What should a GCC formwork plywood RFQ ask the mill?
Write EN 636 class (2 or 3), PF versus core MUF adhesive, film gsm, thickness (usually 18 mm or 21 mm), sheet format (1220×2440 mm or 1250×2500 mm), reuse as up to N, edge seal, and how the yard will store the pack. A mill test report should match the thickness and grade on the purchase order. Price without those fields is just a colour photograph of a sheet.
Is Form Extra phenolic Class 3?
No. Form Extra uses Superior Glue MUF and sits on EN 636-2. It carries the same phenolic face family as Form Basic; the longer reuse comes from glue chemistry, not a heavier film. Phenolic Class 3 on the film-faced ladder is Pro Form Lite and Pro Form — say that in plain text on the RFQ instead of assuming every phenolic face is Class 3.
Mill, trader, or local stockist — who should answer the spec?
The mill presses the core and film and issues the mill test report and Declaration of Performance. A trader resells FOB or CIF stock without owning that factory paperwork. A local stockist holds 1220×2440 mm sheets for call-off when lead time matters more than a custom film gsm. Spec the mill when you need a DoP tied to one factory and a packing list that matches the invoice legal name.
Does WBP mean the panel is waterproof?
No. WBP is a water-resistant glue line tested under EN 314, not a waterproof panel. The wood still takes on moisture at cut edges and during wet cycling between pours. Write the EN 636 class and PF versus core MUF on the RFQ instead of the letters WBP alone.
What size and overlay should a GCC buyer start with?
Most Gulf programmes start with film-faced 18 mm or 21 mm, often 1220×2440 mm; metric 1250×2500 mm is available when the frame module needs it. HDO is the North America fair-face analogue, not the Gulf default overlay. Match footprint to the framed system you already own so you do not get a lip in the concrete where two sheet sizes meet.
How should reuse be written on a Middle East formwork quote?
Reuse is always a maximum under good site practice — Eco Form Plus up to 8, Form Basic up to 10, Form Extra and Pro Form Lite up to 15, Pro Form up to 20. Heat, open stacks, and crowbar stripping cut those figures roughly in half on Gulf sites. Cost per pour (landed cost divided by realised pours) beats sheet price when the programme clears roughly eight or nine cycles.
