Flying formwork tables
I always seem to happen along at just the right time to get to see and learn something interesting! This day was nice and calm enough to learn about Flying formwork tables (Flytable for short). A Flytable is a pre-assembled table used to form a concrete floor that can “fly” to the next level with the use of a crane. The desirable quality is that the table does not need to be disassembled on the lower level and reassembled on the next level thus saving time and labour.
I appreciate the communication and choreography that goes into moving a table from one to the next level. There was so much going on at once that I found it a little difficult to capture and translate into something coherent for people like me that are just learning about flytables.
To get a better view and story, I recommend clicking on the first photo to enlarge it and then click through to see entire photos and read additional comments on some of the photos.
-
- 2. Tom adjusts the chain lengths with the winch while Shawn goes out to attach the first chains to the pick points. Salvador and Richardo watch other goings on at the construction site that day.
-
- 3. Shawn on the flytable attaching the second chain to a front pick point.
-
- 4. Shawn communicating with Barry in the Crane. Salvador and Tom in the back ground at the ready.
-
- 5. Abbey watching, waiting, ready on the second level.
-
- 6. George also watching, waiting, ready on the second level.
-
- 7. Shawn attaching the first set of chains to the pick points on the front of the Flytable. Tom watching where everything is to maintain a safe work site! (Tom is all about safety!! 🙂 Salvador watches at the ready.
-
- 8. Barry watches with his eagle eyes from the crane as the flytable makes its way out from the middle level.
-
- 9. Tom with the remote control cable. Shawn has the shoe that will be locked onto the “chummy” on the flytable.
-
- 10. I think Shawn was speaking to Barry in the crane via radio.
-
- 11. The top level team with Richardo, Salvador and Tom. Shawn is shimmying between the flytable and concrete slab to connect the shoe to the chummy.
-
- 12. Rob teasing Landon (while he was directing traffic). George amused.
-
- 13. Shawn, Salvador and Tom placing the Roller Lock (was also called a “shoe”) over the concrete slab to prevent any damage while the flytable is being slid out of the lower level.
-
- 14. All three teams in place. Top (Shawn, Tom, Salvador and Richardo), Middle (George, Abbey, Rob and Tim?), Ground (Irish, Connor .. and Landon directing traffic).
-
- 15. Shawn, Tom and Salvador affix the roller lock to the edge of the concrete to protect it from the chain when the Flytable is carefully extracted from between the two levels. Abbey and George have their assigned ropes attached to the table and to their perspective guides (Irish and Connor) on the ground. Landon watches fascinated from outside the fence, ready to stop traffic momentarily when the flytable is extracted and moving from between levels to the top.
-
- 16. Third chain is being connected. Top (Shawn, Tom, Salvador and Richardo), Middle (George, Abbey, Rob and Tim?), Ground (Connor).
-
- 17. Flytable is nearly out. Traffic is paused. Folks on the ground watching to ensure safety.
-
- 18. Yay the table is free from the one level and “flying” up to the top level! 🙂
-
- 19. Connor, Irish with the guide ropes to make sure the extraction goes smoothly. Landon directing traffic. George with a rope guide in the middle. Tom and Shawn watching to make sure everything is going according to plan.
-
- 20. The table is flying above the top level to its new home.
-
- 21. The flying formwork table is clear of all obstructions and on its way to its destination on the next level.
-
- 22. Tom and Richardo land and secure the Flytable on the next level.
-
- 23. Tom landing the flytable on the opposite side.
-
- 24. Shawn posing for me and asking questions! 🙂
-
- 25. Barry taking a break for a moment while he can.
Special thank you to Tom P and George from Elite Formwork who answered my many questions about this process! 🙂
You can see more construction photos by clicking on the construction tag and in my Flickr construction set.
