Formwork, Shoring and Scaffolding: Materials, Economy and Design

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Analyze formwork requirements for common reinforced concrete members and construction conditions

• Design formwork systems that account for concrete pressure, vertical loads, deflection limits, and constructability

• Evaluate formwork materials, systems, and connection details based on strength, serviceability, safety, and cost

• Apply design provisions and engineering judgment to formwork for columns, walls, slabs, beams, and bridge decks

• Identify safety, sequencing, erection, removal, and reshoring considerations that affect formwork performance on site

Description

Formwork is a major cost driver in reinforced concrete construction, yet it is often treated as a temporary support system rather than a critical engineering component. Poorly selected or inadequately designed formwork can increase project costs, delay construction, create safety risks, and compromise the efficiency of site operations.

This course provides a structured understanding of how formwork systems behave under construction loads, fresh concrete pressure, deflection requirements, and site constraints. You will examine common materials and systems, including lumber, plywood, steel, aluminum, plastic forms, liners, ties, anchors, shores, scaffolding, slip forms, flying deck forms, and patented systems.

Through practical design examples and applied discussion, you will learn how to assess formwork options for different reinforced concrete members and construction methods. The course emphasizes sound engineering judgment, safety, constructability, and cost-effective design so you can make informed formwork decisions that support safer and more efficient concrete construction.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for:

• Civil, structural, construction, and materials engineers

• Engineering technologists and technicians involved in concrete construction

• Designers responsible for reinforced concrete or temporary works coordination

• Site engineers, construction personnel, and project coordinators

• Formwork technologists, estimators, and professionals involved in planning, erecting, inspecting, or removing formwork systems

Syllabus

Welcome, Introduction, Course Preview, Learning Outcomes, and Assessment Methods

Economy and Cost Considerations of Formwork

• Cost of formwork in a project

• Structural design, loads, element size, member repletion

• Economy in formwork design

• Economy in formwork erection

• Economy in formwork removal

Formwork Materials

• Lumber and plywood

• Steel and aluminum forms

• Plastic forms

• Form liners

• Form nails

• Timber connectors

• Form ties and anchors

The pressure of Fresh Concrete on Formwork

• Lateral pressure of concrete on formwork

• Example: wall forms

• Example: column forms

• Effect of casting rate (form filling rate)

• Effect of member height

• Vertical loads on formwork

• The special case of self-consolidating concrete

Design of Concrete Formwork

• Design codes and provisions for formwork

• Design of formwork for columns

• Design of formwork for walls and columns

• Design of formwork for slabs and beams

• Design of formwork for bridge decks

Serviceability and Deflections in Formwork Design Shores and Scaffolding

• Deflection limits

• Loads on formwork

• Types of formwork

• Rate of construction

• Deflection calculation examples

Special Formwork Systems

• Flying deck forms

• Slip forms

• Patented formwork systems

• Top-down construction

Shoring and Scaffolding

• Shoring and scaffolding systems and design

• Excavation dewatering and support

• Cofferdams and tremie concrete

Building and Erecting Formwork

• Formwork drawings

• Formwork safety

• Building formwork for footings

• Building formwork for walls

• Building formwork for columns

• Building formwork for slabs and beams

• Shoring

Effective Use of Formwork

• Placing reinforcement and inserts

• Preparation and concreting

• Removal of formwork and shores

• Reshoring

Note: the course adopts the approach of ACI PRC-347-14(21) Guide to Formwork for Concrete (Reapproved 2021); the ACI SP-004: (8TH) Formwork for Concrete.