When stripping the formwork from a concrete wall, what is the generally accepted minimum strength of concrete required before removal of vertical forms that are not supporting any superimposed load?

Question: When stripping the formwork from a concrete wall, what is the generally accepted minimum strength of concrete required before removal of vertical forms that are not supporting any superimposed load?

Answer options: ✅ 1 MPa

• 5 MPa
• 10 MPa
• 17.5 MPa

Correct answer: 1 MPa

Explanation: For vertical formwork not supporting superimposed loads, the concrete generally only needs to be strong enough to resist damage during form removal and to hold its shape. This typically occurs at a very early strength, often as low as 1 MPa. Much higher strengths like 10 MPa or 17.5 MPa are needed for removing shoring from slabs or beams.