Conventional formwork systems can be demanding. When dealing with external factors including weather delays, RDO’s and other trades, there isn’t much time left to consider internal problems such as timber warping, and if it’s not braced correctly, concrete blowout or breakout.
Worksafe Australia lists 14 common hazards and risk controls in its Formwork and Falsework Guidance Materials.These hazards and risk controls include adjacent buildings or structures, collapse, electrical lines, entry and exit, falls, falling objects, ground conditions, loading, lifting plant and materials, loading materials during construction, lifting points, mixing components, powered mobile plant and traffic as well as unauthorised access.
That’s a lot to take in with everything else you’re trying to do to run your project successfully.
According to the US site, Concrete Construction, formwork failures on high-rise sites account for the most injuries and deaths.
“This is true, logically, because men are either on the deck or below it, and have neither the time to move nor a place to which they can move,” it says.
Concrete Construction says formwork failures happen due to poor planning or design and inadequate checks of what workers have set up. The most common failure happens when placing the concrete adds much weight and pressure to the formwork.
“On normal wall forming, a “breakout” is a common failure and it can occur on any height wall at any time.”
Common causes of break-outs are:
· missing hardware
· improperly connected hardware
· ends not secured with hardware or forms
· placing too fast
· damaged ties left in situ
· improper or insufficient tying
· vibrations
· inadequate walling
· strong backing or inadequate bracing
That’s why we’re seeing the rise of alternatives to conventional formwork. Permanent or SIP (stay-in-place) formwork systems are gaining popularity to cut project time frames, reduce costs and promote safer construction.
Pre-fabricated systems using materials such as glass-reinforced plastic, fibre-reinforced plastic, thermoplastics (PVC, polystyrene), fibre cement and metals are transforming the way concrete structures are erected. With the structures remaining in place for the life of the project, traditional labour intensive methods of forming up timber and then coming back to strip are being left behind.
Instead of just listing the reasons why formwork and concrete companies are changing their methods, compare conventional formwork with a pre-fabricated system using this infographic:
What is the SBS Smart Hob System?
One of Australia’s largest concrete structure building companies halved their pour time using SBS Smart Hobs for a typical tower footprint of about 1100 square metres – with just 2 men per pour instead of the usual 4.
Another formwork company also halved their costs using Smart Hob and “shaved eight days off a very tight construction program…we were amazed at how quick and easy the product is to install. All our sites are now running faster than ever thanks to this fantastic product,” they said.
The SBS Smart Hob system consists of cold formed steel formwork, which is fixed to the slab, filled with concrete and conventionally tanked or sealed as required.
Are you interested in finding out how the Smart Hob system can halve your work time and cut costs by 50%? Overcome the challenges of conventional formwork – download the information pack or contact us directly on 1300 792 950.