An important aspect of the construction is centering and shuttering. To provide a good working surface and distribute the load evenly, the slab floor must be perfectly horizontal. To avoid eccentric loading, the column needs to be perfectly vertical. Additionally, the inclined member produces a moment that was not anticipated during the design.
Shuttering is a vertical Formwork, while Centering is a horizontal Formwork. As an illustration, shuttering and centering are demonstrated by formworks for columns, walls, and the sides of a beam in a building, respectively.
Primary Conditions for Centering and Shuttering
The following conditions should be met by good formwork.
- It should be rigid to minimise deflection.
- To prevent water from absorbing from the concrete structure, it should be practically water resistant.
- It must be sufficiently reinforced to support all kinds of seismic, live, and dead loads.
- There shouldn’t be any cement grout leaking through the formwork joint. i.e., bound together tightly.
- To the greatest extent possible, it should be light.
- The formwork’s materials ought to be affordable and durable enough to be recycled multiple times.
Shuttering and Centering Requirements
- It should only deflect slightly when under load.
- It should be reusable.
- It should be able to withstand all of the loads thrown at it.
- It should maintain its shape.
- It should create a smooth surface.
Five Common Types of Centering and Shuttering Materials
In the construction industry, there are a large number of materials that are used for centering and shuttering, but these five are the most popular worldwide. These are some of the examples given below.
Masonry
Bricks, stones, or other building blocks are arranged in a specific pattern to create masonry surfaces that are solidly built. Masonry is strong and impervious to moisture damage because it is constructed of natural materials. The use of masonry in construction projects is not always feasible, though. Installing brick and stone correctly calls for specialised equipment and methods.
Timber Planks
Contractors frequently use timber because it is affordable and widely accessible. The following specifications should be verified before using timber as a centering or shuttering material. Make sure the timber planks are lightweight and well-seasoned. In particular, when applied to exposed concrete surfaces, it should have a smooth and level surface. Additionally, check to see if there are any loose knots in it.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are used to make ceramic centring and shuttering. It is both strong and lightweight. It provides excellent stability and is sturdy as well. Ceramic centring is not advised for use in damp environments, like glass centring. Additionally, ceramic centring is a bit on the expensive side as well.
Plastic
Plastic is a synthetic material that is created using petroleum-based materials. Because it is inexpensive and simple to use, it is a common option for construction. Although some construction sites use plastic for centering and shuttering, they are still widely used. Plastic is frequently used for centering and shuttering because of its lightweight property.
Steel
Steel is a typical building material because it is strong, long-lasting, and lightweight. Because of the metal’s high tensile strength, it can be easily bent into various shapes. Steel is resistant to corrosion thus making them perfect for indoor and outdoor use, especially for heavy construction work like centering and shuttering steel is the most preferable material among the others.
Final Thoughts
However, high-quality centering and shuttering materials are critical in the construction of strong concrete structures. Therefore, make sure to contact some of the country’s top manufacturers and suppliers of centering and shuttering.
You can try GRS Scaffolding and Formwork. They are a well-known name in this industry with more than 20 years of expertise in the production and supply of centering & shuttering materials.
