Steel Formwork System for Underground Parking Ramp Wall Construction

Project Background

An underground parking project in Southeast Asia required reinforced concrete ramp walls, retaining walls, pit walls, and service-room walls within a humid construction environment. The structure included repeated wall sections with changing heights, junctions, openings, and connection details, so the formwork had to support accurate alignment while allowing practical reuse across different work areas. The construction team also needed a system that could be moved through restricted access routes without relying on large lifting equipment for every installation cycle.

Challenges

The underground site had limited working space, uneven access around the excavation, and a high level of humidity that increased the need for careful storage and handling of construction equipment. Ramp walls had to follow sloped transitions, while retaining and pit walls required stable support during concrete placement and controlled adjustment around embedded items. Repeated wall sections created an opportunity to improve cycle efficiency, but only if the panels could be repositioned without excessive dismantling or complicated changes between pours.

Solution and Product Config

The project used a reusable steel formwork system arranged with modular panels, adjustable connections, steel walers, tie rods, wing nuts, and supporting accessories. Standard panels were used for repeated straight wall sections, while smaller connecting panels and adjustable pieces helped manage corners, wall ends, service openings, and changes in wall geometry. Steel walers distributed pressure across the panel assembly, and tie rod assemblies maintained the designed wall thickness during concrete placement. Before each pour, the site team checked panel alignment, joint tightness, working platforms, and access around the ramp transition to create a consistent installation sequence.

For retaining and pit walls, the panels were assembled close to the working area and moved into position in manageable sections. At ramp walls, the crew combined standard panels with tailored connection arrangements so the formwork could follow the changing line of the structure without rebuilding the complete setup. Release agent was applied evenly before installation, and panel joints were checked to reduce grout leakage. After stripping, the steel panels were cleaned, inspected, and prepared for the next cycle, which helped maintain an organized workflow in the confined underground environment.

Outcome

The steel formwork system gave the underground parking project a repeatable method for forming ramp walls, retaining walls, pit walls, and service-room walls. The crew was able to reuse the main panel assemblies across multiple sections while making local adjustments at corners, openings, and sloped transitions. This reduced unnecessary panel fabrication and helped the site maintain a more consistent sequence between reinforcement inspection, formwork installation, concrete placement, and stripping.

After demoulding, the concrete wall surfaces showed a relatively consistent finish where the panels had been properly aligned and the joints had been prepared before pouring. The site team also found that the modular arrangement made it easier to identify damaged or contaminated components before the next cycle. For humid underground construction, the ability to clean, inspect, and reuse the steel panels supported better site organization and reduced disruption caused by changing formwork arrangements.

For similar underground parking, basement, retaining wall, ramp wall, and concrete service-room projects, contact us for a steel formwork system configuration and quotation based on your drawings, wall dimensions, construction sequence, and site conditions.