinctive features: high load-bearing capacity of 6 tons 150 kg per axle, high resistance to external factors and, most importantly, its absolute versatility. The niche for using PSK-KAP formwork is any monolithic floors of arbitrary thickness at a height of up to 70m.

The formwork consists of vertical posts and leveling horizontal elements. The connection principle is reliable and allows you to fix the stand in all four directions with one turn of the lock nut. When assembling formwork at high heights, it is allowed to lay the flooring for workers directly on the horizontal formwork elements. This solution ensures 100% safety not only during operation but also during installation and dismantling work.

The formwork is designed for installation, working and regulatory loads. During operation, PSK-KAP formwork is characterized by high reliability and high operational durability. The formwork belongs to the first accuracy class according to the current GOST.

The versatility of the formwork allows you to repeatedly use this system in the construction of special-purpose objects and combine system elements both when forming monolithic floors with a thickness of 40-80 cm, and when forming monolithic slabs up to 3 m thick. At the same time, the height of the formwork can reach tens of meters while meeting the most stringent requirements for safety and load-bearing capacity.

PSK-KAP formwork is used in the construction of the Novovoronezh NPP. According to the completed bindings, the formwork was used in the construction of the reactor building. The thickness of the concreted monolithic floors is 1.8 m and the load of over 6 t/m2 has been successfully solved by the builders. After concreting especially critical monolithic structures, the equipment was moved to other working areas. The total turnover of PSK-KAP formwork during its operation has already amounted to more than 400 cycles.

Equipment for monolithic construction from PROMSTROYKONTRAKT Group of Companies was also widely used in the construction of LNPP cooling towers. The main purpose at this site was: supporting scaffolding to a height of up to 14 m and inventory ladders for climbing to the installation horizon. PSK-KAP formwork is a multifunctional system that allows it to be used as floor formwork, as well as supporting scaffolding and stairs.

5. PromStroyKontrakt hydraulic formworks are specialized systems for the implementation of the most critical monolithic structures. Cooling towers are certainly one of the most complex structures, the construction technology of which is very demanding and complex. We offer a fully automated hydraulic self-climbing formwork system which, taking into account the wide temperature range of equipment operation, allows us to form a high-quality surface with minimal time and resources.

One of the most interesting technologies of modern construction is the use of the sliding hydraulic formwork method for the formation of any vertical structures: pipes, silos, bridge supports, oil platforms. The system is used in Russia and ensures absolute safety of construction work. At the same time, this equipment allows for tremendous construction speed: construction heights of up to 6 meters per day with 24-hour operation. For example, a 60m pipe or silo can be built in 10-15 days without taking into account the time spent on mobilization and additional costs. work.

Hydraulic formwork for tunnels and bypass channels allows you to obtain high quality concrete structures with minimal time costs. All-metal tunnel formwork is used in Sochi, in the construction of subways in different cities of Russia, canals and other engineering structures. The design of such formwork systems allows kilometers of concrete tunnels and channels to be completed without loss of quality. One of the main advantages of using this technology is that the formwork can be easily adapted to any tunnel section.

6. Hydraulic formwork for water pipelines is the main design direction of the PromStroyKontrakt company. Currently (2011-2012) work is underway at Zagorskaya PSPP-2. When forming water conduits, the inner surface of which is steel pipes with a diameter of 7.5 m, individual formwork was designed, which makes it possible to complete a section of the water conduit with a cycle frequency of 1 capture in 2 days. Concrete, which requires at least 24 hours to gain initial strength sufficient for stripping, simply does not allow it to go faster. Currently, two independent sets of formwork are working at the site.

Hydraulic formwork of water pipelines with an internal concrete section. A similar hydraulic system was used and the main difference from the external formwork of the water conduits is a fundamentally different design scheme. The load on the closed formwork circuit is transferred more rationally, therefore, structurally, this type of formwork is easier to implement and faster to operate.

The hydraulic formwork system for forming bridges allows the construction of pylons and bridge spans. This type of equipment is individual and is calculated directly for the object. The use of these formwork systems allows us to eliminate any difficulties at the stage of implementation of the designed facility while strictly observing construction deadlines.

Engineering support of projects by PROMSTROYKONTRAKT Group of Companies:

Carrying out preliminary calculations of any formwork system in accordance with the technical specifications
Issuance of graphic documentation and specifications
Production of formwork according to approved specifications
Supply of formwork kit
Supervised installation of formwork by engineering personnel - supervisors
Follow-up engineering support for each formwork set
Development of technical regulations, technical maps for formwork

Please note that this article summarizes the experience of the Group of Companies at the beginning of 2011. Over the following years, we have achieved and improved a lot. For any questions, please contact the company’s specialists or through the feedback form on the website.

See also:

Universal large-panel wall formwork DELTA

Universal beam-and-transom wall formwork PSK-CLASSIC

Radius beam-transom formwork PSK-CLASSIC

Beam-frame floor formwork PSK-CUP

Small-panel steel wall formwork MSK The material was published in the section: Articles and interviews.

How to make boards for strip foundation formwork with your own hands

Foundation panels are made in such a size that they can be easily moved and installed in place. Due to the nature of the material and the need for its leveling, wooden formwork panels are rarely more than 3 meters long. If there is a need for larger sizes, connecting several panels together is not particularly difficult.

Engineering calculations for the installation of panel formwork are based on the dimensions of the foundation element and the amount of concrete mixture. Next, tensile loads are calculated, taking into account the operation of the vibrator. And after this, the thickness of the walls of the formwork panel is displayed. Documentation on the requirements and calculations of formwork for the foundation is described in the updated edition of GOST R 52085-2003 “Formwork. General technical conditions". The amount of board, determined in cubic meters, is calculated using a very simple formula:

Q = (A * B * D) * 2, where

– thickness of the board;

– foundation height;

– perimeter of the foundation strip.

Foundation work is fundamental in modern construction. In most cases, it is more rational to make a monolithic foundation, because it is affordable, and is considered the most durable and practical of all known. But for its installation it is extremely important to arrange accurate and economical formwork.

With low construction requirements, formwork is made from scrap materials, saving money on this equipment, while at the same time risking nullifying all efforts in this matter. There are cases when concrete, due to insufficient stops, weak shields, squeezes them out, violating the integrity of the structure. The work has to be redone again, wasting effort, time and money. That is why the manufacture and installation of formwork for the foundation should be taken seriously, and done in accordance with all the rules and standards of the construction industry.

This video is devoted to the installation of removable formwork for various types of foundations. It reveals in detail all the nuances of manufacturing wooden panels, their placement on the site of the foundation, describes reinforcing, spacer and tie elements, and methods of fastening. This video also describes the preparatory work before starting concreting the foundation.

So, what is wall formwork? It is called a simple structure consisting of a number of stacked panel blocks. These components are simply attached in the required position at a specific height and are needed to hold the concrete mixture until it is completely dry.

In recent years, the volume of monolithic construction has increased, because of this, wall formwork has become the most necessary and sought-after auxiliary material. Monolithic buildings gained popularity due to the speed of construction, excellent strength, and the ability to save on materials. In most cases, the high reliability of the completed building is determined by the formwork.

Any form consists of the following elements:

supporting frame;
fasteners;
panel;
stiffening rib.

There are 2 types of these forms:

removable - it is removed after completion of work and hardening;
permanent formwork remains permanently.

More often, metal alloys and wood species with low humidity are used to make the mold.

Other forms are classified:

By size - large-shield and small-shielded.
By design - sliding, block-adjustable, volumetric-adjustable.
According to the purpose of application - vertical, horizontal.

To speed up the hardening process of concrete, plasticizers are added to the mixture. How is a wooden frame made?

Wood is the easiest and most inexpensive method of making removable formwork. Formwork for wooden walls is done as follows:

using bars with nails, the boards need to be knocked down into panels of the required size;
the shields need to be connected to one another, creating the shape of the future building.

The stationary form is 2 strips of panels with a distance for pouring concrete mixture. Shields can be removed and used later in other places. But to establish the shape, not all types of wood may be suitable. Requires moisture-resistant wood with a moisture content of no more than 25%.

Metal carcass

Made from 2 rows of metal sheets that are welded or riveted. Solid shapes are held together with sections of pipe through which bolts are passed. But this design is less suitable for wall formwork.

Plastic mold

Such frames, which were developed quite recently, are a breakthrough in construction. And although using such forms it will not be possible to make walls thicker than 40 cm, they can be perfect for filling the walls of a private cottage. Next, the technology for manufacturing the structure will be described.

The most budget-friendly formwork option – and more than once

How to make formwork for a foundation from scrap materials? Easily! You can even make it from plywood - cheap and cheerful. Its sheets must be fastened together with self-tapping screws and steel corners. But the joints should be covered with strips of thinner plywood, on self-tapping screws. Holes for the ties must be made horizontally in increments of 550 mm, 50 mm vertically and 250 mm from the top.

Supports here need to be placed only in places - to level the formwork vertically. But for the longest sections of the foundation, in order to achieve straightness, a steel rectangular pipe 25x60 mm is screwed on edge along the very top of the plywood.

Plastic formwork for foundations is also popular today - and it is not expensive.

Making formwork for wooden walls

Only smooth boards that are free of cracks and chips are suitable for the device. The elements must be fastened with nails or screws from the inside to the outside. The technology provides that to strengthen the structure, spacers can be used, which will help protect the form from deformation during pouring of the concrete mixture.

If the wall formwork is poorly made or uneven boards are used, it will begin to leak concrete. For this reason, it is better not to save on materials initially. Spacers are made of high-strength metal alloy.

The device can be dismantled after a few days. Timing depends on weather and humidity. The technology for removing the structure itself is as follows: you need to remove the form only after the concrete has completely hardened. will always be within the walls of the building, so you need to think about the appearance of this structure.

Now you know about formwork for walls, their types and how to make this structure with your own hands. Follow the tips above and you will be able to create a strong shape for the walls of your home. We wish you good luck in completing the walls of your future home.

Wall formwork may be needed when constructing concrete vertical partitions. For its manufacture, metal or strong wood is used so that deformation does not occur during the expansion of hardening concrete. Constructing such a frame yourself will not only help you save a lot of money, but also make it easy to install the formwork yourself next time.

removable;
non-removable.

Removable structures can be used many times. They are ideal for low-rise construction. Any such form is a kind of constructor. During assembly, nuts, washers and bolts are used.

The permanent form is most often used in the construction of insulated walls. It is constructed from plastic or expanded clay concrete - materials that retain heat.

For the manufacture of both types, the following materials are used:

Tree. Suitable for all types of structures. The easiest and cheapest option. It is best to use moisture-resistant species: spruce, cedar or alder. Since the wooden frame can be disassembled upon completion of the work and then used again, these expensive species will pay for themselves over time, and the erected walls will last a long time.
Metal. Relevant for large-scale construction. This frame is welded from 2 rows of metal. The resulting metal structure is particularly durable, but is not suitable for DIY construction.
Plywood, corners and fittings. Since plywood is a flexible material, its formwork must be reinforced with reinforcement.
Foam or plastic. Used for permanent structures. It is easy to install and dismantle, does not require special temperature conditions during storage, and does not deform even after 50 uses. The maximum wall thickness for plastic formwork is 40 cm, but for individual construction this is quite enough.

How to build formwork for a strip foundation ↑

In private construction, monolithic concreting is most often used in the construction of foundations. It is not always possible to buy or rent ready-made solutions for formwork work. Many people prefer to make formwork with their own hands, because it is actually not as difficult as it might seem.

Preparatory work for installation ↑

Strip foundation is one of the most common. It is used in the construction of houses with a frame made of load-bearing walls. The load in this case is distributed over the entire surface of the foundation, and is not concentrated in several support points, as when using, for example, pile foundations with a grillage.

Of course, simply buying or making formwork for concreting the foundation is not enough. It needs to be installed and done correctly. The following preparatory activities are carried out for installation:

They dig a trench with a depth and width corresponding to the project.
A sand cushion is placed at the bottom to level out the deformation of the foundation with slight subsidence of the soil. The thickness of the pillow is usually 15 cm. The sand is moistened with water and compacted.
For greater strength of the base, the bottom of the trench can be reinforced with a thin layer of concrete mixture or sand-cement screed.

Trench and marking

Installation of formwork for strip foundations ↑

When the excavation work is completed, manufacturing begins. The first question that arises is which board to use for the foundation formwork. For economic reasons, edged pine boards are used, since their price is the most affordable. The thickness depends on the size of the foundation, because the force with which the concrete will act on the wood directly depends on the amount of the mixture. The minimum board thickness is 25 mm, the maximum is 50 mm.

The project determines the height of the foundation. Formwork panels must correspond to this size. The required number of boards are knocked together to obtain the formwork of the required height. It is better not to use boards that are too wide, as there is a risk of cracking. The optimal size is 200-300 mm.

You can also use plywood, then making the formwork yourself will take less time, but its cost will increase.

Plywood sheets for foundation formwork

The step-by-step installation process looks like this:

The contour of the future foundation is outlined using pegs driven into the ground and rope. The resulting outline must exactly replicate the design.
At a distance from the contour equal to the thickness of the formwork sheets, support beams are driven in. The step is taken depending on the size of the shield.
Sheets of plywood or boards made from knocked down boards are attached to the inside of the beams using nails.
To prevent the sheets from falling inside, they are secured with spacers made of timber.
The upper part is secured with supports, which are installed between the upper outer edge of the formwork and the ground at an angle of 45 degrees.

Detailed diagram

A simple version of the foundation formwork is ready.

Construction of permanent formwork for the foundation ↑

Permanent foam formwork systems do not need to be made by hand, they are sold ready-made and are inexpensive. Therefore, the concreting process is reduced in time, which in itself is a plus.

Fixed option for building a foundation

In accordance with the foundation design, you need to purchase the required number of foam blocks. The trench is prepared, after which the installation of formwork begins.

To prevent a multi-tiered structure made of lightweight foam from falling apart and becoming deformed, long reinforcement rods are driven into the ground, onto which the foam is “strung.” If the depth of the foundation is large and the released reinforcement is not high enough, new rods are installed in the concrete after several rows.
Start laying the first row of blocks. Thanks to a well-thought-out design, the blocks are connected to each other using the tongue-and-groove system, like a construction set.
To reduce the number of vertical joints, the rows are laid offset, as when laying bricks.
Particular attention is paid to the corners of the foundation. Two blocks are connected in the corners, a hole is cut at the junction - a “window”, so that the concrete spreads evenly along the entire length of the row.

The resemblance to Lego is obvious

Working with polystyrene foam is easy - all cutting is done manually without special equipment.

Assembly of movable and removable elements

Mobile (sliding) formwork requires less material, but its manufacturing technology requires more time. For the mobile version you will need the following materials:

transverse and longitudinal panels with stiffeners;
spacers;
bolts;
nuts;
pipe cuttings.

The work consists of the following stages:

Installation of formwork on the corner of the foundation.
Covering the frame with transverse panels.
Pouring concrete.
After the solution has completely hardened, the formwork is dismantled.
The structure is moved to a new location, secured to an already erected fragment of the wall.
Then the process is repeated.

To save time, you can make several sliding structures to build all the walls at once. For the installation of the simplest removable formwork, boards of the same length with a thickness of 2.5 to 5 cm are suitable. Assembly is as follows:

Long beams are driven in at the corners of the foundation and in the middle of the planned wall. Shorter boards are nailed every 1 m. Boards prepared for shields are knocked down with slats. In this case, the length of the resulting shield will depend on the length of the boards, and the height should slightly exceed the height of the wall being built. Here you should take into account that the nails need to be driven not into the stitching strips, but into the boards themselves, then the heads will be on the flat side of the board.
The panels are nailed to each other using connecting strips. Internal panels are nailed to the supports. Next, install supports for the internal shield. External panels and supports are nailed to them.

The formwork is ready for pouring the walls.

One of the first stages in the construction of structures for various purposes is the installation of formwork. Often this process remains without due attention. But already at the stage of preparation for pouring it becomes clear that not everything is as simple as first thought. The formwork installation instructions will help you assemble the frame.

Types of formwork

There are three types of construction:

Removable, which is dismantled after the solution has completely dried. This formwork is assembled from separate parts. The result is a collapsible structure that can be dismantled and reused. Among the advantages of this type of formwork are ease of installation and the possibility of reuse, which significantly reduces the financial costs of construction.

Fixed, respectively, one that cannot be dismantled. Installation of formwork of this type is carried out mainly from expanded polystyrene or polystyrene foam. It remains part of the structure being built. And at the same time it acts as insulation.

“Floating” formwork is typical for the construction of a monolithic foundation, which is immersed in the ground. It is a shield assembled from boards, which is slightly higher in height than the planned concrete structure. The shield is lowered into the pit and attached to its walls. Cardboard or roofing felt is rolled out on top of it.

There are also several types depending on the purpose:

Wall formwork. Its installation is carried out for the construction of vertical structures and walls.

Horizontal, which is used for installing foundations and floors.

Curved, which allows you to fill parts of unusual shapes.

Installation and dismantling of each type of formwork has its own characteristics. You need to know them to perform quality work.

What formwork is needed for monolithic reinforced concrete ↑

The concept of “formwork” combines a whole class of auxiliary building structures. To choose it correctly, you need to clearly structure the information and, based on this data, choose the appropriate option. The main issues to be resolved are material and design features.

Metal structure to form a round wall

General information and main functions ↑

Before we begin the classification and in-depth consideration of the issue, we should understand what formwork in construction is in principle. Formwork is a structure that gives the desired shape to the concrete mixture and maintains it until the concrete hardens completely. It also holds the reinforcement and prevents it from moving while pouring the solution.

Prefabricated reinforced concrete structures are now used much less frequently, because they need to be transported over long distances from the reinforced concrete plant to the construction site. This is not only expensive, but there is also a high probability of damage to the structure during transportation. In addition, large items need to be stored somewhere, and this is not always possible.

The use of formwork and monolithic concreting solves several complex construction problems at once. Formwork can take any shape. This allows you to implement bold architectural projects without being tied to the standard dimensions of precast concrete.

Concreting a column

Design features of different types ↑

Reinforced concrete is a material that is used in all areas of construction. And such a variety of shapes, sizes and configurations of construction objects explains the number of types of formwork, depending on its design. There are: collapsible, sliding, rolling, shell and pneumatic formwork.

The most common, feasible even at home, is collapsible. It consists of shields of a certain size, which are connected and form the desired shape. After the concrete has hardened, the structure is disassembled and moved to a new location, where it is reassembled.
For monolithic construction of multi-story buildings, a sliding system is used. It can often be seen when constructing tall elements of the same section and configuration throughout the entire height, for example, columns. Rigid blocks of a certain shape are fixed at the required height and filled with concrete. After gaining strength, the system moves higher to erect the next section of the column.
Sliding formwork

Rolling formwork for concrete is used in the construction of walls, tunnels and other long-distance objects. By analogy with a sliding one, a rolling one moves as concrete work progresses in a horizontal plane - it moves to a new area.
The shell form for concrete has the form of blocks or panels, which are rigidly connected to each other and subsequently become the shell of the structure, that is, they are not removable. This type is also widely used in low-rise residential construction, since it is easy to assemble and inexpensive.
The most exotic formwork used in the construction of buildings with a heavy reinforced concrete monolithic vault is pneumatic. It is a fabric-based shell. The formwork is fixed around the perimeter of the object, after which a compressor is started inside, pumping air. The fabric “inflates” and holds its dome shape under air pressure. Concrete mixture is applied on top layer by layer. The compressor is turned off after the concrete has completely hardened.

Example of pneumatic formwork

What materials are used for formwork work ↑

According to the area of application, formwork can be:

for the construction of foundations;
walls;
floors;
coatings;
columns;
tunnels;
for industrial facilities (mines, elements of industrial structures, bridges).

Complex design - tunnel formwork

Depending on the material from which the formwork is made, it can be:

wooden;
metal;
plastic;
foam plastic.

Scheme of wooden formwork for the foundation

The most affordable and widespread in construction is wooden formwork. For its manufacture, boards, plywood, chipboards and other lumber can be used. Wood is easy to work with, it is easy to find on the open market in any quantity, and its cost is low.

Wooden mold for steps

More expensive, but more durable, metal construction. Steel sheets and profiles are used: angle, channel, I-beams. The connection can be welded or bolted.

Lightweight and easy-to-use plastic formwork is a new word in working with reinforced concrete. Its advantage is also that, if necessary, it is possible to produce a structure of any complex shape without much effort. Foam boards are often used as a material for permanent formwork. They perform not only a fixing function, but subsequently work as insulation.

Blank for filling walls

Advantages of permanent formwork

Installation of permanent formwork involves purchasing a ready-made kit for performing the work. All that remains is to assemble the structure and install it. This leads to a number of advantages that formwork of this type has:

short deadlines for completing work;

ease of installation;

low weight of the structure;

resistance to fungus and mold;

fire safety;

low cost.

Also, permanent formwork is both a layer of insulation and consists of foam blocks that are easily connected to each other. In this case, the inner wall is thinner than the outer one. Thanks to this, a high level of thermal insulation is achieved.

Basic rental requirements

When building in conditions of limited financial resources, it is possible to avoid unnecessary expenses by renting standard formwork from one of the construction companies.

This will allow:

save financial resources on purchasing a formwork system;
reduce the duration of installation work associated with the installation of formwork;
reduce labor costs;

Extruded polystyrene foam is used as permanent formwork

exclude the use of special construction equipment and lifting devices for installation of the structure;
avoid costs associated with warehousing of panel elements.

Renting a formwork system is economically feasible and will significantly reduce costs compared to purchasing formwork, especially if construction work is carried out sporadically.

Construction of permanent formwork

Installing wall formwork using permanent blocks is much easier than the traditional method.

Work begins with preparing the site and laying a layer of waterproofing. Blocks are simply placed on the foundation according to the principle of brickwork (with offset seams). This allows you to increase the strength (rigidity) of the structure.

To begin with, only one row of blocks is laid, then the reinforcement (overlapping). There are special grooves for this. The reinforcement is connected to each other by vertical wire. The following rows are laid out in the same way.

The blocks are attached to each other by simply connecting special grooves using light pressure. They begin to pour concrete mortar already on the third row of blocks.

There is one small secret in the work process. Walls will be more secure if the joints of the mortar layers remain in the middle of the block. To do this, the top row is filled to half.

Features of removable formwork

We will consider the main points of formwork installation using the example of a removable collapsible structure. This type is most often performed by site owners without the help of professional builders.

The formwork is installed from boards, bars, plywood and other sheets of wood. The main thing is that these slabs are level. All work begins with site preparation. The site must be completely cleared of foreign objects, debris, and so on. Next, the corners of the structure being built are marked with the help of bars. They will be the basis from which the rest of the measurements will be taken. In accordance with the dimensions between the bars, it is assembled

The finished panels are attached to the corner bars using self-tapping screws or nails. The fastening must be reliable. As the concrete expands, the pressure on the board will increase, which can lead to cracking of the boards. The main thing is that the block itself remains on the outside. Parallel to the assembled structure, another row is assembled at a distance from the future wall. The result should be a frame around the entire perimeter.

A layer of crushed stone or sand is poured into the finished formwork box. This will protect the solution from loss of moisture, which will go into the ground. The formwork installation technology provides protection against mortar leakage through existing holes. To do this, the boards are covered with film or roofing felt, which are fastened with screws or staples using a stapler.

All work must be carried out taking into account the level. It is very important. At each stage, the evenness of the structure in height, length and vertical is checked (especially important). Two rows of shields must run strictly parallel to each other.

Types of volumetric adjustable formwork

For the simultaneous construction of one longitudinal and two transverse walls and the ceiling above them, a tunnel reinforcing structure under the foundation is used. The tunnel can consist of several half-tunnels opposing each other, connected to each other by vertical and horizontal panels using quick-release locks. Often, tunnel formwork is used for the construction of buildings consisting of internal monolithic walls, curtain wall panels or monolithic ceilings.

Horizontally movable formwork is used for concreting horizontally extended structures and structures, as well as large-perimeter structures with a closed cross-section.

Construction of a monolithic floor using profiled steel decking as permanent formwork.

Sliding formwork is used for concreting structures and buildings of great height. The design of such formwork is a spatial formwork constructed along the perimeter of the walls. Installation and lifting of this type of reinforcing structure under the foundation can be done using hydraulic jacks as the concreting process progresses.

In tower (point) type buildings with a large number of floors and a simple internal layout, it is advisable to use a block or sliding reinforcing structure for the foundation with a vertical extraction method.

The pneumatic strengthening structure for the foundation is an airtight, highly flexible shell, the cutting of which is made in accordance with the dimensions of the structure. When installing the formwork in the working position, a certain amount of excess gas pressure is created inside (in most cases it is air) and concreting occurs. This type of formwork is used for house construction with curved outlines or small volumes.

Permanent formwork must be used for the construction of structures that cannot be stripped - for example, when creating hydro- and thermal insulation and cladding.

Do-it-yourself formwork for the foundation.

Wall formwork very often consists of a frame modular panel made with high precision from a steel or aluminum profile. The main material used to create such formwork is laminated waterproof plywood, the ends of which are pre-protected with sealant and an aluminum profile.

Thanks to its universal dimensions, this type of formwork can be adapted to almost any layout. The assembly of panels directly on the construction site can be done using wedge or eccentric locks, fastening them with nuts, washers and tie rods. Fastening elements are able to absorb the pressure that the concrete mixture exerts on the structure.

When the panels are arranged in an independent plan, they can be assembled in a variety of combinations, and horizontal panels can be installed on vertical ones (for concreting surfaces whose height starts from three meters). To increase the strength of the structure, the shields are additionally equipped with struts.

Basic elements of formwork

Removable formwork, which is assembled independently, consists of the following elements:

A deck, which is a flat panel that encloses the entire form. The structure must be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the solution. Therefore, it is made from plywood or edged boards 4-5 cm thick.

Scaffolding that supports the structure. They hold the walls, preventing the mortar from squeezing out the deck. Scaffolding is made from pine bars or boards (2.5-5 cm).

Fasteners are all the parts with which all structural elements are twisted: wire, clamps, ties, hardware, and so on.

The deck is most often assembled from boards 15 cm wide, which are connected in several rows using nails (driven from the inside, bent from the outside) or self-tapping screws (they are screwed in from the inside). The distance between the boards should not exceed 3 mm. The shields are fastened together with additional strips.

A simpler option for making a deck is to use moisture-resistant plywood 1.8-2.1 cm thick.

Installation of formwork

The frame will be installed level and level if the site is properly prepared in advance. It is marked using cords stretched between pegs. The sand cushion is filled in and compacted. If necessary, a pit is prepared.

Installation of formwork occurs in the following sequence:

The perimeter should be marked with vertical guides (wooden blocks, metal corners or pipes).

It is necessary to place the finished panels along the guides, maintaining the required distance between them (it is equal to the required thickness of the foundation).

Securely secure the deck. Support it from the outside with inclined beams (1 strut for each meter of deck).

Connect the panels together with 5x5 cm bars.

Cover the inside of the formwork with film (roofing felt).

Foundations up to 20 cm high do not require serious construction. For them, bars driven into the ground are enough.

Installation of wall formwork

The construction process is more complex. In this case, small-panel and large-panel formwork are distinguished.

The first option is suitable for the construction of small buildings (country houses, utility buildings) and partitions between rooms. In this case, small-sized plywood panels are used.

Installation of large-panel formwork is typical for the construction of buildings with high heights. For work, use sheets of metal or large sheets of plywood.

To install the walls, prepare a foundation into which reinforcement is inserted. A two-row formwork frame is assembled around it. When using regular plywood, the joints are coated with glue or sealant. Currently, there is special plywood for formwork on the market. Its individual sheets are connected using the tongue-and-groove principle, which does not require additional sealing.

By amount of use:

Disposable formwork

In private low-rise construction, sometimes it is necessary to concrete a particular structure, for example, a strip foundation, an arched lintel or a floor slab, only once, so the cost of disposable formwork and its installation significantly affects the overall cost of the work. As a rule, wood is used to make disposable formwork, in particular unedged boards with a thickness of 30-40 mm (however, the calculation of formwork is a separate topic). For very small volumes of work or when there is a low load from the concrete mixture on the formwork and there are no aesthetic requirements for the concrete surface, any available materials can be used as formwork: wave-formed asbestos-cement slate, old cabinet furniture, etc. If the concrete surface should be as smooth and as smooth as possible after stripping smooth, then in addition to the boards special waterproof plywood is used. For the manufacture of formwork for non-rectilinear structures, the use of plywood is also most advisable. However, these are not all materials used for disposable formwork. Nowadays, in low-rise construction, various types of permanent formwork are becoming increasingly common. Permanent formwork is a subtype of disposable formwork and at the same time one of the most ancient types of formwork.

Reusable formwork

The type of formwork most commonly used in industrial and civil construction. Such formwork is subject to high requirements in terms of manufacturing accuracy, simplicity and speed of assembly. Reusable formwork is much more expensive than disposable formwork, but due to the large number of uses it does not have such a strong impact on the overall cost of the work.

Types of floors

The installation of floor formwork depends on the type of floor itself. The following types of structures are distinguished:

On large bowls. Used for structures with high heights. In this case, vertical posts, jacks, inserts, crossbars and other elements are used to connect individual parts.

On wedge scaffolding, which is used for multi-story buildings. Instead of plywood panels, scaffolding is installed.

On cup-type scaffolding. This type involves mounting a frame. The racks are connected to each other using the cup method.

On telescopic bowls. Suitable for cases where the ceiling height is less than 4.6 m. It is based on tripods that support the entire structure. Boards made of moisture-resistant plywood are laid on top.

The need for formwork for a pile foundation ↑

Another type of foundation that is used quite often in private construction is pile foundation. It is used in cases where the soils are deep. If a monolithic grillage is assumed, it can be concreted either in a removable wooden or metal form, or in polystyrene foam. The piles themselves are concreted differently.

Make a mark. The piles are placed in the places specified in the project. Wells are drilled for piles.
Part of the role of the formwork will be performed by the soil, but it will only cope with the function of holding the concrete and protecting it from deformation. To ensure that the cement laitance necessary for concrete to gain strength does not go into the ground, additional formwork is made from roofing felt.
Pile in a roofing felt shell

Sheets of roofing felt are rolled into pipes of the required diameter. The length of the pipes should be 20-30 cm greater than the depth of the well. To ensure that concrete formwork holds its shape, it is fixed with wire. The formwork is lowered into the well.
Another common and less labor-intensive option for a pile form is asbestos-cement pipes. They are simply immersed in the well without any processing.

Option with asbestos-cement pipe

Installation of formwork is an important stage of construction work and should not be neglected. Poor installation can result in concrete spreading, deformation of the structure, non-compliance with the design and other unpleasant consequences. Trust formwork work only to professional builders who have experience working with monolithic reinforced concrete.

Slab formwork

Currently, monolithic flooring is most often used. Using his example, we will analyze the process of installing formwork.

For formwork, vertical posts are used, connected to each other by crossbars. They are attached at right angles to bars running in the transverse direction. A plywood panel is laid on these cross beams, which is the bottom of the formwork.

To perform this work, the following materials are used:

stand - timber with a cross section of 12-15 cm;

crossbar and cross beam - edged board 16-18 cm wide and 5 cm thick;

braces - board 3 cm thick;

the flooring is moisture-resistant, 1.8 cm thick.

Before starting work, it is necessary to make accurate calculations. It is important to determine the required number of racks, the spacing of their placement and other indicators.

Installation instructions for floor formwork

The work instructions include the following steps:

Longitudinal bars are attached to the top of the racks, the second end of which is fixed to the wall.

The second row is assembled in the same way. To do this, a 5 cm thick board is laid under the supports.

Cross beams are laid in increments of 60 cm.

Install the support posts (strictly vertically).

The racks are connected to each other by braces.

Sheets of plywood are laid on the cross bars, leaving no gaps.

The ends of the ceiling are protected by masonry made of blocks or bricks.

A frame is assembled from reinforcement. At the same time, if necessary, space is left for communications.

When all the work is completed, the concrete can be poured. The formwork is removed after 3 weeks.