“Falsework vs Formwork: What Falsework Is, How It Differs, and Where the Plywood Goes” no está disponible en Español todavía

Falsework is the temporary support structure that carries formwork and the wet, curing concrete until the permanent structure can hold its own weight. It includes props, adjustable shores, system towers, and the primary and secondary beams that spread the load. In the UK it is designed as temporary works under BS 5975; across Europe the design standard is EN 12812. Once the slab or beam reaches the required strength, the falsework is struck.

Formwork is the mould that shapes the concrete; falsework is the temporary structure that holds the formwork and wet concrete up until the concrete is self-supporting. Put simply, falsework supports and formwork moulds. The plywood deck or shutter face is part of the formwork, and it rides on top of the falsework below it.

No. They are related but built for different jobs. Access scaffolding carries people and light materials so trades can reach the work. Falsework carries the structural load of wet concrete during the pour and cure. Some systems share components, but the design intent, the loadings, and the sign-off differ, and treating load-bearing falsework as if it were access scaffold is a known cause of collapse.

Centering is the older term for the temporary support placed beneath an arch or a curved soffit while the concrete or masonry is built and cured. It is a form of falsework shaped to the curve it supports. The term is still used for arches and bridge work, where the support is removed once the structure can carry itself.

The deck or soffit face is film-faced plywood, specified by adhesive class and reuse target. For repeat decks, a phenolic-bonded panel rated EN 636-3 / Class 3 (such as Pro Form, up to 20 reuses, or the HDO range) holds a clean finish across many pours. For shorter runs, a melamine-cored EN 636-2 / Class 2 panel such as Form Extra (up to 15) or Form Basic (up to 10) is the economical fit.