When you are building concrete structures, the most important and indispensable thing is the formwork. Formworks play a crucial role in concrete construction. It provides support when needed, shapes the concrete, and helps in holding the wet liquid in one place. However, oftentimes, this important tool in construction can fail.
When your forms fail, there is a ‘chain of series’ that follows one after another. First and foremost, if formworks fail, your concrete will start to collapse with it. This causes of formwork failure leads to delays, and you may find it difficult to meet the deadlines, increasing the overall cost of the projects.
Such failure is often associated with other factors like purchasing low-quality materials, not setting formworks properly, inadequate support, and not meeting the required standards and designs. Even minor mistakes like misalignment or loose connections result in formwork failure.
Explore this guide and go through why preventing formwork failure is important and how you can save yourself from additional penalties for formwork failures.
Understanding the Impact of Formwork Collapse
It is vital to understand the impact and aftermath of formwork failure. Here are some of the things that could happen due to formwork collapsing on the construction site.
1. Formwork failure means damage to the structure.
Failure of the formwork results in structural damage. Formwork is used to hold the concrete until it can stand and support its weight. However, before the concrete can gain strength if the formwork fails, the concrete can spill over and lose its intended design and shape. This can be caused by the misalignment of the formwork. If formworks are misaligned, it can result in an overflow of concrete in between the gaps or formwork falling apart due to the pressure.
2. Formwork failure leads to accidents and casualties.
If there is a lapse in formwork, it is a dangerous situation and poses safety risks for workers and other people on the construction site. Formwork is usually made from heavy materials like wood, steel, and aluminum. These materials, when falling on a person, can result in severe injuries or even fatalities.
Moreover, workers can be crushed under these heavy constructions; this can be the reason behind their disability. If the formworks or concrete falls from an elevated height, it can also cause death. Do not forget that your machines might also be damaged if formwork or concrete falls on them.
3. Formwork failure means delaying a project and not meeting deadlines.
The sudden collapse of formworks can disrupt the construction process. This happened to inspect and understand the reason behind the cause of formwork failure. This process can take several days or weeks before the construction work is resumed again.
In addition, the damaged formwork and any damaged concrete need to be removed and replaced; this can be time-consuming, especially if new materials need to be ordered. In many cases, regulatory authorities recheck and inspect the site before your construction work is resumed again.
4. The collapse of formwork results in financial losses.
The collapse of formworks means a financial loss for the company. This financial cost not only accounts for repair and reconstruction costs but also for indirect costs like materials, legal cases, delays, and reimbursement, which need to be considered.
There is an additional expense that adds up to cleaning the debris and fallen pieces of formwork and concrete. Additional costs that should also be taken into consideration are labor costs for further work.
5. Formwork failure leads to the loss of future clients and a negative impact on the company’s reputation.
Reputation is everything in the construction industry. Your company’s reputation and image were significantly affected by the collapse of Formwork. It just takes a few seconds to tarnish your decade of reputation and goodwill in the market. This leads to a significant loss of potential clients and a loss of trust in existing clients.
Clients take chances based on the company’s goodwill in the market; however, when such incidents occur, it can shake the trust of the clients, too. In many cases, clients refuse to work further with the company. This hampers the future growth of the company.
6. Companies may face lawsuits and legal charges due to formwork failures.
Formwork’s collapse leads to serious legal consequences. These legal consequences can be severe if proven guilty of negligence or not following the proper guidelines for formwork installation and safety. In many cases, injured parties often file lawsuits against the company, which leads to hefty compensation the company may have to pay to settle the lawsuits.
Local or regulatory bodies often impose astronomical fines for failing to adhere to safety regulations or for causing environmental damage. Moreover, if the company fails to finish the project before the deadline, it may end up paying late fees to clients.
7. It has a negative impact on the environment.
Formwork collapse can also cause damage and have a negative impact on the environment. For example, if the damaged or spilled concrete is hardened, it is difficult to remove it, which might potentially damage the soil.
If the damaged formwork or concrete spills into the river or lakes, this can impact the river’s ecosystem by killing a lot of marine life in the river. Besides, certain materials, like wood, are hard to dispose of, which increases construction waste.
Also Read >> The Purpose and Uses of Formwork in Construction
Tips to Prevent Formwork Failure During Concrete Construction
For better safety, efficiency, and achieving the quality of the product, it is necessary to avoid formwork failure that occurs during the construction process.
Here are some of the tips that you can follow to prevent this formwork failure.
1. Create a Well-Designed Plan
The first and foremost thing that you need to do before working on any construction project is to create a well thought and designed plan. In this plan, you need to consider the design of the structure, its height, its width, its load, and the formwork that you are using.
2. Assess the Load and Choose Suitable Formwork
When selecting formwork, always consider the overall weight of the structure. This is because some conventional and modular formworks like plywood and plastic are not ideal options when it comes to heavy load-bearing projects. This will help in minimizing the risk of formwork failure.
3. Use High-Quality Formwork
Investing in high-quality formwork is essential. Low-quality forms are not meant for longer use, nor do they provide seamless finishes like high-quality forms. Besides, because of lower durability, low-quality formworks tend to break and bend frequently under pressure. They can cause wet concrete to deform, which leads to formwork failure.
4. Ensure Proper Installation and Alignment
Properly installing all the formworks are installed properly. Make sure they are aligned correctly before you begin the curing process. As improper bracing and alignment can cause liquid concrete to spread unevenly, this results in a weaker structure which may end up collapsing.
5. Employ Skilled Workers
Another important factor you should keep in mind is making sure you have skilled workers on board during the construction process. Having workers with proper formwork knowledge and skill sets helps in a quicker and safer assembly process. Workers with prior experience and expertise can also easily remove and dismantle formwork once the concrete structure is hardened and ready to be removed. Skill workers are more likely to remove the casting of the forms easily without causing damage to the concrete structure in comparison to unskilled workers.
6. Avoid Overloading the Formwork
Overloading is one of the primary reasons for formwork failure. Exceeding the original weight capacity of the formwork system can lead to collapse. Always adhere to the specified weight limits to maintain structural integrity.
So these were the expert-recommended tips to prevent formwork failure and avoid costly repairs. Follow this to keep your concrete structures safe!
Conclusion
The success of any construction project largely depends on preventing formwork failure.
By following tips to prevent formwork failure such as detailed planning, using high-quality formwork, ensuring proper installation, employing skilled workers, and avoiding overloading, you can significantly reduce the risk of failure.
When it comes to selecting the best formwork supplier, Nova Formworks stands out as the leading manufacturer of high-quality formwork solutions. Known for its durable and versatile modular formwork, Nova Formworks provides products designed to withstand extreme conditions and heavy concrete pressure with ease.
Moreover, Nova Formworks prioritizes sustainability by promoting reusability and efficiency, reducing construction waste while maintaining top-tier quality.
If you are looking for the best shuttering panels in Bangalore, Nova Formworks is the go-to choice for superior, long-lasting, and eco-friendly formwork solutions.
