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LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

(OP)
I have a contractor who is proposing to leave lumber forms for concrete pile caps in the ground.   Aside from this not being a great idea, is this actually legal?  

The NYC IBC Code is the code of jurisdiction.  
I was thinking of having him switch to galvanized corrugated steel which would not be a problem.

The reason for his doing this is that he will use a trench box instead of traditional shoring to construct the pile cap form, then move the trench box.  Leaving the forms in the ground will allow him to move the box around.

 

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

What is bearing on top of the pilecap - a concrete beam or a wood column/beam?

If it is concrete, I would have no problem, but, if wood, I would have some concern with rot of the forms and the rot  affecting the wood structure above if in contact with the forms.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

Good place for termites to get started in the building.

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

Yea, that too...  food, humidity, warmth, shelter...  all those good and fuzzy things.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

(OP)
On top of the pile cap, concrete grade beam, and concrete slab over that, no lumber in this building.

 

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

What type building is that?  It is rare for any building to not have any wood.  The termites especially like trim materials.

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

It is rare to allow timber forms to be left in the ground. Usually that would not be allowed somewhere in the specification, either the concrete section or the backfill section of the spec.

Anyway timber's expensive so better either to get it out or replace with another material. There are plastic alternatives to plywood, or maybe you could use polystyrene to create some space so the timber can be pulled out.

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

Is that why Termites are so trim Hokie?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

They may be trim over your way, but they are fat here.

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

So there Aussies use fat trim in Australia?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: LEAVING LUMBER FORMS IN THE GROUND

Sometimes.  But it is expensive these days.

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