Wall
Formwork

Wall formwork is a steel formwork system that holds the thickness, verticality and surface flatness of a reinforced-concrete wall throughout the pour. Panels are erected facing each other on both faces of the wall, and the gap between them defines the wall thickness. Tie rods connecting the panels stop the fresh concrete from forcing the formwork apart, while external stiffeners and walers keep each panel in plane.

The formwork is manufactured in the workshop to suit the length and height of the wall. It is erected on site, struck once the concrete has reached the required strength and then re-erected on the next wall or at the next level. The aim is not just to shape the concrete, but to maintain the same thickness and the same verticality with every pour.

Panels, Stiffeners and Tie Rods Work Together

In wall formwork, the face plate does not carry the pressure on its own. Stiffener spacing and the number of walers and tie rods are determined by the fresh concrete pressure, the pour height and the wall thickness. If the tie rods are spaced too widely, the panel bulges, the wall thickness goes out of tolerance and the surface becomes wavy. For this reason, tie-hole positions and the tightening sequence are drawn up before fabrication.

Door and window openings, service penetrations and embedded plates are put in place before the formwork is closed. Cutting panels afterwards both extends the programme and reduces rigidity. Reinforcement and starter bars are also checked before the formwork is closed. On tall walls, once the lower lift has gained strength, the formwork is struck and raised to the next level. This cycle can be arranged so that it does not clash with a climbing formwork set-up.

Rayf Teknik treats wall formwork not as a fixed panel size, but as a fabrication developed around the wall thickness and pour height. The workshop images show stiffened steel panels and the tie-rod arrangement. The same panels can be reused on the next wall if the thickness matches. If the thickness changes, the spacers and tie-rod lengths are renewed, while a suitable frame can be retained.

During erection, the axis, thickness and verticality are set before the first pour. As the concrete is placed, vibration must not loosen the tie rods, and the concrete consistency must not generate more pressure than the panel design allows for. The formwork is never struck before the concrete has gained enough strength to hold its own shape. Striking too early makes the wall bulge; striking too late lets the panel bond to the concrete.

Whether the formwork is purchased or deployed on a site contract, site supervision can be provided for the initial erection and the first pour. At handover, the thickness, tie-rod arrangement and operating notes are documented. In this way, wall formwork is not a one-off sheet-metal job but a production tool that is re-erected time after time, with a dimensional record kept throughout.