When we talk about reducing the final cost of a construction project, many people think only of concrete, steel and finishing. But there is one point that is often “overlooked” in the budget, and which can weigh heavily on the result: the choice of formwork and shoring systems.
To choose the right system, it's not enough to just look at the price of the equipment. You need to consider the project, timetable and productivity, because these factors directly influence the structure's execution time and, consequently, the total cost of the work.
Equipment may be a small slice, but the impact is big
According to ABCP's Construction Community (cited in the article), formwork and shoring represent, on average, less than 10% of the approximate total cost of the structure. In other words: the equipment itself may not seem like the “big bad guy” in the budget.
The key point is another: the formwork, shoring and scaffolding system has a very significant impact on labor costs. When the system is not very productive, execution takes longer, requires more staff for longer and increases indirect costs, as well as putting pressure on the schedule.
Productivity: what really “turns the tables”
In Brazil, it's common to use these systems on a rental basis, since many construction companies don't stock, maintain or manage their equipment in-house. In this scenario, the faster you execute the structure, the less time the equipment is leased and the lower the final cost tends to be.
The article shows a clear difference when comparing the average productivity of industrialized systems versus conventional wood: while a conventional system can produce around 1 m² per man-hour, industrialized systems for slabs can reach 5 to 7 m² per man-hour, depending on the solution.
It's not just about cost: quality and performance come into the equation
In addition to value, formwork and shoring also influence the quality of execution and the performance of the structure, as they are part of the process that enables precise concreting. Even though it is a “temporary” system, it needs to facilitate the work, induce good execution practices and contribute to a more consistent result.
Source: ULMA Construction Brazil
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