Formwork
Find Your Perfect Formwork Solution
Discover our quality range of Formwork products, supplies & accessories. Request a call today and speak with our expert team. With over 100 years in timber and building products, we know what works on-site.
Big River Group manufactures and supplies a complete range of formwork products engineered for Australian construction. Our Formply range – manufactured at our Grafton NSW mill for over 40 years – is available in F17, F22, and F27 stress grades, all certified to AS 6669. The range extends to steel decking, formwork LVL, edgeboards, and accessories for every pour type from residential slabs to large-scale civil works.
All formwork products are stocked at our 20+ locations nationally with crane truck delivery direct to site.
Showing 16 products
ArmourDeck Steel Formwork
Permanent steel formwork for suspended concrete slabs
Multi-storey suspended slabs
ArmourForm F17 Formwork Plywood
Structural plywood for concrete formwork. F17 stress grade.
Residential and commercial concrete formwork
ArmourForm F22 Formwork Plywood
Structural plywood for concrete formwork. F22 stress grade.
Commercial and residential concrete formwork
ArmourForm F27 Formwork Plywood
Structural plywood for concrete formwork. F27 stress grade.
Commercial concrete formwork
Deckply F17
Designed for your Formply solutions Deckply is a high-quality plywood panel developed and engineered predominantly from...
Off-form concrete finishes
Deckply Range
Deckply is a high-quality plywood panel developed and engineered predominantly from graded eucalyptus veneers to the...
Concrete formwork
Form-On
Incredibly light & dimensionally stable with a high load capacity.
Concrete formwork
Formwork Accessories
Big River Group provides a full range of Formwork accessories, from nails and saw blades to shoring systems, braces...
Concrete formwork and accessories
Formwork LVL
Big River supplies the widest range of formwork timber and related LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) in concrete structural...
Concrete formwork and accessories
Infill Panels - InfillPlus®
Big River InfillPlus® is the trusted choice for engineers and builders looking for high-quality infill panels that meet...
Wall panel systems
PVC Wall System
Big River is the premier Australian distributor for PVC Wall Systems – an exciting new product for builders, architects...
Concrete formwork
How to Choose the Right Formwork
Choosing the Right Stress Grade
Formply stress grades indicate load-bearing capacity under AS 6669. F17 suits most residential and light commercial work – slabs, footings, and tilt-up panels. F22 offers a higher strength-to-weight ratio for system formwork and multi-storey pours where reuse cycles matter. ArmourForm F27 is total hardwood construction, engineered for heavy civil applications including table forms, jump forms, and mining infrastructure, with 50+ castings achievable under good site practice.
Formply vs Steel Decking
ArmourDeck steel decking is a permanent formwork system for suspended concrete slabs that requires no stripping, reducing labour and programme time. Steel decking also provides composite action with the concrete, increasing slab performance. Traditional formply is stripped and reused across multiple pours – ideal where flexibility and off-form finish quality are priorities. The choice depends on project type: formply for ground slabs and vertical elements, steel decking for suspended slabs in commercial and steel-frame construction.
Surface Finish Classes
AS 3610 defines off-form concrete finish classes from Class 1 (architectural) through Class 5 (concealed). Standard formply reliably achieves Class 2 finishes on the first pour when used with appropriate release agents. For premium exposed concrete, Big River’s Off-Form Premium formply is specifically designed for superior Class 2 results on commercial and residential projects.
LVL Bearers and Edgeboards
Formwork LVL provides consistent, straight bearers and joists for formwork frames – more dimensionally stable than sawn timber and available in longer lengths. RedEdge LVL is purpose-built for edgeboard applications in concrete pours, offering durability and clean edges across multiple reuse cycles.
Compliance and Certification
All Big River formply is EWPAA stamped, JAS-ANZ accredited, and certified to AS 6669. Our Grafton mill holds PEFC chain-of-custody certification (PEFC/21-31-174) for sustainably sourced timber. Your local Big River location team can advise on the right formwork specification for your project, including stress grade selection and AS 3610 finish class requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stress grade formply do I need for my project?
For most residential slabs, footings, and tilt-up panels, F17 formply provides sufficient load-bearing capacity under AS 6669. F22 is the preferred choice for commercial pours and system formwork where higher reuse counts and spanning capability are needed. F27 – manufactured from total hardwood – is specified for heavy civil engineering, table forms, jump forms, and mining applications where maximum strength and 50+ casting cycles are required.
How many times can formply be reused?
Reuse cycles depend on stress grade, site handling, and surface finish requirements. ArmourForm F27 can achieve 50+ castings with good site practice. F22 typically delivers 20–30 reuses, and F17 achieves 10–20 reuses. Proper use of release agents, careful stripping, edge sealing, and flat dry storage between pours all significantly extend panel life.
What Australian Standard applies to formwork plywood?
Formwork plywood in Australia is certified to AS 6669, which specifies requirements for manufacture, grading, and branding of plywood used in concrete formwork. This standard works alongside AS 3610, which defines off-form concrete surface finish classes. All Big River formply is manufactured to AS 6669 and independently certified under the EWPAA product certification scheme with JAS-ANZ accreditation.
What is the difference between formply and standard structural plywood?
Formply is structural plywood with a phenolic resin overlay (high-density film face) specifically engineered for concrete formwork. Standard structural plywood is certified to AS/NZS 2269 for general structural applications but lacks the film overlay needed for clean concrete release and surface finish. Formply carries separate certification under AS 6669 and uses A-Bond (phenolic) adhesive for full waterproof performance during repeated wet concrete exposure.
Does Big River manufacture formwork products in Australia?
Big River Group has manufactured formply at its Grafton, NSW mill for over 40 years. The ArmourForm range is available in F17, F22, and F27 stress grades, all produced from Australian hardwood and mixed species veneers. Big River also manufactures ArmourDeck steel decking and supplies a full range of formwork LVL, edgeboards, and accessories through 20+ locations nationally. All manufactured products carry PEFC chain-of-custody certification.
Related Product Categories
Structural Timber
Framing timber, LVL beams, and timber mouldings for residential, commercial, and industrial construction across Australia.
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