How to make wall formwork without the involvement of hired specialists. Advantages and disadvantages of different types of fixed formwork

The abundance of building technologies allows each developer to choose the best way to build a structure that suits him in all respects. In recent years, fixed formwork has been added to the traditionally demanded brick, block, and frame housing construction - a technology that causes a lot of controversy and has both supporters and opponents. Among users of the FORUMHOUSE portal, this topic is also relevant, it makes sense to consider it in more detail.

• Fixed formwork installation technology
• Finishing houses from fixed formwork

Design features of the "warm form"

The fixed formwork technology allows you to simultaneously build and insulate the structure, and is used for the construction of both the foundation and the box. This is a universal method used in private and multi-storey construction. It is based on the principle of monolithic reinforced concrete structures: the reinforcing cage is poured with concrete, but the formwork is not dismantled after the mortar has set, but remains an element of the "pie". In fact, the formwork is a form that allows the reinforced concrete "stuffing" to take a given geometric shape. But in the case of a non-removable variety, this is a heater, the use of which significantly reduces the heat loss of the building. The use of a fixed one began, continued with rectangular walls, today they also produce radial blocks: if you want, a bay window, if you want, a fantasy pool.

Monolith or fixed formwork is hollow blocks or slabs with lintels, additional interlocking of the rows is provided by the tongue-and-groove system.

The necessary additional elements are also produced - corner blocks, crown, plugs and the like. Initially, three types of raw materials were used for the production of fixed formwork.

• Polystyrene - based on it, foam plastic (PSB) and expanded polystyrene (PPS) blocks and plates are made.

• Polystyrene concrete - formwork made of mineral binder (cement) and granular (polystyrene) filler.

• Wood cement - in the composition of blocks and slabs - up to 90% of organic filler and cement as a binder. Usually, organic matter is represented by large fraction wood chips, but some manufacturers can add other plant materials (reed, reed, straw) to the mixture. Both in blocks and in slabs for external walls inside - a layer of insulation - expanded polystyrene (half of the internal volume), blocks for internal partitions are empty.

Varieties of fixed formwork

The most environmentally friendly formwork is made from wood chips, as it consists of natural raw materials and mineral binder and has good vapor permeability, but it costs much more than pure polystyrene. The bulk of houses built using fixed formwork technology are built from polystyrene foam blocks - they are more affordable than wood-cement blocks and stronger than foam blocks. The strength and durability of the formwork will depend on the density of the blocks. Unscrupulous manufacturers give out loose blocks as dense ones, and the necessary numbers are put down in the certificate of conformity.

In order not to be deceived, the user of our portal a991ru, professionally involved in construction, advises paying attention to weight - according to him, 1 mᶟ of high-quality, dense formwork should weigh at least 15 - 16 kg.

The main advantages of an insulated monolith include not only the speed of the construction process and financial availability, but also the possibility of self-construction even without the appropriate qualifications. Also, perfectly smooth (with proper installation) surfaces that do not require a thick plaster layer were recorded as pluses. Outside, decorative plaster or a hinged screen is enough, and from the inside, drywall is most often dispensed with.

Opponents of the technology call the harmfulness of PPS and low vapor permeability the main disadvantage - walls can release aggressive chemicals into the air, and the house becomes a thermos.

kubarik FORUMHOUSE Member

They built a house for a friend using the technology of fixed formwork - yes, the house turns out to be warm, but absolutely breathless - in winter the windows fog up, the humidity in the house is crazy. I contacted the customer, who was also built using this technology - the same trouble.

The hypothetical aggressiveness of the material is on the conscience of block manufacturers - high-quality raw materials and compliance with the formwork manufacturing technology minimize the possibility of volatile compounds. If in doubt, the material you like can be taken to the local SES laboratory for testing. And in order to protect yourself from poisoning, you should carefully choose a supplier and not be fooled by too low prices, as an option - use a chip-cement or combined formwork. A properly organized ventilation system will help to avoid the effect of a thermos, which solves the problem of high humidity, and in case of violations, mold can appear on both brick and block walls. Although some FORUMHOUSE participants did not notice problems with indoor humidity even without additional ventilation.

kamzhenya Member of FORUMHOUSE

Regarding ventilation - in our region the climate is, you know, humid, even very - no extras. There is no ventilation in these houses. Well, there is no such problem, it is in practice.

Given that the region of residence of the portal participant is the Far East, fixed formwork is especially relevant due to its high seismic resistance: a monolithic structure is less susceptible to deformation.

Fixed formwork installation technology

The optimal foundation for fixed formwork is tape. If concrete blocks are used, it is desirable to pour a monolithic belt 30 cm thick on top. In the process of pouring the foundation, vertical reinforcing pins (diameter - from 10 mm) are mounted in it, which will later help to combine the base and the box into a single spatial structure. As in any construction process, waterproofing is performed between the foundation and the first row. Rolled membranes or film are pierced onto the pins. Welded bituminous mastics are not recommended for use under polystyrene foam blocks, preferably polyethylene or roofing felt with asphalt dressing. Under certain circumstances, waterproofing is dispensed with.

Kamfish Member of FORUMHOUSE

I made the tape, let out the fittings, did not lay the waterproofing. But then the walls of the basement floor were sheathed with DSP and waterproofed with welded material. The base is approximately 1.8 meters.

When assembling the first row, strict observance of the level is mandatory. The skew is leveled with glue or cement mortar. Blocks begin to lay out from the corners, stringing on the reinforcement. After assembling the first row, horizontal reinforcement is overlapped in the grooves and connected with wire twists to the vertical one, some use plastic ties. The second row is assembled in the same way. Masonry imitates brickwork - displacement of adjacent rows in order to increase the strength of the monolith. The groove system additionally fixes and seals the seams and joints, the grooves are not allowed to diverge, otherwise cold bridges will result.

Depending on the type of blocks or plates and the manufacturer's recommendations, the segments can be additionally fastened together with wire or staples. Dmitry Kov, who built a house for himself using the technology of fixed formwork from polystyrene foam blocks, created the following reinforcing cage.

Dmitry Kov Member of FORUMHOUSE

I put vertical reinforcement in about sixty centimeters, horizontal - in two rows. Naturally, I strengthened all window and door openings: on the sides - two fittings, on top - four pieces, in all corners and intersections - also four pieces each. Where the opening for the garage is six pieces on top, the reinforcement was connected as expected, with an overlap of approximately. All fittings in the walls with a diameter of 10 mm, in the grillage - six pieces, 12 mm each. The house stands on 43 pillars made with a TISE drill with an extension at the bottom of 0.5 m.

According to the project, when laying out the first rows, bends are formed for internal partitions and door groups, engineering communications are laid: grooves are cut in the blocks, and the pipes necessary at this stage are laid. As the blocks are installed, a reinforcing cage is formed from vertical and longitudinal rods connected to each other. The strength of the monolith and its resistance to deformation will largely depend on the diameter of the reinforcement, most often the frame is knitted from rods with a diameter of 10–12 mm.

For the monolith, a standard cement-sand mortar is used with the addition of fine gravel, kneaded mechanically or manually.

Considering that from two to four rows are poured at a time (depending on the brand and type of formwork), the involvement of pumping equipment is justified at construction sites with a large quadrature, when several cubes of mortar are placed in these several rows. If the technology is violated and more rows are poured at the same time, it is possible both for the blocks to bulge out - “belly”, and for the formation of voids and dips. To compact the solution, both vibrators and the “poke method” are used - using a long armature or a wooden handle.

Since when pouring with a solution, it is possible to partially fill the grooves, which will prevent the installation of the next row, one of the participants in the portal, Ky Lordron, made metal U-shaped frames, equal in width to the walls of the blocks, and covered the surface while filling the wall section. To assemble the rows, mix the mortar, install the reinforcing cage and pour the monolith, he attracted the most popular "Tajik-stroy" among private traders as a labor force. And in order to minimize the possibility of marriage, he carefully controlled the laying of the first row and the further process. If you notice a protruding segment in time, until the solution has seized, it is enough just to align it.

Given that the solution is poured into the formwork in layers, in order to avoid the formation of cold bridges, the extreme row is filled not to the top, but to the middle - the seam is completely closed in the block.

Plus, each next layer is poured not after complete setting, but after a short period, in the process of final maturation of concrete, a full-fledged, insulated monolith is formed.

The formwork itself is not load-bearing, so all floor slabs and logs are laid directly on the concrete filling, for which the corresponding grooves are cut out in the expanded polystyrene layer. To increase the heat capacity of the building, which will “limp” due to insulation, internal partitions are sometimes made from other wall materials - bricks, blocks, plasterboard structures. One of the possible options is to pour the monolith into the formwork, and after the structure has hardened, remove the polystyrene walls.

Finishing houses from fixed formwork

Facing fixed formwork is needed to increase the decorative effect and protect the material from external influences, this also applies to most block varieties and skeletons. Given that there is no need to level the walls, they do without a thick plaster layer. A reinforcing layer of fiberglass or stainless steel mesh with an adhesive solution and subsequent application of a decorative plaster or putty is sufficient.

The margin of safety of the walls is also enough for heavier materials - tiles or stone, siding is no less popular. The siding is mounted on a subsystem that is fixed either directly into the concrete or, when the lintels in the blocks are plastic, into the lintels. Today on sale you can find a variety of decorative formwork - it already has a facing layer that imitates a stone facade. But due to the rather high cost, this option is not in high demand. Portal member AlexIll22 turned a typical building into an exclusive one through an interesting finish.

Formwork is a system of building elements used for the accelerated construction of structural elements such as walls, columns, ceilings, elevator shafts. There are two types of formwork: removable formwork and fixed formwork. In this article, we will consider the second type of formwork - fixed.

The formwork is called fixed formwork if the formwork system is not dismantled after the concrete has hardened. Most often, blocks for fixed formwork are made of expanded polystyrene or other heat-insulating material.

Fixed formwork installation technology

The technology for installing fixed formwork is quite simple: after creating a detailed plan of the desired structure, the formwork system is installed and poured with concrete. After the concrete has hardened, the formwork is not dismantled.

Formwork blocks are mounted according to the principle of brickwork and are fixed to each other with the help of locking elements (or with the help of grooves). The opposite plates of the formwork block are fastened together with ties (if necessary). Concreting is carried out in layers: no more than 3-4 rows of formwork blocks, it is mandatory to use vertical reinforcement to increase the strength of the structure.

Advantages of fixed formwork

1. Increasing the reliability of the structure

When using fixed formwork, the walls will be a single monolithic system.

2.Heat and sound insulation

Upon completion of construction, the formwork will play the role of additional insulation. In addition, for example, polystyrene foam blocks have excellent soundproofing properties.

3. Saving usable space

The wall, made according to the principle of concreting a frame from a fixed formwork, is three times thinner than a standard brick wall, which allows you to save "extra" meters of usable area both inside the building being built and outside.

4. Economical during construction

In addition to the fact that the construction of structures from formwork does not require the participation of bulky special equipment, this method is notable for its low cost compared, for example, with brickwork or other types of construction. Due to the relative ease of installation of the formwork, labor costs are significantly reduced. The construction of an object with fixed formwork is carried out 5 times faster than with removable formwork.

5. Profitability in the operation of the facility

The high thermal insulation properties of the formwork will reduce heating costs by more than 3 times (compared to a similar brick house).

6.Ease of finishing

During construction, perfectly even and smooth walls are obtained, the final finishing of which significantly saves time and money, and when using facade fixed formwork, the lining of the outer wall of the building occurs automatically.

7.Durability

Laboratory tests have shown that even in the most aggressive environmental conditions, a house made of concrete and polystyrene blocks will last at least 100 years.

Do-it-yourself fixed formwork

Do-it-yourself installation of fixed wall formwork will not cause significant problems even to a person without a special building education. Consider the mechanism for erecting a wall of polypropylene blocks.

To install the formwork, the foundation of the future building must be prepared accordingly: in accordance with the plan, vertical reinforcement must be placed and a coating of waterproofing material must be made.

The installation of the first level of blocks must be done with special care and accuracy: the blocks are strung on vertical reinforcement and fastened together in accordance with the technical documentation (grooves or other locking devices). A screed inside polystyrene foam blocks is most often not required, as it is provided by the manufacturer.

When laying the first level of blocks, doorways and internal partitions are formed in accordance with the plan. The second level of blocks is laid according to the brickwork method, the blocks must be shifted to the side relative to the lower ones. The verticality of the sides of the formwork is best checked with a level. The third and subsequent levels of blocks are laid out similarly to the first, so that the side seams are in the same vertical plane.

At the stage of installing the blocks, it is necessary to lay engineering communications.

Now you can start concreting. If there is no special tool (deep vibrator), then pouring is done manually with mandatory tamping of the layers using improvised means (you can use a wooden or rubber hammer).

Thus, step by step, the wall is erected to the required height, but to give it special strength, the upper layer of blocks is only half filled with concrete, so the upper face of the monolith is inside the formwork.

Similarly, the formwork of columns is performed, the formwork of ceilings should be entrusted to professionals.

The cost of fixed formwork

Price for 1 sq. a meter of fixed formwork with polystyrene blocks, depending on the region, can reach up to 1000 rubles, but on average it is 500-800 rubles. You can calculate the total costs for the purchase of formwork using a special block consumption calculator online or when ordering from a supplier.

Video footage - fixed formwork

Modern construction is developing with an emphasis on quality at the shortest possible time and low cost of materials.

This approach allows you to build houses in the shortest possible time, as well as make housing affordable for the majority of the population.

This directly affects the turnover capital, and also makes it possible to interest the buyer, because we live in an era when we want to get a high-quality result in the shortest possible time, and not wait for ready-made housing for years. Now there is a tendency to use only as a facing material.

Formwork for erecting walls and casting from, make it possible to build a reliable frame of a house on one floor, within a week. For comparison, a brick structure will require twice as much time and money.

When performing work on the construction of formwork in a building where there are already ceilings on the ceiling, experts advise constructing racks with fastening of the upper formwork elements in the ceiling. Often this method is used in the construction of high-rise buildings, but with minor modifications it is also suitable for low-rise construction.

For independent use, wooden shields with 200 x 50 cm will fit. The principle of their installation is the same as in metal ones. The main task is to put exactly horizontally. Work with wooden formwork for walls is faster in time, but the process of building walls itself drags on for a longer period when compared with metal ones.

Brick wall formwork installation

Brickwork is also used as a fixed formwork for walls. The body into which concrete is poured is constructed from silicate and facing bricks. At first glance, it may seem that this technology is very costly, both in terms of money and labor. But, nevertheless, it has its advantages and is used quite often in practice. This method guarantees the output of a reliable frame and warm walls at the same time.

In order for the concrete solution under pressure not to open the brick form, it is necessary to lay peculiar partitions through 3 rows vertically and 4-5 bricks horizontally. A certain gap in the structure, which is adjacent to the brick for cladding, is laid with insulating material, most often foamed polystyrene foam is used. Unoccupied space is poured with a mixture of concrete grade 200.

Expanded polystyrene foam makes it possible to compensate for the pressure of the mass of concrete, and after the structure shrinks, the material expands and fills the remaining gaps. The cast concrete frame perfectly holds the brickwork, creating all the conditions for excellent. Very often, in order to reduce the cost of facing bricks, which are not cheap, the outer walls are lined with halves, which are cut lengthwise.

Formwork of this type, in addition to its direct purpose for shaping the house, can also perform special functions: insulation, waterproofing, decorative trim, external reinforcement, and others.

Classification features

Formwork is classified by type depending on:

• types of concreted monolithic structures;
• structures (structures) formwork;
• the type of the main material of the predominant elements;
• outside air temperature and the effect of formwork on concrete;
• turnover (the number of its repeated applications).

Typologically fixed formwork refers to the last feature, which distinguishes:

• one-time (including non-removable formwork);
• inventory (reusable).

Formwork serves as an important element in the process of erecting load-bearing and enclosing structures for various purposes. The development of technical conditions for the creation of a specific type of formwork is carried out on the basis of state standards:

• GOST R 52086-2003 "Formwork. Terms and definitions"
• GOST R 52085-2003 "Formwork. General specifications"
• GOST R 52752-2007 "Formwork. Test methods".
• GOST 9.014-78 "Unified system of protection against corrosion and aging. Temporary anti-corrosion protection of products. General requirements"
• GOST 15150-69 "Machines, devices and other technical products"

Components of fixed formwork

Foamed polystyrene, wood concrete (arbolite), steel profiled flooring, glass and ceramic blocks, etc. can serve as the main materials for the manufacture of deck plates. Profiled slabs (flat, ribbed, trough-shaped) made of concrete and reinforced concrete can be used as fixed formwork for walls of a simple configuration. , glass cement, armocement, fiber cement.

The most widely used fixed formwork, assembled from polystyrene foam plates, connecting elements (lintels, profiles) and reinforcement. The plates are figuratively “cut out” from a polystyrene foam cube on a machine (with computer or manual control) with a heated metal string: decks for wall (ordinary, rotary, lintel) or foundation blocks, corners, end caps, etc.

Unlike profile plates, when installing blocks and panels made of expanded polystyrene, a crane and welding of the reinforcing cage are not required. They are easily assembled by hand according to the principle of the designer, without the use of adhesive or sealing compounds (groove-comb) or on a thin layer of mortar or glue (1-3 mm).

However, the assembly nuances depend on the design of the polystyrene formwork, the choice of which is determined by the concreting technology. There are two fundamentally different systems for building a 3-layer wall:

The system "expanded polystyrene-concrete-expanded polystyrene" - the location of the insulation outside

Option 1. From modules, or hollow blocks, which are two plates connected by steel or plastic jumpers, a wall is gradually formed. If necessary, reinforcement and an additional layer of insulation are inserted into the chamber between the polystyrene "walls", then the usual concrete mixture is poured. If the module initially did not have a facing layer, after the concrete hardens, they begin to finish the external and internal surfaces of the erected structure. The most common blocks with parameters are 1000(1500)×250×250 mm.

Option 2. The module consists of a reinforcing frame (height can reach 4.2 m, thickness - from 120 to 300 mm), on which, on both sides, with polymer plugs, high-density expanded polystyrene plates commensurate with the frame (thickness 50, 100, 150 or 200 mm). A wall obtained from blocks with concrete poured inside is called a block-shell.

For the installation of ceiling ceilings, specially designed elongated panels with through longitudinal voids and reinforcing metal profiles embedded in expanded polystyrene are used. The thickness of these three-dimensional elements varies from 180 to 320 mm.

System "concrete-expanded polystyrene-concrete" - the location of the insulation inside

Reinforced panels used for this technology are sometimes called sandwich panels. They are also large-sized and are a slab of expanded polystyrene (or other thermal insulator) with a thickness of 10-250 mm, taken from both sides with a steel mesh. In this form, the panels are installed in place of the future wall, and then the outer and inner sides are lined with special concrete by shotcrete - they are sprayed under pressure in 2-3 layers.

Sandwich walls have significant advantages over block-shells. Here are just a few of them:

• Expanded polystyrene in this case does not need additional protective finishing;
• The method is low-budget by reducing construction time and reducing the consumption of concrete mix - by 20-30% for the manufacture of walls, by 45% for the foundation (as a result, 1 m² of the wall weighs 200-220 kg versus 350 kg for the block shell);
• The wall thickness decreases: if for a block-shell this value is, for example, 295 mm, then for a sandwich system it is only 202 mm;
• This frees up up to 7 "squares" of usable area for every 100 m²;
• Frost resistance increases from 300 to 600 cycles.

Characteristics of polystyrene formwork

Advantages of monolithic construction

1. Monolithic buildings are lighter than brick ones by about 15-20%;
2. By lightening the weight of all structures, it is possible to reduce the material consumption and deepening of the foundation, which means that its construction as a whole is cheaper;
3. Monolithic construction provides an almost seamless construction of the house, as a result of which the ability of heat and sound insulation is increased;
4. Compared to brick, monolithic load-bearing walls are 2.5 times thinner, so a 100 m² house has 15 m² more internal space;
5. Walls, ceilings, formwork and concrete foundations are just as durable, strong and fire resistant as brick ones;
6. Convenience and ease of installation work.

Advantages of fixed formwork blocks

Consider the unique qualities provided by polystyrene foam formwork

The use of fixed formwork, as a method of erecting monolithic concrete objects, increases the strength characteristics of the structures being erected, optimizes the mode of concrete hardening. Numerous advantages of the polystyrene foam form allow you to save time, resource and labor costs during the construction process (reduce the overall cost), as well as maintenance costs during operation:

• Fixed formwork gives an overall weight reduction of another 20-30% compared to monolithic construction using removable formwork methods;
• The terms of delivery of the object are reduced by about 1.4 - 10 times compared to other types of construction: blocks and panels are easy to assemble and process, easy to carry by hand;
• Space heating requires 3-5 times less heat energy;
• Low material cost, excellent noise and heat insulation;
• High strength combined with light weight; Expanded polystyrene "breathes" - slowly passes air, which guarantees resistance to fungus; does not absorb moisture;
• The use of polystyrene foam formwork made possible seamless monolithic construction without heavy construction equipment;
• The cost of building 1 m² of a monolithic cottage with fixed formwork starts from 12,000 rubles, which is comparable to hand-cut wooden houses and rounded logs, but a brick house will cost from 18,000, a house made of glued beams - from 23,000 rubles;
• Construction can be carried out on any soil and under any climatic conditions, except for the use of formwork of the "concrete-polystyrene-concrete" type - the air temperature should not be lower than -5℃;
• Environmental friendliness - the same polystyrene is used in construction as in the production of food packaging;
• The ability of polystyrene foam to self-extinguish means preventing the spread of fire; during combustion, toxic chemical compounds are not emitted, which together gives a high fire safety of the building;
• Monolithic construction with fixed formwork is combined with brick, blocks, wood and other traditional materials, which gives scope for the implementation of any non-standard projects.

Cons of fixed formwork

• Expanded polystyrene does not withstand high temperatures (the limiting temperature is 90 ℃), so the blocks must be plastered or sheathed with some non-combustible material;
• The presence of metal fittings requires a grounded loop to protect the building from lightning;
• In buildings with sandwich technology, it is recommended to install forced supply and exhaust ventilation or at least double-glazed windows with a micro-ventilation function.

Scope and transportation of formwork made of expanded polystyrene

Fixed formwork made of expanded polystyrene is used in multi-storey construction of residential, industrial, administrative and industrial buildings, in the construction of cottages, fences. The use in the construction of swimming pools can significantly reduce heat loss from the water to the surrounding soil.

The methods of transportation and storage depend on the design of the fixed formwork and are subject to GOST 15150-69 as products of group 8 (OZh3). Blocks can be delivered unassembled, and then a set of elements for each block is packed separately, then they are put into boxes or other containers that can ensure proper safety. Blocks or panels in a complete version, as well as sets containing formwork elements larger than 1 m, are formed into transport packages on pallets, observing the principle of the same type of products in one package.

Before packing, the manufacturer must provide temporary (for a period of at least 12 months) protection against corrosion of all products with metal surfaces and inorganic coatings in accordance with GOST 9.014-78.

A house made of fixed formwork is also called a thermal house. And that's why. The walls of the house are initially assembled from hollow polystyrene foam blocks. Then these voids are reinforced for the longitudinal rigidity of the frame and filled with concrete. It turns out a single monolithic structure. With a thickness of such walls of a fixed formwork house of 25 centimeters (standard block size 1200x250x250 mm), its heat saving indicators are comparable to a brick wall 50-65 centimeters thick.

Technology Benefits

After analyzing the reviews of the owners of houses from fixed formwork, we can highlight the following advantages:

• Accelerated construction time of the frame of the house, combined with low cost;
• The pressure on the foundation is reduced, which makes it possible to reduce its cost;
• No need to use powerful lifting mechanisms (perhaps they will be required for laying floor slabs);
• The pouring of the concrete mixture can be carried out using a low-pressure concrete pump or manually through a funnel specially designed for this purpose;
• High rates of heat saving walls;
• The ability to build a house of any configuration, ease of assembly of the frame (blocks are easily sawn and attached according to the principle of the Lego constructor);
• Long service life of a structure built using this technology;
• The strength of the walls with their smaller thickness is comparable to brick;
• Increasing the usable volume of the premises;
• Insulation (as well as sound insulation) of erected walls is not required, except for buildings located in cold climatic conditions. For areas with low temperatures, blocks of increased thickness (up to 50 cm) are produced;
• Reducing the cost of heating in the house;
• A large selection of types of polystyrene formwork elements (corner elements, blocks with plugs for openings, etc. are produced);
• Ease of finishing. Such walls do not need to be leveled before finishing work. Any finishing materials can be used for them (siding, non-combustible drywall, ceramic tiles, etc.);
• A house built using non-removable polystyrene formwork is not subject to rotting, mold formation, and destruction by rodents;
• The possibility of laying communications (cables, pipes) inside the walls. For this, the blocks have special holes for this;
• The corners of the building have precise geometry;
• The possibility of using blocks of such formwork for the installation of a strip foundation. For waterproofing such a foundation, it is enough to equip the drainage system.

Technology Disadvantages

The disadvantages of polystyrene fixed formwork include:

• Danger of destruction of unprotected polystyrene foam walls when interacting with aggressive liquids (gasoline, solvents, acids, etc.). Therefore, such walls need a mandatory finish;
• Limiting the load on the walls of the building (for example, the pressure on the load-bearing wall should not exceed 70 kilograms);
• The release of harmful toxic substances when the foam is heated. Therefore, protection is often used with the help of special fire-prevention layers.

Important! Some owners of such buildings prefer to dismantle the inner layer of polystyrene foam. you can tear off the foam inside. It is worth noting that in this case the heat capacity of the walls decreases.

• Due to the poor vapor conductivity of such formwork, ventilation in the house must be carefully designed;
• Mandatory grounding of the house is required.

What buildings are being built using this technology

There are practically no restrictions here. This technology can be used to build:

• private houses, dachas, cottages;
• low-rise apartment buildings up to 9 floors high;
• outbuildings (shed, chicken coop, etc.);
• warehouses, hangars;
• sports facilities (pools, ice arenas, sports and recreation centers);
• various public spaces.

Important Points

According to the reviews of the owners of such houses, we can give advice - do not use the fixed formwork of little-known companies. The density of expanded polystyrene in it should be at least 25-35 kg / m 3. Otherwise, it is fraught with:

• crumbling or cracking of polystyrene foam blocks, which in the future will lead to a spill of the concrete mixture from the formwork;
• curvature of the formwork under the weight of concrete and, as a result, the unevenness of the walls;
• the inconvenience of laying reinforcement and knitting formwork blocks together;
• the release of toxic substances during the operation of the building;
• and ultimately a waste of time and money.

Before buying formwork of this type, be sure to ask the seller to present a hygiene certificate for it.

Other types of industrial fixed formwork

These types include:

1. Expanded clay blocks. In appearance, they look like cinder blocks. This is the very first type of fixed formwork. Today it is rarely used due to the high cost and the need for insulation.
2. Glass-magnesite structures. They are lightweight, but cannot be used for load-bearing walls.
3. Arbilite structures. Consists of cement and wood shavings. They have high thermal insulation performance, but are quite expensive.

Fixed formwork can be made independently from moisture-resistant plywood, cement-bonded particle boards or flat slate sheets. It turns out quite durable, resistant to moisture. However, the wall has low thermal insulation properties. Therefore, it will be necessary to insulate the building, for example, with mineral wool. You will also need reinforced waterproofing and tie-down fasteners.