Basics in Building Construction

Building Components And Types

Lesson 25 : Form Work

Requirements For A Good Form Work

1. The material of the form work should be cheap and it should be suitable for re-use several times.
2. It should be practically water proof so that it does not absorb water from concrete. Also, its shrinkage and swelling should be minimum.
3. It should be strong enough to withstand all loads coming on it, such as dead load of concrete and live load during its pouring, compaction and curing.
4. It should be stiff enough so that deflection is minimum.
5. It should be as light as possible.
6. The surface of the form work should be smooth and it should afford easy stripping.
7. All joints of the form work should be stiff so that lateral deformation under loads is minimum. Also, these joints should be leak proof.
8. The form work should rest on non-yielding supports.