Lesson 8: FORMS, SCAFFOLDING AND STAGING

Learning Objectives:
Cognitive:

 Describe Affective:
 Study and Value the parts of
Psychomotor:

 Identify and Draw parts of

Forms
Concrete mixture is generally semi-fluid materials that produces the shape of anything to which it is
poured. Thus, construction form is used to produce the desired size, shape and form of concrete.
Forms must be watertight, simple and economically designed to be removed and reassembled
easily without damage to themselves or the concrete.
The selection of forms to be used depends on the following considerations:
1. The cost of materials
2. The construction and assembling cost
3. The number of times it could be used
4. Strength and resistance to pressure and tear and water
Cost of materials
- is the primary consideration in all kinds of construction work. And cost of forms is not an
exception to this primary objective. Indeed, most of the form should be viewed in totality of its service
rather than the unit cost of the materials alone.
For instance, a certain form material cost much higher than the other but could be used for
multiple times as compared with that of a cheaper one that could be utilized only once or twice.
Computing the over-all cost, it may turn out that the former is cheaper than the later.
Construction and assembling cost
Construction and assembling cost refer to the ease of assembling the forms. In general, cost under
this consideration refers to the kind of materials, the manner of assembling and cost of labor.
Comparatively, laminated plywood is much easier to assemble and to work on than the other type
of materials, and this is the reason why the use of plywood as form gained wide acceptance in almost all
construction work.
Strength and Resistance to Pressure and tear and Wear
- refers to the quality and strength of the form to resist weight and horizontal pressure of
fresh concrete. The thickness of the form, the size and spacing of the frame depends upon the nature of
the structure to be supported classified as small medium or massive structure.
Wood Board and Plywood Forms
 The T & G wood board is the foremost among the many types of forms. However, due to the
scarcity and prohibitive price of the wood, plywood has gained wide acceptance.
As form, plywood has the following advantages:
1. Plywood is generally economical both in cost and labor
2. Plywood has plain, smooth and even surface with uniform thickness.
3. When jointed, plywood is easily fitted eliminating extra cost for dressing finished concrete.
4. Plywood is a lightweight material, handy and fast to work on.
5. Plywood forms produces smooth finished concrete that something needs little or no plastering at
all.
Ordinary Plywood
This type of plywood is not resistant to moisture or water saturation. If used as forms, its service
could be limited to one or two times
Marine plywood
Marine plywood is a waterproof material suitable for all types of work that needs a laminated
board. As concrete form, it could be used in multiple times if properly handle in assembling and
dismantling.
Comment:
The durability of forms and its resistance to multiple used depends upon the manner of handling.
Meaning, the life span of the form is shortened if handling is gravely abused particularly the removal,
handling and assembling of the forms.
CONSTRUCTION OF FORMS
Plywood as form requires wood frames and ribs. Plywood in itself is not yet a form, it is only
classified as materials but when framed and provided with ribs intended for use as sheeting of a concrete
structure it is called form.
A 2 x 2 lumber is commonly used as framing of a form regardless of the type of the structure. The
resisting capability of the form depends upon the manner how it supports by a framework called
scaffolding or staging.
Two type of framing adopted for plywood forms are:
1. The longitudinal rib type
2. The perpendicular rib type
The longitudinal type of framing is generally economical than the perpendicular or cross rib type.
The length of the longitudinal could be utilized for later use
FORM FOR CONCRETE BEAM
Form for concrete beam consist of one bottom form having a width equal the width of the beam
plus 4 inches and two side forms having a width equals the depth of the beam.

WALL FORMS
Wall forms are usually mounted in pair opposite at a distance equal to the thickness of the wall
secured rigidly strong to resist the lateral pressure of fresh concrete. Wall forms must be guarded against
bulging, the most common failure of forms. The use of bolts or tie wire has been proven to be effective and
economical means of securing wall forms.
GREASING OF FORMS
The purpose of greasing the forms is to make the wood waterproof. Thus, preventing absorption of
water in the concrete that causes swelling and warping of the forms. Greasing also prevent adherence of
concrete to the pores of the of the wood and likewise, prevent rust on metal forms.
Crude oil is the cheapest and satisfactory materials for the purpose. The crude oil is mixed with No.
40 motor oil proportioned at 1:5 mixture. Greasing of form should not be done after the steel bars have
been set to its final position.
SCAFFOLDING AND STAGING
Scaffolding- is defined as temporary structure of wooden poles and planks providing flat form for
working men to stand on while erecting or repainting the building. It is further defined as Temporary
Framework for other construction purposes.
Safety Rules Regarding the Construction of Scaffolding
Bear these important safety rules when constructing Scaffoldings:
1. Use strong lumber for the scaffoldings. Never use decayed lumber or lumber with knots, wind
shakes, and splinters. They easily break.
2. Properly brace the uprights of the scaffolding to prevent lateral movements.
3. Nail all platforms to their supports. If the platforms are not nailed, they might slip or tip off.
4. Place enough support for the platform.
5. Avoid along, protruding platforms beyond the supports. If they cannot be avoided, place another
support at the end. Unsupported overhanging platforms may break or tip off when stepped upon.
6. Properly secure the support of bracket and cantilever scaffolds.
Different Types of Scaffoldings
The different types of scaffoldings are;
1. Upright and Supported- fig. 270, is composed of uprights, outriggers, platforms, and cleats. This
type of scaffolding may utilize the walls, studs and posts as uprights. Outriggers attached to sidings
are supported by cleats.
2. Portable Scaffolding- fig. 271, are the upright supported type. These are used when working at
such sections as the ceilings and the upper part of low walls.

3. Bracket Scaffolding- fig. 272, has its beams supporting the platform secured to a stud or post, the
other end being supported with a brace or a strut.

4. Cantilever Scaffolding- fig. 273, has its outriggers protruding to support the platform. The other
end of the beam is secured to a stud or a post.
 Staging – is more substantial framework progressively built up as tall building rise up. The term
staging is applied as it is built up in stages from one storey to the next floor.
Record shows that accidents in building constructions were caused by negligence, faulty
construction or insufficient supports of the scaffolding and staging. One tragic incident that happened was
the construction of the Film Palace in Metro Manila where several lives including the supervising Engineer
were buried in cement and rubbles when the forms and scaffolding swayed and ram down in total collapse.
The primary causes of construction accidents were assessed as follows:
1. The use of poor-quality lumber
2. Inadequate support and braces.
3. Inadequate nails and other materials for economy sake.
4. Negligence and inexperienced workers.
Comment and Observations
1. In making scaffolding, all horizontal members must be carefully selected from wood of straight
grain, free from shakes or knot and decay. There are susceptible to accident. Recycling or re-use of nails is
another factor of delay and sometimes the cause of accident.
2. Inadequate supply of construction materials for economic cause accident aside from the added
cost of labor due to delay. Adjustment and reworking of forms and its transfer from one place to another
causes delay and destruction of the materials.
3. A carpenter who has started working from the first working day of the week expect to return to
his family with his week-end pay. If the materials on the job site are not sufficient to last for a week’s work,
foot dragging will be applied so that they for a week out of the available materials. On the contrary, if the
construction materials are available on site, the workers are inspired making the work lively and faster.
4. The idea of laying off some workers for the reason of lack of materials may only create
demoralization among the group. Efficiency is affected because they are not sure of their work tenure, for
they might be the next to be laid off for the same reason. Hence, they might be looking another work while
working with you. Naturally, the efficiency of the work is affected when the mind is unstable.
The different parts of staging are:
1. Vertical support
2. Base support
3. Horizontal braces
4. Block or wedge support
5. Diagonal support
SCAFFOLDING FOR COLUMNS AND BEAM
The purpose of the column scaffolding is to support the forms in resisting horizontal pressure of
concrete the cause bulging. Scaffolding for concrete beam is an extension to the column support to carry
the weight of concrete and resist the sidewise pressure against the side of the forms.

The design of forms and scaffolding were based on the following considerations:
1. To carry the construction loads including the weight of fresh concrete plus the vertical and
horizontal impact load.
2. Forms and scaffolding should not obstruct or impair the flow and movement of concreting
activities.
3. The ease of stripping or removal of formwork.
4. Special form requirements necessary for the construction of shells, folded plates, domes,
architectural concrete or similar types of elements.

References:
Building Construction House Plumbing House Construction and Estimating (Pg. 97-98)
Simplified Methods of Building Construction (Second Edition) (Pg.)
https://slideplayer.com/slide/3928621/
https://studylib.net/doc/18576879/basic-roof-and-ceiling-framing