To appreciate CIRIA Report 108, one must compare it to other major standards:
CIRIA Report 108 provides engineers with a reliable, temperature- and rate-based method to calculate lateral concrete pressure on formwork, balancing safety with material efficiency. For any concrete pour requiring designed formwork, understanding this report is a fundamental skill.
Engineers still study CIRIA 108 because it clearly explains the physical phenomena governing concrete pressure. Modern software packages for formwork design utilize algorithms directly derived from the CIRIA 108 dataset. Best Practices for Site Engineers
CIRIA 108 assumes internal vibration is stopped 1.5m below the current concrete level. If you over-vibrate (running the head too deep), you liquify the stiffened concrete, resetting the pressure to hydrostatic at that depth. ciria report 108 concrete pressure on formwork
Over the years, engineers have applied CIRIA Report 108 to a wide range of conditions. The report explicitly addresses several modifiers:
Importantly, the report states that pressure never exceeds the (ρgh ≈ 24 × height in kN/m²), and it sets a minimum pressure for low rates or high temperatures.
You can use this as a LinkedIn article, a technical bulletin, or a forum post (e.g., for Engineers, Construction Managers, or Concrete Technologists). To appreciate CIRIA Report 108, one must compare
When a code offers a new method, engineers ask: "Is it accurate?" Subsequent academic research has consistently validated the R 108 method. A comparative study testing predicted pressures against experimental data found that CIRIA 108 predictions were generally accurate, though specific variations occurred depending on geometry.
CIRIA Report 108: Understanding Concrete Pressure on Formwork
) based on factors such as concrete weight density, rate of rise, and temperature, is recognized within BS 5975:2019. For detailed information and to acquire the report, visit CIRIA . Over the years, engineers have applied CIRIA Report
To explore how these calculation steps apply to your current project, please let me know: What is your expected and pour height ( ) ? Are you using any cement replacements like Fly Ash or GGBS ?
The standard simplified equation for the maximum concrete pressure is often expressed as: