Engineering and Technical

Reinforced Concrete Construction and Formwork

Most reinforced concrete failures on site are not design failures: the steel was in the wrong place, the cover was short, or the formwork moved. This course concentrates on the work that decides those things. Delegates work through reading reinforcement drawings and bending schedules, and checking that what arrives on site matches what was scheduled. Bar fixing is covered in detail: spacing, laps, anchorage, and the cover that determines how long a structure lasts in an aggressive environment. Formwork design principles follow, including concrete pressure, rate of rise and the props and bracing that resist them. Falsework and its collapse risks are addressed directly. Striking times and early age strength are covered. Placing sequences, construction joints and pours that must not be interrupted follow. Surface finish, honeycombing and remedial work are addressed. The course closes on inspection before pouring, on the checks that cannot be done afterwards, and on records.