Construction can never be complete with formwork. This is the crucial part responsible for providing the concrete with its desired shape with the help of a temporary mold. After being set into the mold for a good time, the concrete gains the much-desired strength to hold its shape.
Since formwork is not limited to any direction, it has to be done in both the vertical and horizontal directions. According to this, the formwork is further divided into two parts, namely centering and shuttering. These two are the two different parts that share the same aim, and this is to provide the concrete desired shape and strength.
What is Centering & Shuttering Formwork-
- Shuttering – Shuttering is the vertical formwork. Thus, the mold is responsible for providing vertical support to the material. The formworks for the walls, sides of beams, and columns fall under shuttering. Once the desired shape is acquired, the temporary mold is taken off.
- Centering – Since the vertical formwork is done, now the horizontal formwork remains. Thus, centering is the formwork that gives concrete the desired shape and dimension horizontally. The formwork of the bottom of the beam and the slab falls under this category.
Both centering and shuttering are indispensable parts of construction. The slab floor must be perfectly horizontal to provide an excellent working surface. This shape allows the slab to transfer the entire load equally, rather than concentrating on a single spot. However, the column also needs to be perfectly vertical to avoid eccentric loading. Thus, the absence of even one can create a lot of issues.
Differences Between Shuttering And Centering
Here are the criteria that make the two processes are different from each other:
- Formwork – As their working principle defines, shuttering is the vertical formwork. Thus, this is essential for keeping the concrete erect for an extended duration. On the other hand, centering is the horizontal formwork responsible for maintaining the uniform distribution of the concrete.
- Stripping time – Stripping time is when the formwork or the temporary mold can be taken off. This duration makes the two processes differ from each other. Stripping for the vertical formwork is around 16 to 24 hours. This duration is based on the IS code. The stripping time for centering is different for different components. According to IS code 456, the time for the slab is three days, and that for the beam is seven days. If the span is less than 4.5m, then the re-fixing is done till 14 days, and if it is more than 6m, then till 21 days.
- Support – Centering takes support from the vertical props, whereas shuttering do the same form inclined ones.
Summing Up!
Without these two processes, the construction process is incomplete, as the structure cannot thrive without horizontal or vertical formwork. However, some essential criteria make these two different from each other.
