The development of new component parts and systems for use with RMD Kwikform’s soffit support system Airodek is set to further boost the growing popularity of the product.
To find out more about the latest soffit support product advances, Formula caught up with RMD Kwikform’s senior development engineer Steve Brown, who explained how two new solutions had been designed to benefit customers using Airodek in particular to pour slabs of up to 500mm in depth.
Steve: “With every successful product or system we design, we look to continually enhance its performance, whilst incorporating requests and feedback from our customers. Airodek is no different, as even with the simplest of soffit support projects, there can be a whole range of challenges that we can help the customer overcome.
In addition, with an ever-increasing eye on health and safety, particularly for staff working at height, any extra safety measures that can be built into a system are well received.
When we first launched Airodek in 2000 we offered a total of 6 standard panel sizes ranging from 900 x 300mm to 1800 x 900mm. It was soon clear from customer feedback that due to the increasing need to pour different shaped slabs with varying infills, we developed triangular panels. With the popularity and use of these triangular sections taking off in the last 2 to 3 years we have now developed 900mm & 1800mm long with Left & right hand versions of each.
One new system that we have developed is a new slab edge detail, which is used with the Airodek prop and crown system of soffit support. This incorporates the use of a 600mm cantilever past the edge of the slab, which is made possible by means of a new 1100mm spacing gate attached to the standard Airodek props.
This comes complete with a nylon tieback strapping system, that is tensioned using a simple ratchet mechanism bolted to the slab. The introduction of the tieback strapping stops the overturning moment of the complete cantilever system during erection. In layman’s terms, this means the system can be connected directly to the slab that the Airodek is being erected on of a multi-storey development, without having to be propped from the ground up.
Because the 600mm cantilever is strong enough to support the side form loads and the access loads, including our Ultraguard guardrail edge protection system, it allows for the safe movement of people walking along the edge of the panel. Thanks to some clever design we have been able to enhance the safety of this system still further by incorporating a fold down mechanism for the Ultraguard guardrail, enabling it to be moved into the horizontal, to allow the whole system to be moved to back onto the slab safely.
This process is completed through the props being linked together in small tables made up with the spacing gates which are moved on a small mobile trolley, allowing the end user to withdraw sections and move them to the next pour or dismantle accordingly. This increases the inbuilt safety of the system and reduces the need for excessive erection and dismantling time and techniques.
We have also incorporated a panel wind restraint in the form of a wedge clamp, which works with the main system and the remainder of the system through other schemes. This is a new addition in recognition of the increased use of Airodek in windy locations.
Another development is a drop beam bracket for use with any soffit support system, this allows drop beams to be made up from any of our proprietary beams, including Alsec, Alform and GTX. Essentially this system uses an adjustable beam side bracket with a single tie underneath to create a varying height and width of drop beams.
This replaces the need for drop beam formwork to be made of the traditional timber forms, saving considerable time, whilst making the whole process simpler and more environmentally friendly, as beams can be reused. It also reduces the risk of potential injury from the fabrication of assemblies on-site, as the drop beam can be built into the overall slab design at the start of the project.
In conclusion these new system developments will enhance both the safety and ease of use of our soffit support offering significantly benefiting our customers”.
