Variations among formwork, shuttering, centering, staging and scaffolding

This civil engineering video tutorial briefly discusses about variations among formwork, shuttering, centering, staging and scaffolding.

Formwork – It stands for a temporary structure utilized as a mould into which the concrete is poured and developed. It is created horizontally or vertically to retain concrete in exact position unless it attains desired strength & shape. Conventional formwork is constructed with timber, but it can also be built up with steel, glass fibre reinforced plastics and other materials.

In a technical term, Formwork for columns, footings, retaining walls is known as a Shuttering.

Shuttering – It is a segment of formwork. It stands for a vertical temporary arrangement to retain concrete in a desired shape. Technically said, formwork for columns, footings, retaining walls is known as shuttering. The examples of shuttering are column sides, beam sides, slab side, wall side etc.

Centering is a temporary arrangement & segment of formwork that is developed to provide support to horizontal members. In technical term, the formwork for floor beams & slabs is known as a Centering.

Staging – It stands for a temporary member that provides support to formwork (may be for centering or shuttering). Staging is performed with the following :-

Also Read: How to work out the shuttering area of column footing

a. Wooden ballies
b. Pipes/props/jacks
c. H frames
d. Space frames with coupler/cup-lock system

Scaffolding – It is arranged to provide a supporting platform around the building for the workers (labor , supervisor, mason ,fitter, painter, carpenter etc.) to perform construction activities at heights. Scaffolding may be movable or fixed.

To get more clear ideas, go through the following video tutorial.

Video Source: Civil Engineering