What is the difference between concrete non-dismantling formwork and traditional formwork

There are many types of formwork used to maintain the shape of concrete. This article will compare the differences between concrete non-dismantling formwork and traditional formwork from multiple aspects, hoping to help you decide which formwork is more suitable?
What is concrete non-dismantling formwork
Concrete non-dismantling formwork is usually called fixed formwork or permanent formwork. It is a formwork that remains in place after the concrete is poured and cured. This method is different from traditional temporary formwork, which is removed after the concrete reaches sufficient strength.
Installation and removal
Traditional formwork systems usually need to go through two processes: installation and removal. After the concrete is poured and reaches the designed strength, the construction workers need to remove the formwork. Although modern construction technology is constantly improving, demolding is still a time-consuming and complicated process, which increases the construction period and manpower requirements.
Concrete non-dismantling formwork has the advantage of one-time installation and no need to disassemble. After installation, it becomes a permanent part of the building structure, which not only saves the demolding process, but also effectively reduces the problem of formwork damage caused by demolding. The "one-time installation" mode of non-dismantling formwork shows significant advantages in construction progress and cost control.
Materials and Costs
In terms of material composition, traditional formwork mostly uses wooden formwork, steel formwork or aluminum formwork. The initial purchase cost of this type of formwork is low and can be used multiple times. However, after repeated use, the formwork will wear or deform, affecting the surface quality of the concrete and the accuracy of the structure, and needs to be replaced regularly. In addition, during the use of traditional formwork, a large amount of wood waste or metal waste will be generated, increasing the subsequent processing cost.
Concrete non-dismantling formwork usually uses high-strength composite materials, metal plates or fiber-reinforced composite materials. Although the cost of this type of material is high per time, due to the non-removal design, the labor cost and time cost of removing the formwork are saved, thereby reducing the overall cost of the project. Especially in occasions where the project scale is large and the construction efficiency and quality requirements are high, the long-term economic benefits of non-dismantling formwork are particularly significant.
Construction speed
Construction speed is an important factor affecting project progress and cost control.
The traditional formwork system prolongs the construction period due to the two steps of installation and demoulding. Especially in high-rise buildings, special-shaped structures and large-area construction scenes, the installation and removal process of the formwork requires a lot of manpower and time, which limits the overall construction efficiency.
The non-disassembly formwork has greatly shortened the construction period and significantly improved the construction efficiency due to its feature of not requiring disassembly. For engineering projects with high requirements for construction speed, such as commercial buildings and fast-track construction projects, the high efficiency of the non-disassembly formwork shows obvious advantages. This improvement not only helps the project to be completed on time, but also reduces labor costs and equipment rental costs, which is conducive to the control of the overall cost of the project.
Insulation and protection performance
Traditional formwork needs to be removed after the pouring work is completed, so it cannot provide lasting insulation function for the building structure. If there is a demand for insulation performance, an additional insulation layer is often required in the traditional formwork structure, which increases the complexity and cost of construction.
The material design of concrete non-disassembly formwork usually focuses on insulation and thermal insulation performance. Many non-disassembly formworks use insulation materials or composite insulation materials, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of thermal bridges. This feature plays a significant role in the energy consumption management of buildings, especially for residential buildings, office buildings and industrial plants with high insulation requirements. The integrated insulation design of the non-disassembly formwork avoids secondary construction and greatly reduces the difficulty of construction and material waste.
Environmental protection and durability
Although traditional formwork can be reused, it will become unusable due to wear and deformation after multiple uses and needs to be replaced regularly. Especially wooden formwork, which will cause great waste of resources and ecological burden on the environment after being abandoned.
In terms of environmental protection, concrete non-disassembly formwork has significant advantages. The durability of non-disassembly formwork makes it unnecessary to replace it during long-term use, which is conducive to reducing construction waste and improving the environmental protection level of construction. This environmental protection advantage is in line with the current construction industry's pursuit of sustainable development.
Scope of application
Traditional formwork is more used in ordinary construction projects with low requirements for thermal insulation performance, small construction scale or cost sensitivity. It has strong flexibility and is suitable for construction needs of various shapes and specifications, but its application advantages are relatively weak in large-scale, complex structures and high-standard construction.
Concrete non-disassembly formwork is suitable for construction projects with high requirements for thermal insulation, heat insulation and fire prevention, such as residential buildings, office buildings, etc. due to its good thermal insulation performance, excellent durability and environmental protection characteristics. At the same time, in the construction of prefabricated components, non-disassembly formwork has gradually been widely used, improving the overall performance and quality of prefabricated components.
Conclusion
Through comparative analysis, concrete non-disassembly formwork has shown obvious advantages in terms of installation convenience, construction efficiency, thermal insulation performance, and environmental durability, and is particularly suitable for construction projects with high requirements for construction period and environmental protection. Traditional formwork is characterized by low initial cost and strong flexibility, and is suitable for construction occasions with relatively ordinary construction requirements. In the future, as the construction industry pays more attention to energy conservation and environmental protection, the market demand for concrete non-disassembly formwork is expected to expand further.