Chapter 3

General

Volume 2 Section 3
BA 36/90

3.4 Three common types of void former have been used in the past in bridge decks:i) Spirally wound corrugated steel tubes
ii) Waxed cardboard tubes and boxes
iii) Expanded polystyrene to any shape.
Current practice in new construction is to use iii).

GRC Flat Single Skin

GRC Corrugated Single Skin

Figure 1a

GRC Multi-skinned
Figure 1b

GRP
Figure 2

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Chapter 4
Design

4. DESIGN
4.1 Temporary Works Condition during Deck Slab Construction
4.1.1 Non-participating and participating formwork should be capable of supporting the sum of the following loads
at the ultimate limit state:
i) self weight of formwork
ii) weight of wet concrete in the deck slab
iii) a minimum superimposed load of 1.5kN/m2
iv) the effects of wind load where appropriate.
Note. BS 5975, Clause 27 describes the loads allowed for in the superimposed load and indicates the circumstances
where the figure of 1.5kN/m2 should be increased.
4.1.2 The formwork should be able to resist the effects of concentrated loading e.g. due to reinforcement spacer
blocks or operatives walking on the reinforcement.
4.1.3 For satisfactory performance of non-participating formwork at the ultimate limit state the following conditions
should hold:- R* > 2S*, where R* is the design resistance based on the characteristic (or normal) strength of the
formwork fk and S* is the design load effect due to the above nominal loads. (In this calculation the partial factors
YfL, Yf3 and Ym as defined in BS 5400 are all to be taken as equal to 1.0).
4.1.4 In the case of participating permanent formwork the design requirements for precast concrete units with
appropriate shear connection to the composite insitu concrete are given in BS 5400: Part 5.
4.1.5 Section and material properties for proprietary permanent formwork should be obtained from the
manufacturers published data.
4.1.6 Load testing should be carried out on site by the Contractor to demonstrate the ability of the proposed
permanent formwork to support the prescribed loading without exceeding the deflection limit. Alternatively load
testing may be carried out at the manufacturers works provided that;
(a) the tests are equivalent to those specified in the contracts; and
(b) the tests are undertaken or supervised by a testing house offering suitable and satisfactory guarantees of
technical and professional competence and independence.
4.1.7 Deflection of permanent formwork 4 hours after completion of concreting should not exceed 1/300 of the span
of the formwork unit. In assessing deflection, allowance should be made where necessary for creep.
4.2 Permanent Works Condition after Deck Slab Completion
4.2.1 In assessing the durability of non-participating permanent formwork any residual stresses in the formwork
resulting from the deck slab construction should be combined with the stresses induced by the subsequent cyclic
highway live loading.
4.2.2 Participating permanent formwork should be designed for the effects of composite action with the insitu
deck slab in accordance with BS 5400: Part 5 cl 9.5.3.

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Chapter 4
Design

Volume 2 Section 3
BA 36/90

4.2.3 In the design of deck slabs incorporating non-participating permanent formwork, cover, crack widths etc
must be calculated on the basis that the formwork is not present. (BS 5400: Part 5 cl 9.5.2). The minimum cover
to the reinforcement of the deck slab should be taken as that measured to the nearest formwork element, ie to the
top of the rib for a GRP panel and to the top of the corrugations for a steel or GRC corrugated panel.
4.2.4 Where corrugated or profiled sheeting is used which provides a downward projection of the insitu concrete
the calculated crack width at the lowest surface shall not exceed 0.5mm. (See Fig 3)

Crack width calculated at lowest

in situ concrete surface

Figure 3

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Chapter 5
Detailing, Construction and Workmanship

5. DETAILING, CONSTRUCTION AND

WORKMANSHIP
5.1 Protective paint systems to main steel members should be continued 25mm beyond a point on the upper edge of the
top of the section, where the compressible construction seal for the formwork is located as shown in Figure 4. On
completion of the curing of the deck slab in steel/concrete composite bridges a suitable proprietary sealant compatible
with the formwork and paint system and of comparable durability should be injected between the edge of the flange and
the soffit of the permanent formwork to prevent ingress of moisture.
25mm min

Formwork

Construction seal

Sealant
Paint system

Figure 4

SEALING DETAILS AT EDGE OF STEEL BEAM

5.2 Where there are splice plates or any other discontinuities in the flanges of the main beams detailing of permanent
formwork and its sealing needs special attention. For example difficulties have been reported in sealing the gaps
between individual formwork units and between units and main girders when precast concrete formwork units have
been used.
5.3 Cut edges of PSS panels will require special protective treatment comparable with the original protection.
5.4 Positive fixing of non-participating formwork may be required to prevent uplift from wind or to prevent it being
dislodged accidentally from its seating during construction.
5.5 Checks should be carried out on site to ensure that the rebates in precast concrete beams which are intended to
receive the permanent formwork have been well formed and that any dressing-off is carried out before placing the
formwork to ensure an even seating.
5.6 Before accepting a particular type of formwork the manufacturers dimensional tolerances should be ascertained.
Panels which vary from the manufacturers stated dimensions by more than the tolerances should be rejected.
5.7 Panels should be handled with care at all times. Those which are cracked, split or have, in the case of GRP type,
exposed steel in the ribs should be rejected. Also panels which are cracked during preparation for concreting should be
replaced.
5.8 Formwork panels should be thoroughly cleaned to remove all traces of oil or grease. Any GRC panel which cannot
be cleaned by following the manufacturers recommendations should be replaced since it is important not to damage the
bond between panel and insitu concrete.
5.9 Concrete should neither be allowed to accumulate in heaps nor be dropped from heights greater than described in
BS 5975: Clause 27.3.1, and storage of materials on permanent formwork should not be permitted unless these have
been specifically taken into account in the design and are clearly indicated in the Contract documents.

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Chapter 5
Detailing, Construction and Workmanship

Volume 2 Section 3
BA 36/90

5.10 The concrete mix for the insitu deck slab should be designed with a sufficiently high workability to ensure that
with normal compaction methods the concrete will fill the formwork and completely surround the reinforcing steel.
Cases have been reported where partial removal of the permanent formwork for inspection has revealed that poorly
compacted and honeycombed concrete has been cast against permanent formwork, resulting in the risk of corrosion of
the reinforcement.
5.11 Sealing arrangements should be grout tight under all conditions.

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Chapter 6
Void Forming

6. VOID FORMING
6.1 Proprietary void formers in deck slabs should be installed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
Fixings should be well anchored and sufficiently strong to resist the effects of uplift from the wet concrete and any
surging from discharged concrete.
6.2 Joints between adjacent units, or units and form faces should be sealed to prevent loss of grout.
Expanded
polystyrene
void former

Expanded
polystyrene
void former

Steel
loadspreader

Steel
strapping
PVC
sleeve

Steel cage

5mm

25mm

10mm

Steel cage

Soffit
formwork

Steel
strapping
40mm
dia

See Detail B

PVC
sleeve

DETAIL B

Figure 5
DRAINAGE IN NEW VOIDED SLAB BRIDGES
Note; One method is shown for positioning the void former and securing it against
flotation but other methods may be employed

Note: One method is shown for positioning the void former and securing it against flotation but other methods may be
employed.
6.3 All voids should have drainage provision. A 40mm nominal diameter hole formed by cast-in p.v.c sleeving near the
lower end of each void on its centre line should be provided. The sleeving should project 25mm below the bridge soffit
without encroaching on minimum headroom requirements as shown in Figure 5 for a circular voided slab. The sleeve
requires to be positively fixed and the joint between the void former and the sleeve should be grout tight. On completion
of the works the drainage pipes should be checked to ensure that they provide a clear passage into the void.

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Volume 2 Section 3
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Chapter 7
References

7. REFERENCES
Reference to any part of BS 5400, is to that part as implemented by the Department.
1. BS 5400 Steel, concrete and composite bridges.
Part 5: 1979 Code of practice for the design of composite bridges.
2. BS 5975: 1982 Code of practice for falsework.

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Chapter 8
Enquiries

8. ENQUIRIES
Technical enquiries arising from the application for this Advice Note to a particular project should be addressed to
the appropriate Technical Approval Authority.
All other technical enquiries or comments should be addressed to:
Head of Bridges Engineering Division
Department of Transport
St Christopher House
Southwark Street
LONDON
SE1 0TE
Orders for further copies of this Advice Note should be accompanied by the remittance shown on the cover and
addressed to:
DOE/DTp Publications Sales Unit
Building One
Victoria Road
South Ruislip
Middlesex HA4 0NZ

February 1991

Telephone No: 01- 841 3425

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