GERMANY-headquartered Peri has helped El Seif Engineering Contracting Company realise fast and safe working processes on the conference centre at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh through its formwork systems.

The construction of the conference centre on Parcel A01 at the development commenced in August 2011 and is expected to be completed by the middle of this year. This fast-track project comprises a car-park on four basement levels that will provide space for more than 1,500 cars over a total built-up area of 29,000 sq m.

“Some of the main objectives of the contractor were to create an extremely safe working environment, high-speed erection with minimum cycle timings as well as optimising the cost of material by using an economical system. All of the above objectives have been met by Peri with its systems,” says Daniel Keogh, senior construction manager.

For the large number of columns, the Lico column formwork was selected. Due to the easy handling and few components needed, a one-day cycle was achieved with 11 sets of shutter. The contractor was able to cast the core walls in a three-to-four-day cycle by using the Vario GT 24 wall formwork.

Casting the slab area ... Peri used Skydeck.

One major concern was the huge slab area, which needed to be cast in a very short time. Peri provided the lightweight slab formwork Skydeck with its dropheads, Multiprop MP 480 and MP 350. Some 24,400 sq m of easy-to-use decking system and 36,000 sq m of propping were utilised in the most efficient way, he comments.

Furthermore, SB-2 brace frames have been used for the single-sided retaining walls with heights up to 4.80 m. All in all, Peri is able to provide the perfect formwork solution for any fast-track project requirement, Keogh asserts.

“The project involves multiple work fronts that require multiple solutions. The Peri range of systems, especially for formwork, enabled the construction team to address each differing situation with a system to suit. Where individual work areas involved varying conditions, the flexibility of the Peri systems allowed for adaption of the system to overcome the conditions. Each Peri system offers its own efficiency, whether through plant, resources or rotation of material, which can be imparted into the programming of works,” says Keogh.