Formwork
Formwork is the temporary mould that defines the shape and dimensions of a concrete element before and during the pour. Must be accurate, braced, and stable.
Ask Chalkline about this →Formwork is the temporary structure (boards, panels, props, and bracing) assembled to mould and contain liquid concrete in the required shape until it has cured sufficiently to be self-supporting. For a residential slab, formwork typically consists of timber or steel boards defining the perimeter and step-downs, set to the surveyor’s reduced level marks. Edge thickenings and internal beam trenches on a stiffened raft are formed by digging to shape rather than building up forms, but the perimeter edge is always formed.
Formwork dimensions, level, and stability are a mandatory check item at the pre-pour inspection. A formwork base that is out of level or warped transfers directly into the finished slab. Formwork that is inadequately braced can move during the pour, creating a slab that is out of dimension or plumb at the edges. Any movement during concrete placement can also disturb placed reinforcement.
The Australian standard for formwork design and construction is AS 3610:1995, which covers loads on formwork, deflection limits, and stripping times. For typical residential perimeter formwork, AS 3610 is largely satisfied by following the concretor’s standard practice, but compliance is the concretor’s responsibility.
Also known as: Forms, shuttering (less common in AU).
Category: Structural / Concrete.
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Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10. Quarterly review for currency.