Formwork for Prefabricated Assembled Houses

The formwork process for prefabricated assembled houses differs from that of traditional buildings. Its core lies in the factory prefabrication of modular components and their on-site assembly. The formwork stage may be simplified or replaced, but in some scenarios, traditional formwork techniques are still required.

1. Core Construction Model of Prefabricated Assembled Houses

Prefabricated assembled houses are constructed through factory production of modular components (such as walls, floors, beams, and columns). These components typically incorporate multiple layers of functions, including structural, thermal insulation, and decorative elements, and are equipped with reserved connection interfaces. After being transported to the site, they are quickly assembled using methods such as bolting, welding, or mortise-and-tenon joints to form a complete building. The core advantage of this model is the reduction of on-site wet work (such as concrete pouring), significantly decreasing the application scenarios of traditional formwork processes (used for concrete forming).

2. Applicable Scenarios for Formwork Processes

• Local Cast-in-Place Joints: If the connections between prefabricated components need to be reinforced with cast-in-place concrete (such as beam-column joints or floor slab splices), formwork is still required. In this case, the formwork must match the reserved interfaces of the prefabricated components, and the template design must consider the positioning accuracy of the components to avoid affecting assembly efficiency.
• Non-Standard Component Construction: For irregular structures or customized modules, factory prefabrication costs are high, and on-site formwork pouring may be chosen. For example, complex-shaped balconies or decorative components require traditional formwork processes for completion.
• Foundation Construction Stage: The foundations of prefabricated houses (such as independent foundations and raft foundations) still require traditional formwork processes, including formwork for bedding layers and high formwork, to ensure the accuracy of foundation dimensions.

3. Optimization Directions for Formwork Processes

• Modular Formwork System: Based on the characteristics of prefabricated assembled houses, dedicated disassemblable formwork can be developed, connected to prefabricated components through standardized interfaces to reduce on-site adjustment time. For example, aluminum alloy or plastic formwork can be used for rapid installation and disassembly.
• BIM-Assisted Design: By using Building Information Modeling (BIM) to simulate formwork plans in advance, the layout of formwork and support systems can be optimized to avoid conflicts with prefabricated components and improve construction accuracy.
• Lightweight Support Systems: Combining the self-supporting characteristics of prefabricated components, the design of support systems can be simplified. For example, utilizing the stiffness of prefabricated walls to reduce formwork support points or adopting adjustable supports to accommodate different height requirements.

4. Comparison with Traditional Formwork Processes

Traditional formwork processes focus on concrete pouring, requiring strict calculation of the bearing capacity of support systems and undergoing a curing period. In contrast, the formwork for prefabricated assembled houses focuses more on “auxiliary positioning” and “local forming,” with shorter construction periods and higher requirements for formwork turnover rates. Therefore, its formwork processes must balance efficiency and precision to avoid affecting the overall assembly progress due to formwork issues.