Graphical Construction Glossary >> Temporary Work. >> formwork >> Stripping Formwork

Stripping Formwork

The removal of the formwork exposing the new concrete.

Fillets

Triangular lengths of timber or plastic used to form chamfers in concrete.

Chamfer

Usually a 45deg. bevel to a 90deg.(both internal and external) corner in concrete.

An old saying goes something like this:- " stripping forms begins at the design stage". That means that if careful consideration is given to the ease of stripping, before the forms are made then a lot of time can be saved and less material waste is caused.

Badly designed formwork can make the work of stripping unnecessarily hard. It is common to see pieces of ply locked into position that have to butchered to get them out. The use of fillets especially around small sections of ply, or putting a bevel on ply edges can make them easier to strip and leave a more professional finish to the concrete. Here I am talking about small sections that are easily locked in position. Do not bevel full sheets.

The tool of choice for stripping is a pry bar or pinch bar, used with a hammer. If a fair finish is required on the concrete, then pry bars and crowbars should not be levered against green concrete otherwise there is the risk of breaking off a corner or marring the concrete in some other way.

Formwork stripping is a dangerous job and all safety precautions should be taken.

For non glossary articles of a general and how to nature go to the formwork section on this site.

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