SECTION 031100 – CONCRETE FORMING

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 SUMMARY

A. Related Documents:
1. Drawings and general provisions of the Subcontract apply to this Section.
2. Review these documents for coordination with additional requirements and information that apply to
work under this Section.

B. Section Includes:
1. Providing formwork for concrete and shotcrete.
2. Providing construction joint waterstops.
3. Installing cast-in anchors, inserts, sleeves and similar items furnished under other Sections.

C. Related Sections:
1. Division 01 Section "General Requirements."
2. Division 01 Section "Special Procedures."
3. Division 03 Section "Concrete Reinforcing".
4. Division 03 Section "Cast-in-place Concrete."

1.2 REFERENCES

A. General:
1. The following documents form part of the Specifications to the extent stated. Where differences exist
between codes and standards, the one affording the greatest protection shall apply.
2. Unless otherwise noted, the referenced standard edition is the current one at the time of
commencement of the Work.
3. Refer to Division 01 Section "General Requirements" for the list of applicable regulatory requirements.

B. ACI – American Concrete Institute:

1. ACI 301 Specifications for Structural Concrete
2. ACI 347 Guide to Formwork for Concrete

1.3 SUBMITTALS

A. Submit under provisions of Division 01 Section "General Requirements."

B. Product data for proprietary products, including forming accessories, waterstops and joint systems.

C. Schedule showing Subcontractor’s proposed location of construction joints not indicated on Drawings.

D. Shop Drawings: For Architectural Concrete surfaces, show form construction including jointing, reveals,
pattern of form ties and other items that affect appearance of exposed surface. Indicate method of sealing
forms against leakage at panel joints and form ties.

E. Samples: Only as requested by University's Representative.

F. Formwork Drawings: Design and construction of all forms and form supports, shoring and bracing methods,
and their adequacy shall rest with the Subcontractor. Submit drawings and samples of formwork for
architectural concrete grade of tie placement concrete surfaces. Show the forms to be used indicating form
construction, type and location of form ties, reveal strips, drip, groove, pattern for and method of sealing forms
against grout leakage and other items that affect exposed concrete visually. Lay out form ties in regular,
symmetrical patterns.

G. Delegated Design Submittals: Submit calculations and drawings of formwork 12 feet (3,65 m) or higher sealed
a Civil Engineer registered in Trinidad & Tobago

H. Survey anchor bolts location and elevation prior to casting concrete.

Concrete Forming 031100-1

1.4 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Delegated Design Submittals: Formwork 12 feet (3.65 m) or higher shall be designed by Civil Engineer
licensed in Trinidad & Tobago retained by the Subcontractor.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.1 FORM MATERIALS

A. Form Materials: Plywood, steel fiberglass reinforced plastic, or any material that will produce concrete with the
required finish and within the specified tolerances.
1. Use of aluminum form materials in contact with concrete is prohibited.

B. Smooth Form Finish: PS1 plywood intended for concrete formwork, edge sealed, no mill oil. Type B-B
Plyform, MDO or HDO overlain plywood.
1. Where finish is exposed to view in completed construction, use only overlain plywood.

C. Architectural Concrete: [HDO plywood made specifically for forming Architectural Grade Concrete.]

D. Foam Filler: ASTM C578; Type IX expanded polystyrene, or Type VII extruded polystyrene foam.

2.2 ACCESSORIES

A. Form Ties: Snap off metal tie of fixed length with plastic cone, designed to prevent spalling of concrete upon
removal. Provide units that will leave no metal within 1-inch (25 mm) of concrete surface.

B. [Waterstop Type 1: Flexible PVC (polyvinyl chloride) waterstop as manufactured by Greenstreak, profile style
number 771, or equal.
1. The PVC waterstop shall be extruded from an elastomeric plastic material of which the basic resin is
prime virgin polyvinyl chloride. The PVC compound shall not contain any scrapped or reclaimed
material.
2. Performance Requirements as follows:

Property Test Method Required Limits

Water absorption ASTM D 570 5% max.

Tear Resistance ASTM D 624 285 lb/in. min.

Ultimate Elongation ASTM D 638 360% min.

Tensile Strength ASTM D 638 2000 psi

Low Temperature Brittleness ASTM D 746 No Failure @ -35 F

Stiffness in Flexure ASTM D 747 600 psi

Specific Gravity ASTM D 792 1.4 max.

Ozone Resistance ASTM 1149 No Failure

Volatile Loss ASTM D 1203 0.50% max.

Hardness, Shore A ASTM D 2240 65 to 80

Tensile Strength after accelerated extraction CRD-C 572 1600 psi min.

Concrete Forming 031100-2

 Property Test Method Required Limits

Elongation after accelerated extraction CRD-C 572 300% min.

Effect of Alkalis after 7 days: weight change CRD-C 572 Between –0.10% and
hardness change +0.25% +/-5 max.

3. Provide factory made waterstop fabrications for changes of direction, intersections, and transitions
leaving only straight butt joint splices for the field.
4. Provide hog rings or grommets spaced at 12 inches (305 mm) on center along length of waterstop.
5. Provide Teflon coated thermostatically controlled waterstop splicing irons for field butt splices.]

C. [Waterstop Type 2: Volclay Waterstop - Rx® - 101 T by CETCO Building Materials Group, or equal.]

D. Reveal Strips: Profile as shown on the Drawings.

E. Form Release Agent: Water-based, colorless, nonstaining, chemically active agent that shall not impair
bonding of paint or other coatings intended for use. Formulated for use on form facing material.
1. Lumber, plywood or MDO overlain plywood: Aqua-Nox F by Nox-crete, or approved equal.
2. HDO overlain plywood, steel or fiberglass: Nox-crete PCE by nox-crete, or approved equal.

F. Expansion Joint Filler: Preformed asphalt impregnated fiber, ASTM D1751, 1/2 inch thick, unless otherwise
noted.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 CONSTRUCTION OF FORMS

A. Design, construct and maintain formwork in accordance with ACI 347.

B. Provide positive means of adjustment, such as wedges and jacks, or shores and struts. Adjust formwork
before and during concrete placement to achieve the specified tolerances.

C. Tolerances: Finished work shall conform to tolerances of ACI 117.E.

1. Tolerance for offsets at panel edges in as-cast condition shall conform to ACI 117, Class A for
Architectural Concrete, Class B for other surfaces exposed to view, and Class C for all other surfaces.

D. Construct forms mortar-tight and in a manner to permit removal without damaging the concrete.

E. Verify that sleeves and other openings, offsets, recesses, channel chases, anchors, ties and inserts are in
place before concrete is placed.

F. Earth Forms: Footing forms may be omitted and foundation concrete may be placed directly into neatly and
accurately cut excavations, provided the excavation walls are stable, a minimum of one inch and maximum of
three inches outside the concrete edges indicated on the drawings.
1. Where sides are unstable or excavations are not accurately cut to tolerances of ACI 301, construct
formwork to the extent required, at no additional cost to Owner.
2. Hand trim sides and bottom of earth forms; remove loose dirt prior to placing concrete.

G. Provide temporary openings in formwork at the base of wall and column forms to allow inspection and cleaning
before concrete placement.

H. Provide blockouts for mechanical and electrical work wherever necessary, even though not shown on the
Drawings.

I. Provide 3/4-inch (19 mm) chamfers for external corners.

J. Provide reveal feature strips as shown.

K. Plywood Forms at Exposed Surfaces:

Concrete Forming 031100-3

 1. Keep number of panel joints to practical minimum.
2. Ensure vertical joints are plumb and horizontal joints are level.
3. Align form ties vertically and horizontally.

L. Formwork for Architectural Concrete surfaces:

1. Conform to requirements of Architectural Concrete section of ACI 301.
2. Limit deflection of form facing materials between studs, as well as deflection of studs and walers to
0.0025 times the clear span (L/400).
3. Arrange joints in facing material in geometric pattern as approved by the University.
4. Locate form ties in symmetric pattern within panels as shown or as approved by University. Use ties
specified for Architectural Concrete. Provide "dummy" cones where required to match pattern shown.
5. Form inside corners so that no concrete is placed against panel edges.
6. Seal panel joints and penetrations with gaskets and/or sealant to make watertight.

M. Shoring: Shores and struts shall be provided with positive means of adjustment and settlement shall be taken
up during construction.

N. Form Release Agent: Apply a coating of form release agent immediately before use, but prior to installation of
reinforcing steel and embedded items.

O. Construction Joints:
1. Provide where shown or noted on the Drawings or as approved by the University.
2. Provide key indentations at formed joints.
3. Prevent formation of shoulders and ledges.

P. Waterstops: Install in construction joints where shown or noted on Drawings. Install in accordance with
manufacturer's written instructions, including location, surface preparation, adhesive primer, and butting or
lapping of ends.

Q. Expansion Joints: Provide expansion joints and isolation joints where shown or noted on Drawings. Place joint
filler in straight line with edge held back 1/8 inch (3 mm) from concrete surface and secured to formwork or
previously placed construction.
1. Hold edge back by width of joint where joints are scheduled to receive sealant.

3.2 REMOVAL OF FORMWORK

A. Do not remove forms until concrete has hardened and attained sufficient strength to permit safe removal and
adequate support of inherent and imposed loads. It shall be the Subcontractor’s responsibility to limit
construction loads to those which can be carried safely by the developed strength of the structure at the time of
loading and by formwork and shoring in-place at the time of loading.

B. Remove forms carefully to avoid damaging corners and edges of exposed concrete. Prying against the face of
concrete shall not be allowed.

C. After concrete is placed, forms and shores shall remain in place for not less than the following period of time,
subject to requirements for additional curing:
1. Columns: 24 hours, unless otherwise noted.
2. Walls: 2 days, unless otherwise noted. 7 days for Architectural Concrete and other concrete surfaces
exposed at building exterior.
3. Beams Sides: 2 days, unless otherwise noted.
4. Beam Soffits: Maintain formwork 7 days; shore until concrete achieves design compressive strength, 7
days minimum.
5. One-Way Slab Soffits: Maintain formwork 7 days; shore until concrete achieves design compressive
strength, 7 days minimum.
6. Flat Slabs: Maintain form facing material 7 days; shore until concrete achieves design compressive
strength, 21 days minimum.
a. Upon removal of form facing material, install reshores as soon as practical, but not longer than 4
hours after stripping.

D. Where concrete placing continues on upper levels, shoring may be required to be in place longer than
minimum time noted for purpose of supporting weight of floor or roof pours above.

E. Where forms are removed in less than 7 days, curing shall be continued as follows:
1. Immediately following form removal thoroughly wet surface.

Concrete Forming 031100-4

 2. Continue curing in accordance with provisions of Division 03 Section "Cast-in-Place Concrete".

F. Reuse of Forms: Forms may be reused provided they are straight, clean, free from nails, dirt, hardened
concrete, rust, and other injurious matter and edges and surfaces are in good condition.
1. Clean and repair damage caused by placing, removal, or storage. Reuse of formwork that would
reduce quality of exposed-to-view concrete will not be permitted.
2. Forms shall not be reused for Architectural Concrete if there is evidence of surface wear or defect that
would impair the quality of the surface.

END OF SECTION 031100

Concrete Forming 031100-5