Formwork

Ten Steps for Formwork Economy

1. Study the structure as a whole.

2. Prepare freehand alternative sketches comparing all likely structural framing systems.

3. Establish column locations as uniformly as possible keeping orientation and sizes constant wherever possible.

4. Select preliminary member sizes from the CRSI Design Handbook or other appropriate sources.

5. Make quick, rough cost comparisons based on sketches from Step 2.

6. Select the best balance between cost of structure and design considerations.

7. Distribute drawings of selected framing scheme to all Architect/Engineer team members to minimize future changes.

8. Plan your structure. Visualize how forms would be constructed. Keep beams and columns simple without haunches, brackets, pilasters, batters, widened ends or offsets. Standardized member sizes allow for maximum reuse of forms.

9. During final design, place most emphasis on those details having greatest financial impact on total structural frame cost.

10. Plan your project specifications to minimize construction costs and time by including items such as early stripping time for formwork and high, early strength concrete mix.