Choosing your Plywood
Formply is typically covered with an overlay paper to slow water absorption and
create a smooth concrete surface; however, there are many different types of
plywood overlays and not all of them are suitable for use on formply. AS6669 has
strict requirements for the quality of formply overlay to ensure it is water resistant,
durable and will not adhere to the concrete. AS6669 also has requirements for
surface quality to ensure defects are kept to an acceptable level
defects are kept to an acceptable level.
How do I get the most out of my Formply?
Why should I choose EWPAA certified Formply?
KNOW YOUR FORMPLY
The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is a JAS-ANZ type
5 accredited, third-party certification body focusing exclusively on engineered wood
products. The EWPAA certifies all formply manufacturers in Australasia and performs
six monthly inspections of their manufacturing process and ongoing independent
testing of product performance.
The EWPAA checks that:
- The manufacturer has a process control system to achieve consistency of the
formply and that the manufacturing requirements of AS6669. - The manufacturer has independent test results verifying the claimed properties,
including structural properties, durability & overlay quality of their products are met. - The manufacturer has an ongoing verification process so that its products
continue to meet the requirements of AS6669.
As a result, you can be confident that formply from EWPAA certified manufacturers
meets the requirements of Australian standards. EWPAA certified formply is safe,
reliable and suitable for use in your next formwork project.
www.ewp.asn.au +61 7 3250 3700 3/106 Fison Avenue West, Eagle Farm, QLD 4009
Choosing your Plywood
Once an appropriate formply has been selected, on-site practices must be controlled
to ensure the desired concrete surface class is met. Most issues related to concrete
surface quality are caused by the absorption of water into the formply. Therefore, it
is important that the installer takes steps to minimise the risk of water ingress.
These steps include: - Identifying damaged formply and removing it from use,
- Ensuring all cut edges, holes and fixings are resealed prior to pouring, and;
- Using a release agent to reduce water absorption through the formply face and
make it easier to remove the formply. - A 2mm expansion gap should be allowed with edge or face sealing tapes.
- When on site, take care using concrete vibrators to ensure that the surface of the
panel is not damaged. - Form panels must be lowered, rather than dropped, to avoid face and edge
damage. - The use of hot-dipped galvanised, alloy or stainless steel nails is recommended
to prevent staining. - Panels should be stored under cover when not in use and should NEVER be
wrapped in plastic.
If these steps are not taken, it can lead to localised swelling of the formply face and
wood grain imprinting in the concrete surface, or weakening of the surface layer of
concrete making it more susceptible to abrasion. This may lead to a surface class
that is less than the desired level. Regardless of site practices, a class 2 finish is
generally only achieved on the first pour for each face.
