Key Criteria Affecting the Selection of Formwork Materials in Sarawak

Abstract

Choosing the proper formwork had become challenging, especially in the immediate aftermath of the Covid 19 pandemic. Various formwork materials, including wood, plastic, aluminium, steel, magnesium, and fabric, are available today. The purpose of each formwork is the same, but various properties are displayed. Formwork made of steel and timber is frequently used in Malaysia. Several factors, including resource availability, transportation, time constraints, and labour costs, influenced the contractors' preference for formwork materials. Therefore, this research aimed to determine whether contractors' preferred formwork was appropriate before and after the pandemic. Consequently, essential factors, including cost and preferences, were discussed when choosing formwork materials. Only steel and timber formwork were studied for this particular paper. The G7 contractors involved in various project types were interviewed as part of the qualitative methodology used in this study, which also included document analysis based on previous project reports. The cost was the determining factor before the pandemic, and resource availability held the top spot during the recovery stage, according to the first finding. The importance of transport remained at level 5 throughout both eras. In addition, the second finding revealed that all costs, including labour, transportation, and material, had increased for both timber and steel formwork, primarily as a result.