e-deck - The new panel slab formwork with steel frame

PASCHAL Innovations

Steinach (Baden):

PASCHAL-Werk G. Maier GmbH, service provider and manufacturer in the field of concrete formwork systems, presents a new development: the e-deck. This is panel slab formwork for use on construction sites where a crane is not available, and where aluminium should not be used.
In Europe, panel slab formwork is successfully used, but is predominantly made from aluminium. This has the advantage that it is lighter than steel and, therefore, larger areas of formwork can be done per unit of weight. However, because of its material characteristics, aluminium has the disadvantage that once it is damaged it is very difficult to repair and the complete panel frame must be replaced.
However, for various reasons aluminium frames are not very practical in emerging markets for do-it-yourself stores. Therefore, the research department of PASCHAL developed panel slab formwork made from steel: e-deck.
Panel slab formwork has an advantage over flex-formwork that the panels are protected and more durable. Because the panels are attached to one another, as opposed to flex-formwork, they are considerably safer.
The frame consists of profiled steel and, with a height of only 7.5 cm, is low for building sites and easy to transport. The formwork facing consists of a 9 layer, 12 mm thick birch plywood. None of the panels weigh more than 20 kilograms. Thus, they can be installed at building sites which have no crane available. Damage to the frame can be absorbed by the e-deck much better than comparable aluminium frames and it is also possible to repair the frame.
The prototypes manufactured in Germany have been successfully tested on some building sites. They will be presented at the Bauma 2010.

Panel size

The individual panels have the panel dimensions 60 x 125, 45 x 125, 30 x 125, 60 x 120, 45 x 120, 30 x 120, 60 x 90, 60 x 85, 60 x 60, 50 x 55, 30 x 60 and 30 x 55 centimetres. This means that the system can be adapted to within 5 cm for every kind of room architecture.

Functions

Depending on the requirements of the building site, there are three user-friendly application options for e-deck:

1. The slab formwork panels are directly supported. The distances between the supports are specified depending on the size of the panels.



2. The slab formwork panels are laid on the girder. Thus, they are freely displaceable in one direction.



3. The slab formwork panels are laid on the girder or placed laterally (e.g. using a drophead). This means that early stripping is possible already on the first day, depending on the thickness of the ceiling and characteristics of the concrete. Here, as in number 2, the girders are hidden under the panels and, therefore, are easy to clean after use.



The e-deck is designed for ceiling thicknesses of up to 30 cm.

Compatibility

e-deck is so designed that the slab formwork panels are compatible with MODULAR universal formwork. Therefore, there is no problem with direct and effective connections. Transitions of wall to ceiling or to joists, or for example, small stairs, only feasible using the large MODULAR panel assortment are, therefore, absolutely possible to implement reliably in the system.