What Are the Different Types of Formwork Jobs?

There are several types of formwork jobs, from setting up the forms to stripping the forms off of the completed work. Other types of formwork jobs are pouring the concrete, operating a machine to remove air pockets and placing reinforcing material inside of the forms. Perhaps one of the most critical and time-consuming of all formwork jobs is the setup and dismantling of the scaffolding used in the formwork assembly process.

Formwork involves the pouring of concrete into preformed molds. This is a type of construction procedure that uses concrete to create structures, such as columns, stairways and walls. Other formwork jobs include creating slab floors, elevator shafts and walkways. Most of the formwork industry is comprised of independent contractors who specialize in formwork and posses the knowledge, equipment and manpower to complete the projects on time and satisfactorily. While most formwork companies own their own equipment, the concrete is nearly always subcontracted to a provider who not only handles the concrete delivery, but owns the necessary equipment to pump the material up to the highest elevations on the job site.

One of the first formwork jobs to be completed on any site is the building of scaffolding. Scaffolding can range from one or two sections to an entire building being surrounded in scaffolding. The size of the job as well as the difficulty in placing the forms often dictate the number of scaffolding sections that are required on a job site. Large jobs will commonly use several scaffolding crews building scaffolding in different areas of the site. While the vast majority of all scaffolding is erected outside of a building, some jobs require interior scaffolding as well. Interior scaffolding is commonly set up using different wheel assemblies and, occasionally, completely different scaffolding sections than the exterior type.

Placing the forms in the proper position is a critical component in all formwork jobs. Once the forms are assembled and placed, the placement of reinforcing bar and wire inside of the forms is the next step. Once the forms are properly prepared, the concrete is pumped into the forms. One of the most critical of all the formwork jobs is using a vibrating prod to remove any air bubbles from the concrete mixture and settle the mixture into the forms. By ramming the vibrating prod deep into the freshly poured concrete mixture, the concrete is vibrated down into the mold and all of the trapped air bubbles escape from around and inside of the reinforcing material, resulting in very strong concrete.