Dokadek 30 Panel floor formwork sets a new benchmark in formwork performance at Newcastle’s Spire Apartments.

This exciting development in Newcastle’s Marketown precinct offers unique apartment living, uninterrupted panoramas of Newcastle, the harbour, coastline, beaches and hinterland from the apartments and the building’s stunning 4,000 m2 ‘sky garden’. Designed with an emphasis on space and luxury, Spire Apartments offer sophisticated inner city living, with generous one, two or three bedroom apartment designs. The project’s formwork contractor, and FIA member, Oakdale Group Pty Ltd selected the newly developed Dokadek 30 Panel floor formwork system for this remarkable residential project. Doka Australia provided a total of 2,000 m2 of Dokadek 30 Floor Panels for the Spire Apartments project.

Highlighting the benefits of ‘mock-up’ demonstrations

Developed with a focus on speed, safety and versatility, the Dokadek 30 system sets a new benchmark in panel formwork systems. Dokadek 30 is the result of over five years research and development work – including numerous field trials – and the Spire Apartments development is benefitting from all advantages this system has to offer. A critical element in the successful delivery of any project is for all stakeholders to have a clear and full understanding of the construction methodologies, products and processes being used. In particular, the formworker and the structural engineers must have a comprehensive understanding of the functionality and design goals of all components of the structure and all the equipment being utilized.

Innovative design – up to the challenge with Dokadek 30

The Challenge

Building with irregular column and balcony locations and a fold in the slab.

The Solution

The flexible and safe Dokadek 30 Panel floor formwork combined with clever infill solutions where the Dokaflex system and Doka beams could easily be incorporated during construction. For many, the best way to understand a new product is to see it in action. And with that in mind, the Doka team organised a large scale mock-up demonstration of the Dokadek 30 Panel floor formwork system for the Oakdale Group team. The demonstration provided an ideal opportunity to highlight the unique features and benefits of the Dokadek 30 Panel system, and played a critical role in securing the business. “Importantly, the successful ‘mock up’ demonstration also allowed us to develop a solution to meet Oakdale’s specific needs, which in turn, led us to supplying them with a Dokadek 30 floor formwork”, explained Jonathan Derbyshire, Doka Senior Sales Representative.

Innovative design – up to the challenge

The project presented a number of challenges in the design stage, thanks to some irregular column and balcony locations and a fold in the slab.

Importantly, Doka was able to overcome these challenges by using the flexible infill system with the Dokadek 30 Panel floor formwork system. For infill areas, the system is fully compatible in terms of engineering and safety standards with all other Doka formwork products. There is also a range of infill panels and beams to suit the most common situations. Using Dokadek infill beams and Dokadek suspension clamp H20 for infill areas around columns and between panels, the Dokadek 30 system integrates seamlessly into the Dokaflex slab formwork system. For typical infill areas around a single column, the use of the Dokadek H20 suspension clamp means there is no need for any extra props to be used.

And Dokadek infill beams can simply be inserted and the plywood laid on top, so infills between panels can be formed without the need for any extra beams or props. “The Dokadek 30 Panel System becomes a very flexible solution through the use of some clever infill solutions,” added Doka Project Engineer Stephen Lake.

The Oakdale Group team was also pleased with the safety features of the panel system. Dokadek 30’s unique design means that it is erected from below; it cannot be put together from the top down. This not only means that the formwork crew can see that they’re putting it together correctly; it also eliminates the risks associated with crews standing on an unstable surface or working from above.

Meeting customers’ needs

Dokadek 30’s large hinge design allows it to be easily connected to the previous panel. Once connected, it is simply propped into position without requiring any work from above the base level. Importantly, once the panels have been propped into position, they lock in so they can’t be accidentally knocked out or ‘blown’ out of position by updrafts. For added safety Dokadek 30 is also fully compatible with the Doka integrated handrail system. Together with the savings offered in terms of erection and dismantling speed, Dokadek 30 is also extremely quick and easy to move around a jobsite – factors which can result in significant improvements in productivity and a reduction in total construction cost. In fact, the Doka Australia teams that have been working with the Dokadek 30 system have increased productivity to 10 m2 per person per hour, even on the first slab. 

The Professional

“It is a great system, it is easy to put up and the speed of the system really helps us to get on the deck quicker. This is particularly true for infill areas, where we could easily incorporate the Dokaflex system and Doka beams. In fact, in my opinion, Doka has the best prop on the market. It’s quick and easy to use; with the numbered holes and quick-turn threads, which work well even when loaded.”

Esa Laukka, Oakdale’s Contract Manager