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Formwork (shuttering) is the temporary mould that holds wet concrete to the required shape until it gains enough strength to support itself.
Structure & concrete · Also: Shuttering, Moulds
Formwork (shuttering) is the temporary mould that holds wet concrete to the required shape until it gains enough strength to support itself.
Plain-language explanations for planning and learning. Local codes, consultant advice and contract documents take precedence over glossary summaries.
Formwork may be timber, plywood, steel or aluminium systems. It must be strong, correctly aligned and sealed against grout loss. Area of formwork (m²) is often measured for billing separately from concrete volume (m³). Removal (striking) times depend on member type and curing conditions per engineer/IS guidance. Poor formwork shows up as honeycombing, bulging or dimensional errors.
Example: A rectangular column 0.3 × 0.45 × 3.0 m needs formwork on four faces — area is calculated from perimeter × height, plus ties and supports, not from concrete volume alone.
| Unit | Notes |
|---|---|
| m² | Contact area of shuttering |
| m³ | Concrete volume cast inside the form |
RCC
RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) is concrete strengthened with steel bars so it can resist both compression and tension in beams, slabs, columns and footings.
PCC
PCC (Plain Cement Concrete) is concrete without steel reinforcement, often used as a leveling or bedding layer under foundations and floors.
Reinforcement
Reinforcement is the steel (usually TMT bars) embedded in concrete to carry tensile and shear forces that plain concrete cannot resist alone.
Each Varnarc glossary term includes a simple definition, a technical explanation, a worked example, units where relevant, and links to calculators or materials so you can take the next action. Thin one-line dictionary stubs are not published.
Glossary 2026.08.1
Many systems are designed for multiple uses if handled carefully. Timber plywood has limited repetitions compared with metal systems.