What is a High-rise Building Formwork System?
A high-rise building formwork system is a temporary structural framework used to shape and support fresh concrete until it reaches sufficient strength.
A complete formwork solution typically consists of:
Modern construction projects increasingly rely on engineered formwork systems such as:
- Steel Formwork
- Aluminium Formwork
- System Formwork
- Polymer Formwork
Compared with conventional timber formwork, these systems deliver greater standardisation, improved construction accuracy and significantly higher on-site productivity.
Comparing Common Formwork Systems Used in Taiwan
Selecting the most appropriate formwork system depends on project requirements, construction methodology and long-term cost efficiency. Below is a comparison of the systems most commonly used across Taiwan's construction industry.
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Traditional Timber Formwork
Timber formwork remains a practical solution for smaller or irregular projects where flexibility is more important than productivity.
Key Advantages
- Lower initial investment
- Highly adaptable for bespoke construction
- Easy to modify on site
Considerations
- Labour-intensive installation
- Less consistent concrete quality
- Higher material waste
- Longer construction programmes
- Limited reuse
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Aluminium Formwork
Aluminium formwork is widely adopted for residential developments with repetitive floor layouts.
Typical Applications
- Residential towers
- Buildings with highly repetitive standard floors
Key Advantages
- High reuse potential
- Faster construction cycles
- High dimensional accuracy
- Consistent concrete finishes
Considerations
- Higher upfront investment
- Requires comprehensive planning before construction
- Suitable only for standard floors
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System Formwork
Polymer system formwork offers exceptional flexibility for projects with varying structural layouts while reducing dependence on cranes and specialist formwork carpenters.
Example: Polymer system formwork (DUO System Formwork)
Typical Applications
- Residential and commercial buildings (For both standard and special floors)
- Basement structures
- Industrial facilities
- MRT and railway projects
- Civil engineering works
- Retaining walls
Key Advantages
- Lightweight components that can be handled manually
- Significantly reduces crane lifting operations
- Fast and simple assembly requiring minimal training
- Highly adaptable to different project layouts
- Improved site safety
- Reduce construction time
- Reduced crane dependency
Considerations
- Higher upfront investment
- More suitable for projects with plain structures
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Climbing Formwork Systems
Climbing formwork is specifically designed for vertical concrete structures and is essential for many high-rise and infrastructure projects.
Example: Climbing Formwork, Automatic Climbing Systems, Rail-guided Climbing Systems
Typical Applications
- High-rise buildings
- Bridge construction
- LNG terminals
Key Advantages
- Significantly reduces crane lifting operations
- Improved site safety
- Reduce construction time
- Minimises working-at-height risks
- Enables continuous vertical construction with predictable cycle times
How to Choose the Right Formwork System for Your Project
Selecting the right formwork system is one of the most important decisions in any construction project. The optimal solution depends on the type of construction, building height, project environment, floor repetition, project schedule, labour availability and concrete finish requirements.
By evaluating these factors early in the planning stage, contractors can improve construction productivity, reduce project risks and maximise long-term cost efficiency.
Consider the Building Height
As buildings become taller, construction methods become increasingly complex. Formwork systems must not only support higher structural loads but also enable safe and efficient vertical construction.
For medium to high-rise developments, contractors typically consider:
- Climbing Formwork
- Automatic Climbing Systems (ACS)
- Rail-guided Climbing Systems (RCS)
- Aluminium Formwork Systems
- Polymer System Formwork
Climbing formwork systems are particularly effective for vertical concrete structures, allowing work to progress safely and efficiently as the building rises.
For projects with irregular floor layouts or multiple structural transitions, polymer system formwork provides greater flexibility while maintaining productivity throughout the construction process.
Evaluate Floor Repetition
Buildings with a large number of identical standard floors often benefit from highly repetitive construction methods.
Aluminium Formwork is ideal when:
- Standard floor layouts remain consistent
- High reuse rates can be achieved
- Large production volumes justify the initial investment
- Fast construction cycles are a priority
The high repetition of standard floors allows contractors to reduce the average formwork cost per floor over the life of the project.
However, aluminium formwork is generally less suitable for:
- Basement levels
- Transfer floors
- Podium structures
- Buildings with frequently changing layouts
Projects with multiple non-standard floor plans may benefit from a more adaptable modular system, like DUO System Formwork.
Consider Programme Constraints and Labour Availability
Taiwan's construction industry continues to experience labour shortages, making construction productivity more important than ever.
Where project schedules are tight, system formwork can significantly improve site efficiency by:
- Shortening cycle times
- Simplifying assembly and dismantling
- Reducing dependence on highly skilled formwork carpenters
- Improving concrete pouring efficiency
- Reducing crane utilisation through lightweight components
Polymer formwork systems such as PERI DUO are designed for manual handling, enabling smaller site teams to complete installation efficiently while maintaining consistent quality.
For contractors facing increasing labour costs, adopting a modular formwork system can help maintain project schedules without compromising safety or construction quality.
Consider the Required Concrete Finish Quality
The required concrete finish should be considered during the formwork selection process.
Projects requiring fair-faced concrete demand high-precision formwork systems capable of delivering consistent surface quality with minimal remedial work.
Key requirements include:
- High dimensional accuracy
- High-quality panel formlining
- Precise panel alignment
- Tight joint control to minimise grout leakage
- Consistent concrete pressure management
Selecting an engineered formwork system helps achieve superior architectural concrete finishes while reducing repair work and improving overall project quality.
Formwork Safety Considerations for Construction Projects
Safe formwork operation is fundamental to successful concrete construction. Contractors are often expected to implement robust planning, engineering verification and site safety procedures before and during concrete pouring.
Critical safety considerations include:
- Formwork and shoring stability
- Fall protection for work at height
- Concrete load management during pouring
- Safe lifting and crane operations
- Controlled assembling and dismantling procedures
- Regular inspection of temporary works
A properly engineered formwork solution not only protects workers but also reduces construction delays and costly rework.
When planning formwork operations in Taiwan, contractors should also refer to applicable local regulations and engineering standards, e.g.:
- Taiwan Occupational Safety and Health Act
- Standards for Occupational Safety and Health Facilities in Construction
- Public Construction Commission Technical Specifications
Combining engineered formwork systems with detailed planning and professional technical support helps ensure safer and more predictable project delivery.
How PERI Formwork Systems Improve Construction Efficiency
Modern construction demands more than durable formwork—it requires integrated engineering solutions that improve productivity, reduce project risks and support efficient project management.
PERI's modular formwork systems, combined with our bespoke engineering services, help contractors optimise every stage of the construction process.
Project teams can benefit from:
- Reduced construction errors through engineered planning
- Higher formwork utilisation and faster turnaround
- Shorter cycle times
- Lower labour requirements
- Improved site safety and workflow management
- More efficient logistics and material handling
Beyond supplying formwork equipment, PERI provides comprehensive engineering support throughout the project lifecycle.
Our services include:
- Bespoke engineering design
- BIM planning
- On-site technical support
- Project planning and logistics optimisation
This integrated approach enables contractors to improve productivity while maintaining high standards of quality, safety and cost control across projects of every scale.
See how PERI DUO System Formwork helped a contractor improve construction efficiency, simplify on-site operations and reduce labour requirements.
FAQ Section
Frequently Asked Questions About High-rise Building Formwork
Q1: Which formwork system is best suited for high-rise buildings?
For high-rise buildings, aluminum formwork, system formwork, or climbing formwork are generally recommended to improve construction efficiency and site safety.
Q2: What is the difference between timber formwork, aluminium formwork, and polymer system formwork?
Timber formwork is more flexible but requires more labour; aluminum formwork has a higher reuse rate and faster construction speed, but limited flexibility; polymer system formwork has a high turnover rate, is lightweight, and can be flexibly adopted to various projects. Polymer system formwork like DUO System Formwork can reduce time and has a simple operation workflow, with significant advantages in construction safety, on-site handling efficiency, and manpower management.
Q3: How can formwork systems reduce construction costs?
System formwork can reduce labour requirements, shorten construction time, and increase formwork turnover rate, thereby reducing total construction costs. Polymer formwork can also lower waste disposal costs by reducing construction waste significantly.
Q4: What is climbing formwork?
Climbing formwork is an engineered formwork system designed for the construction of vertical concrete structures such as exterior walls and façades.
As each floor is completed, the formwork is moved upwards to the next construction level. Depending on the project, climbing formwork may be crane-lifted or use automatic hydraulic climbing technology.
This method improves construction safety, reduces crane dependency and enables faster construction of high-rise buildings.
Q5: Which offers better cost efficiency: PERI DUO or aluminium formwork?
The answer depends on the project's structural layout and construction methodology.
For projects with a large number of identical standard floors, aluminium formwork can provide excellent cost efficiency through high reuse rates.
However, for many modern developments, PERI DUO System Formwork delivers a lower overall construction cost, particularly where projects experience:
- Rising labour costs
- Limited crane availability
- Tight construction programmes
- Higher site safety requirements
- Irregular floor layouts or mixed-use structures
Compared with aluminium formwork systems, DUO can help reduce:
- Manual handling costs
- Equipment maintenance
- Crane lifting operations
- Site logistics
- Formwork management costs
Because total project cost extends beyond material prices alone, many contractors achieve a stronger return on investment (ROI) through reduced labour, improved productivity and greater operational flexibility.
Looking for a High-rise Building Formwork Solution?
Whether you're planning a residential tower, commercial development or major infrastructure project, PERI Taiwan provides engineered formwork solutions tailored to your construction requirements.
Speak with us today to discover how the right formwork solution can improve productivity, safety and project performance.
Want to know how PERI can support your project?
We will tailor the most optimal solution to meet your specific requirements.
We will tailor the most optimal solution to meet your specific requirements.