COST, QUALITY AND SPEED COMPARISON OF STEEL AND TIMBER FORMWORK SYSTEM USED FOR BUILDING PROJECTS
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Date
2015-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The type of formwork system used is the key factor in determining the success of building construction project in terms of cost, quality, and speed. Completing the project with estimated cost, time and specified quality is the measure for successful deliverance of the project to client but almost all building projects in our country are not lucky to be delivered successfully to the client. The underlying problems include relatively high price than estimated cost, delay in construction and low quality of finished concrete. The type of formwork used can be mentioned for the poor performance of the construction sector of Ethiopia is usage and practices of inferior quality of formwork system. Pointing out the usage and practices of formwork system this research study the comparison of steel and timber formwork with regarding to cost, quality and time of completion of selected building construction projects in Addis Ababa.
The study was conducted by selecting thirty building projects from Addis Ababa that are under construction during the study period. The projects comprise different category of building such as office, commercial, apartment, multipurpose and hospital buildings. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted in the projects to get relevant data which helps to achieve the objectives of this thesis. Formwork rental companies and regulatory bodies in Addis Ababa were also interviewed.
The research finding indicated that the average meter square cost of steel formwork is higher than timber formwork the cost difference varies based on the type of structural element, for instance cost of steel beam formwork is 17.05% higher than timber beam formwork and for column steel formwork is 22.88% higher than timber formwork, Taking average the difference is steel formwork costs 16.96% higher than timber formwork. Regarding to the speed of construction the research finding indicated that the steel formwork construction gives faster phase of construction and concerning with the quality of finished concrete modern formwork system creates good surface concrete.
Keywords: Building Construction; Formwork; Cost; Quality; Speed; Concrete; Project Management; Project
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Building Construction, Formwork, Cost, Quality, Speed, Concrete, Project Management, Project