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Chapters 1, 2, and 5 have beeen excerpted
for use with the ACI CEU program. ACI 347.2R-05

Guide for Shoring/Reshoring of Concrete

Multistory Buildings
Reported by ACI Committee 347

Pericles C. Stivaros* Kevin L. Wheeler

Chair Secretary

Rodney D. Adams Jeffrey C. Erson David W. Johnston Richard C. Moore

Kenneth L. Berndt N. John Gardner Roger S. Johnston William R. Phillips
Randolph H. Bordner William A. Giorgi Dov Kiminetzky Douglas J. Schoonover
Ramon J. Cook Samuel A. Greenberg Harry B. Lancelot W. Thomas Scott
James N. Cornell, II R. Kirk Gregory H. S. Lew Aviad Shapira
Jack L. David G. P. Horst Donald M. Marks Rolf A. Spahr
William A. Dortch, Jr. Mary K. Hurd Robert G. McCracken

*Principal author.

This guide presents information and design criteria for shoring/reshoring Chapter 3—Construction loads on formwork, p. 3
operations during the construction of reinforced and post-tensioned multi- 3.1—Construction loads
story buildings. It provides methods for developing safe construction 3.2—Load combinations
schedules and provides design examples. It is written for the use of form-
work engineer/contractors and engineer/architects.
3.3—Typical phases of construction
3.4—Construction load distribution
Keywords: construction loads; falsework; form removal, formwork; post- 3.5—Application of the simplified method
tensioning; reshoring; shoring. 3.6—Factors affecting the construction load distribution
3.7—Post-tensioning load redistribution
CONTENTS
Chapter 1—Introduction, p. 2 Chapter 4—Strength adequacy of concrete slabs
and formwork, p. 8
Chapter 2—Shoring/reshoring construction needs, 4.1—Early-age concrete material strength development
p. 2 4.2—Construction load factors
2.1—Definitions 4.3—Early-age capacity of concrete slabs
2.2—Advantages of reshoring 4.4—Serviceability requirements
2.3—Types of forming systems 4.5—Formwork adequacy

Chapter 5—Construction examples, p. 10

5.1—Two-way slab construction
ACI Committee Reports, Guides, Manuals, and Commentaries
5.2—Post-tensioned construction example
are intended for guidance in planning, designing, executing,
and inspecting construction. This document is intended for the Chapter 6—References, p. 17
use of individuals who are competent to evaluate the 6.1—Referenced standards and reports
significance and limitations of its content and recommendations
and who will accept responsibility for the application of the 6.2—Cited references
material it contains. The American Concrete Institute disclaims
any and all responsibility for the stated principles. The Institute
shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising therefrom.
Reference to this document shall not be made in contract ACI 347.2R-05 became effective July 29, 2005.
documents. If items found in this document are desired by the Copyright © 2005, American Concrete Institute.
Architect/Engineer to be a part of the contract documents, they All rights reserved including rights of reproduction and use in any form or by any
means, including the making of copies by any photo process, or by electronic or
shall be restated in mandatory language for incorporation by mechanical device, printed, written, or oral, or recording for sound or visual reproduction
the Architect/Engineer. or for use in any knowledge or retrieval system or device, unless permission in writing
is obtained from the copyright proprietors.

1
2 SHORING/RESHORING OF CONCRETE MULTISTORY BUILDINGS (ACI 347.2R-05)

CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION The above referenced documents provide basic guidelines

In multistory cast-in-place concrete building construction, for general formwork operations. At the present time,
freshly cast floors are placed on formwork that is tempo- however, there are no codes or standards that provide
rarily supported by a system of shores and reshores until the detailed design and construction requirements specifically
concrete has the ability to be self-supporting. Construction for shoring/reshoring operations for multistory reinforced
loads, imposed by the shoring system on the slabs below, and post-tensioned concrete construction. Investigation for
may be significantly larger than the design loads of those usable procedures to establish safe and cost-effective
floors. Furthermore, the concrete of slabs below may not shoring/reshoring operations has been ongoing for several
have attained sufficient strength before the construction loads decades. The effort has focused on two major areas: deter-
are applied. As a result, it is critical to determine the early-age mining the distribution of loads carried by the concrete struc-
load strength of the floor slabs, including punching shear ture during construction, and estimating the strength of the
strength, to avoid the possibility of partial or total failure of the concrete members to resist the construction loads.
structural system due to construction overload. To reduce and This report outlines the importance of proper formwork
distribute the large construction load on the floor immediately design for multistory structures and provides basic require-
below, to several lower floors, it is important to add reshores on ments for safe construction. ACI SP-4, Formwork for
lower levels. Therefore, an engineering analysis that considers Concrete, serves as an expanded commentary to ACI 347,
both the construction load distribution and the early-age load-
“Guide to Formwork for Concrete,” and provides detailed
carrying capacity of the concrete slabs should be performed
information relative to formwork practices, including a
before shoring/reshoring operations begin.
discussion of and procedures for shoring/reshoring analysis.
Formwork failures and failures caused by improper ACI 318, “Building Code Requirements for Structural
reshoring or premature removal of supports and inadequate
Concrete,” requires contractors to furnish the building offi-
lateral bracing, have periodically occurred throughout the
cial, upon request, with the structural calculations and
history of concrete construction. Premature removal of
concrete strength data used in planning and implementing
shores and reshores can contribute to construction failures or
shoring/reshoring operations. Such data and information
defects such as permanent excessive deflections (sagging) or
should be furnished to the engineer/architect who should
cracking in the completed structure. Also, if over-loaded
evaluate the effects of construction loads to immediate and
prematurely, time-dependent deflections under load (creep)
long-term deflections. This code requirement obliges
will be larger, and sagging is more likely to be both noticeable
contractors and formwork designers to acquire an under-
and objectionable.
standing of the construction loads and the structural behavior
Decisions regarding the removal of forms and relocation
of the buildings during construction. This understanding
of the shores are too often made without the benefit of a
enables them to develop a rational shoring/reshoring system
proper analysis of the structural effects, or in many cases,
design that is as economical as possible without compro-
without any analysis at all. Still, there is no commonly
mising safety, quality, and serviceability.
accepted method considered as the proper analysis in the
construction industry. The objective of this document is to present practical
To ensure satisfactory performance and structural safety guidelines for the design of shoring/reshoring operations.
during construction, a thorough understanding of construction This document provides formwork design tools to evaluate
loads applied to the slabs at early ages is necessary. Equally the safety of construction schedules for multistory reinforced
important is knowledge of the behavior and the strength of concrete and post-tensioned concrete structures.
early-age concrete members that support their own weight
and construction loads. CHAPTER 2—SHORING/RESHORING
The formwork engineer/contractor is usually guided in form- CONSTRUCTION NEEDS
work operations by the following codes, standards, or guides: 2.1—Definitions
• ACI 347, “Guide to Formwork for Concrete” The following terms will be used in this guide. All these
terms may also be found in ACI 347.
• ACI 318, “Building Code Requirements for Structural
Concrete” backshores—shores placed snugly under a concrete slab
• ACI 301, “Specifications for Structural Concrete” or structural member after the original formwork and shores
• ANSI A10.9, “American National Standard for Con- have been removed from a small area at a time, without
struction and Demolition Operations—Concrete and allowing the slab or member to deflect; thus, the slab or other
Masonry Work—Safety Requirements” member does not yet support its own weight or existing
• OSHA 29 CFR, “Construction Safety and Health Regu- construction loads from above.
lations for Construction” centering—specialized temporary support used in the
• SEI/ASCE 37, “Design Loads on Structures During construction of arches, shells, and space structures where the
Construction” entire temporary support is lowered (struck or decentered) as
Other documents that can provide formwork design a unit to avoid introduction of injurious stresses in any part
requirements or guidelines include state and local building of the structure.
codes, and guidelines prepared by contractors, formwork engineer/architect—the engineer, architect, engineering
manufacturers, and certain construction agencies. firm, architectural firm, or other agency issuing project plans
American Concrete Institute Copyrighted Material—www.concrete.org
 SHORING/RESHORING OF CONCRETE MULTISTORY BUILDINGS (ACI 347.2R-05) 3

and specifications for the permanent structure, administering Systems vary from traditional wood post-and-beam formwork/
the work under contract documents. shoring to modern prefabricated systems involving
formwork—total system of support for freshly placed sophisticated engineering, materials, and equipment.
concrete, including the mold or sheathing that contacts the There are several prefabricated forming/shoring systems that
concrete as well as all supporting members, hardware, and are used to support concrete slabs during construction,
necessary bracing. including shoring-based systems, flying truss systems, column-
formwork engineer/contractor—engineer of the formwork mounted systems, and tunnel-forming systems. The following
system, contractor, or competent person in-charge of designated description of these systems is adapted from Jensen (1986).
aspects of formwork design and formwork operations. Shoring-based systems—Deck (slab) forms are supported
preshores—added shores placed snugly under selected on shores placed on the slab below. The shores may be single
panels of a deck forming system before any primary (orig- posts of wood, or metal, or assembled from frames. Job-built
inal) shores are removed. Preshores and the panels they deck forms usually consist of wood or aluminum stringers
support remain in place until the remainder of the complete and joists (runners) with the deck surface made of plywood,
bay has been stripped and backshored, a small area at a time. supported on single-post or frame-type shoring. These forms
reshores—shores placed snugly under a stripped concrete are sometimes made up in larger panels tied or ganged
slab or other structural member after the original forms and together as tables with attached frame-type shoring for
shores have been removed from a large area, requiring the movement by crane. Deck forms may also be assembled on
new slab or structural member to deflect and support its own the job from proprietary panels framed in wood, steel, or
weight and existing construction loads applied before the aluminum, sometimes with their own proprietary shoring
installation of the reshores. If prefabricated drop-head shores systems. Some of these systems allow removal of the slab
for slab formwork systems are used, the shores can become forms while the shores remain in place until sufficient
the reshores if a large area of shoring is unloaded, permitting concrete strength is developed to allow the shore removal
the structural members to deflect and support their own and reshoring process.
weight. If they are not, then they become backshores.
Flying truss systems—Flying truss systems are made up of
shores—vertical or inclined support members designed to
steel or aluminum trusses, topped with aluminum or wood
carry the weight of the formwork, concrete, and construction
joists and decked with plywood. Adjustable legs or shores
loads above.
support the truss on a previously cast slab. The truss-
mounted forms are moved as a unit by crane from one
2.2—Advantages of reshoring casting position to the next.
In multistory cast-in-place construction, rapid reuse of
form material and shores is desired to allow other trades to Column-mounted systems—Column-mounted systems are
follow concreting operations as closely as possible. The long-span form panels supported by brackets or jacks
shores that support the newly placed concrete transmit that anchored to concrete columns and shear walls. The deck
weight to the floor slab below, which can exceed that floor panel is generally moved by crane. Similar systems available
slab’s design load capacity. For this reason, shoring or for bearing wall buildings support slab forms on brackets
reshoring is provided over a number of floors to distribute anchored to the walls. These systems make it possible to
the construction load to several floor levels below. eliminate most vertical shoring and reshoring.
Stripping formwork is usually more economical if all the Tunnel-forming systems—Tunnel-forming systems are
form material is removed at the same time before placing factory-made, inverted, U-shaped steel form systems that
reshores. In this case, the structure system is required to permit casting both slab and supporting walls at the same
support its own weight, thus reducing the load in the time. When the concrete has gained sufficient strength, the
reshores. A combination of shores and reshores usually tunnels are collapsed or telescoped and moved to the next
requires fewer levels of interconnected slabs, thus freeing pour. For longer slab spans, the tunnel form may be made in
more areas for other trades. two inverted L-shapes (termed half-tunnels).
Backshoring and preshoring are other methods of supporting
new construction that are less widely used and involve leaving CHAPTER 3—CONSTRUCTION LOADS
the original shores in place or replacing them individually so as ON FORMWORK
not to allow the slab to deflect and carry its own weight. These 3.1—Construction loads
methods require careful supervision by the formwork engineer/ Construction loads are those loads imposed on a partially
contractor and review by the engineer/architect to ensure completed or temporary structure during the construction
excessive slab and shore loads do not develop. process. Construction loads on formwork include vertical
dead and live loads of both the formwork and the structure,
2.3—Types of forming systems horizontal loads due to wind, vertical and lateral impact of
An important consideration in multistory cast-in-place the equipment, and vertical and horizontal forces induced by
concrete building construction is the type of forming system inclined support members of the formwork. The formwork
to be used. The selection of the forming system for system is required to support all construction loads that may
constructing a cast-in-place concrete structure is a critical be applied until these loads can be carried by the concrete
decision that affects both the construction schedule and cost. structure itself.
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10 SHORING/RESHORING OF CONCRETE MULTISTORY BUILDINGS (ACI 347.2R-05)

cially when the shores-reshores are not aligned from one 435R provides extensive details on deflection calculations
level to another, or at the bottom level of reshores. Though and control.
in most cases the shore/reshore axial strength governs over
the punching shear strength of the slab, punching shear 4.5—Formwork adequacy
forces imparted by shores/reshores can be critical in cases of Forms, shores, and reshores comprising the formwork
very thin slabs. In such cases, an analysis should be made to system should be adequate to carry the applied construction
ensure that maximum punching shear force is within code loads. The construction loads are determined by the construc-
limits. Also, a beam shear may control in a one-way slab tion load analysis discussed earlier. The shoring system load
when shore loads are placed near a concrete beam. capacity can be checked following either LRFD or allowable
stress design methods. ACI SP-4 presents a detailed procedure
4.4—Serviceability requirements for formwork design including lateral bracing.
The construction loads that are imposed upon the Inspection is recommended and is required in some jurisdic-
supporting slabs at early ages are comparable in magnitude tions before concrete placement, and shoring/reshoring
with the design loads. Excessive construction loads at an early drawings should be available at the site at all time. No worker
age can cause higher creep deflection and cause the concrete should be directly under the forms during concrete placement,
to crack more extensively than anticipated. These factors, in unless required to adjust the shores/reshores and forms.
combination with normal shrinkage and many other factors,
can adversely affect the long-term serviceability of the CHAPTER 5—CONSTRUCTION EXAMPLES
concrete structures. As mentioned earlier, excessive construc- 5.1—Two-way slab construction
The following construction example assumes various
tion loads are usually the result of an inadequate number of
scenarios with respect to the construction rate, the concrete
shored/reshored levels, early stripping, or both.
strength development, the slab design loads, and the shoring
The early-age concrete slab non-recoverable deflections
system.
and cracking are primarily due to the initial low concrete
5.1.1 Construction example data—A multistory cast-in-
strength. Early loading of concrete members having a low
place reinforced concrete building is to be constructed
modulus of elasticity and stiffness will cause larger non-
utilizing a system of shores and reshores. The building is
recoverable long-term deflections, compared to concrete
designed based on ACI 318. A typical floor plan and eleva-
members loaded after attaining the specified 28-day strength
tion are shown in Fig. 5.1.
and stiffness (Sbarounis 1984; Fu and Gardner 1986;
a. Member sizes
Asamoah and Gardner 1997). Low modulus of elasticity of
• Slab thickness: 9.0 in. (229 mm).
concrete produces relatively large immediate non-recoverable
• Interior column size: 20 in. (508 mm) square.
deflections. Low modulus of rupture of concrete promotes
• Exterior column size: 12 x 20 in. (305 x 508 mm).
concrete cracking, which in turn reduces the slab stiffness
• Spandrel beam size: 12 x 20 in. (305 x 508 mm).
and increases the slab deflection. The extent of initial
concrete cracking depends on the magnitude of the amount
b. Design loads
of early age shrinkage, the magnitude of construction loads,
• Slab self weight: 112.5 lb/ft2 (5.39 kPa).
and the age of the concrete when the loads are applied, which • Superimposed dead load: 20 lb/ft2 (0.96 kPa).
in turn affect the shoring/reshoring schedule. Furthermore, Live load cases:
long-term creep deflections are increased because creep 1) LL = 50 lb/ft2 (2.4 kPa) (No live load reduction
effects depend on the magnitude of the stress resulting from taken).
the applied loads relative to the concrete strength. Most of 2) LL = 100 lb/ft2 (4.8 kPa) (No live load reduction
the early-age creep deflections are not recoverable. Deflection taken).
due to a combination of higher creep and premature cracking
caused by excessive construction loads can be several times c. Concrete mixtures
the normal elastic, creep, and shrinkage deflection. • Slabs and beams: design concrete strength fc = 4000 psi
The ACI 318 requirements for minimum slab thickness do (27.6 MPa).
not consider the effects of early age construction loads on the Cylinder strengths: fc (7 days) = 3300 psi (22.7 MPa). fc
long-term deflections, and slab thickness cannot be used as a (28 days) = 4650 psi (32.1 MPa).
safeguard against excessive deflections and cracking when • Columns: design concrete strength fc = 5000 psi
construction loads are improperly applied to an early age (34.5 MPa).
concrete slab. After the concrete members are cracked The measured cylinder strengths are assumed strengths
during construction, they will remain cracked throughout the of laboratory-cured cylinders. The measured strengths
life of the structure, unless repairs are made. Therefore, coor- are to be used to develop the concrete maturity relation-
dination between the design engineer/architect and the form- ships to determine the early age concrete strength devel-
work engineer/contractor is recommended for checking slab opment. The early age concrete strength can also be
deflections during construction. The immediate and long- established by testing field cured cylinders.
term deflections should be checked using the smaller of the
effective moment of inertia, calculated either at the time of d. Shoring system
construction or calculated at the time of service loads. ACI • One level of shores with:
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 SHORING/RESHORING OF CONCRETE MULTISTORY BUILDINGS (ACI 347.2R-05) 11

1) Three levels of reshores.

2) Two levels of reshores.
• Shore/reshore material: Douglas fir larch, construction
grade.
• Shore/reshore size: 4 x 4 in., S4S, (100 x 100 mm) posts.
• Modulus of elasticity of wood (base value):
Ew = 1500 ksi (10.34 x 103 MPa).
• Compressive strength of wood parallel to grain (base
value):
Fc = 1650 psi (11.37 MPa).

e. Construction loads
• Slab self weight: 112.5 lb/ft2 (5.39 kPa).
• Live load during placement: 50 lb/ft2 (2.4 kPa).
• Form and shore load: 6.5 lb/ft2 (0.31 kPa).

f. Construction weather conditions

• Hot weather: assume average daily concrete curing
temperature of 80 °F (26.7 °C).
• Mild weather: assume average daily concrete curing
temperature of 60 °F (15.5 °C).
• Cold weather: assume average daily concrete curing
temperature of 40 °F (4.4 °C).

g. Construction rate scenarios

• One floor per week.
• One floor every 10 days.
• One floor per two weeks.
• Reshores are relocated one day before placing a new
floor slab.
Though the one floor per week rate does not provide
enough time to recover the forming material from the
floor below to install it above the floor, it can be Fig. 5.1—Two-way construction example building.
assumed that a second set of forms is available at the site
to achieve this rate of construction. An alternate will be
to adjust the concrete mixture proportion, concrete floors above the fifth level every time the shoring system is
curing temperature, or both, to achieve faster concrete installed at the active level and the new slab is placed. The
strength development, and therefore, quicker stripping maximum slab construction load is 1.38D, or 155 lb/ft2
time. (7.42 kPa), for the three reshore system, and 1.5D, or 169 lb/ft2
5.1.2 Construction load distribution—The construction (8.09 kPa), for the two reshore system.
load distribution between the concrete slabs and the shoring/ The maximum shoring and reshoring construction load
reshoring system is evaluated by using the simplified occurs during the placement of the top floor level. This load
method. Though this example utilizes a wood shoring/ includes the slab selfweight of 112.5 lb/ft2 (5.39 kPa), the
reshoring system, it is assumed that the compressibility of form weight of 6.5 lb/ft2 (0.31 kPa), and the construction live
the shoring/reshoring system does not significantly impact load of 50 lb/ft2 (2.4 kPa) during the concrete placement. The
construction load redistribution. The results of the shoring maximum shore/reshore construction load is 1.5D, or 169 lb/ft2
system using one shore level in combination with three (8.09 kPa), for both the three- and two-reshore system.
reshore levels are shown in Table 5.1. A similar construction Both the upper shoring level and all the reshore levels
load distribution table can be developed for two reshore carry the same maximum construction load as long as the
levels. Note that Table 3.1 can also serve as a basis for the shoring/reshoring system is supported on the ground. After
construction load distribution for this example, because the the removal of the lowest level of reshores from the ground,
sum of the assumed live load and form weight is the same. the maximum applied construction load on the reshores
Table 5.1 shows that the maximum slab load first occurs becomes less at the lower reshored levels and increases at the
on the fourth floor slab during the placement of the fifth floor upper reshored and shored levels. Therefore, the lower
slab (see Step No. 9). The fifth floor is the first floor level to reshored levels will require fewer reshore posts than the
be placed after the reshores have been removed from the first upper floors.
floor, thus removing the direct path of the construction load According to the simplified method, the construction
to the ground. The maximum slab load is repeated for all the loads are distributed between the supporting slabs in propor-
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12 SHORING/RESHORING OF CONCRETE MULTISTORY BUILDINGS (ACI 347.2R-05)

Table 5.1—Construction example: simplified

analysis of load on shores and slabs using one
level of shoring, three levels of reshoring

Fig. 5.2—Concrete compressive strength development.

tion to their relative stiffnesses. The floor slabs of this

example have equal thickness and approximately equal flex-
ural stiffness. Thus, the construction load is distributed
equally between the interconnected floor slabs. In cases
where the floor slab thicknesses and slab weight varies, the
slab stiffness should be considered when calculating the slab
and shore/reshore construction loads.
5.1.3 Concrete strength development—The engineer/
architect should specify the minimum strength of concrete to
be attained before removal of forms or shores. The strength
may be determined by tests on field-cured specimens or on
the in-place concrete. Other tests or evaluation procedures
may be used, but should be verified by field-cured specimens
and approved by the engineer/architect.
For this example, the concrete maturity method is
employed to determine the concrete strength development.
The strength-maturity relationship of concrete mixtures is
based on the principle that the strength of concrete depends
on the time-temperature history of concrete during the curing
period. A detailed description of the maturity method and
application is given in ACI 228.1R and Carino (2004).
Figure 5.2 shows the concrete compressive strength
development based on the application of the maturity
method for the concrete mixture assumed for this example.
Figure 5.2 indicates a significant difference for the 40, 60, and
80 °F (4.4, 15.5, and 26.7 °C) curing environments. The
concrete strengths given in Fig. 5.2 are valid only for the
assumed specific concrete mixture used in this example and
the assumed curing conditions. These concrete strengths
should not be used beyond this example. The maturity
method can be applied to predict the concrete strength devel-
opment for other concrete mixtures and curing conditions.
While it is useful to demonstrate the differences in strength
gain for a given mixture proportion at 40, 60, and 80 °F (4.4,
15.5, and 26.7 °C) curing environments, in practice, different
mixture proportions would likely be used to account for the
ambient temperature differences. The strength gain curve for
each specific concrete mixture proportions should be
obtained from the concrete supplier for the project.
5.1.4 Adequacy of concrete slabs
5.1.4.1 Available early-age slab load capacity—The
concrete slabs for this example have been designed for the
slab dead load of 112.5 lb/ft2 (5.39 kPa), superimposed dead
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 SHORING/RESHORING OF CONCRETE MULTISTORY BUILDINGS (ACI 347.2R-05) 13

Table 5.2—Construction load distribution summary

Available ultimate slab load capacity at Maximum slab factored construction
Design selected temperatures, lb/ft2 (kPa) load, lb/ft2 (kPa)
Construction Live load, 40 °F 60 °F 80 °F Two reshore levels, Three reshore levels,
cycle, days lb/ft2 (kPa) (4.4 °C) (15.5 °C) (27.6 °C) lb/ft2 (kPa) lb/ft2 (kPa)
50 (2.4) 117 (5.60) 179 (8.57) 213 (10.20) 210 (10.5) 191 (9.15)
7-day cycle
100 (4.8) 156 (7.47) 239 (11.44) 284 (13.60) 210 (10.5) 191 (9.15)
50 (2.4) 146 (6.99) 206 (9.86) 237 (11.35) 210 (10.5) 191 (9.15)
10-day cycle
100 (4.8) 195 (9.34) 274 (13.12) 316 (15.13) 210 (10.5) 191 (9.15)
50 (2.4) 177 (8.47) 234 (11.20) 239 (11.44) 210 (10.5) 191 (9.15)
15-day cycle
100 (4.8) 236 (11.30) 312 (14.94) 319 (15.27) 210 (10.5) 191 (9.15)

load, 20 lb/ft2 (0.96 kPa), and a live load of 50 lb/ft2 (2.4 kPa), (0.60 kPa), (1/4 pro-rata share at each level) and the factored
and 100 lb/ft2 (4.8 kPa). This example assumes that the construction load is:
designer of the structure did not consider any live load reduc-
tions for the floor slabs. If live load reduction was taken by Uc = 1.2 Dc + 1.6 Lc = 1.2  142.5 lb/ft2 + 1.6  12.5 lb/ft2
the engineer/architect, the design strength of the structure
will be reduced and should be accounted for in the reshore
design. The concrete specified strength is 4000 psi (27.6 MPa). = 191 lb/ft2 (9.15 kPa)
Considering that the building design is based on ACI 318,
the design load for the slabs is: The construction loads and maximum allowable slab loads
1) U28 = 1.2 (112.5 + 20 lb/ft2) + 1.6 (50 lb/ft2) = 239 lb/ft2 are summarized in Table 5.2.
(11.44 kPa); and 5.1.4.3 Strength adequacy—Table 5.2 shows that for a
2) U28 = 1.2 (112.5 + 20 lb/ft2) + 1.6 (100 lb/ft2) = 319 lb/ft2 7-day cycle and with 50 lb/ft2 (2.4 kPa) live load, two levels
(15.27 kPa). of reshoring will be adequate only for the 80 °F (26.7 °C)
Based on the discussion presented in Chapter 4, both the curing environment. The table also shows that, except for the
flexural and shear strengths of the young concrete slabs can 100 lb/ft2 (4.8 kPa) live load on the 15-day cycle, all 40 °F
be taken conservatively as proportional to the compressive (4.4 °C) cured slabs will be overloaded when only two floors
strength development. Figure 5.2 shows the ratio of early age of reshores are used. This overload condition can be avoided by
concrete compressive strength to the 28-day design changing the mixture proportion, increasing the ambient curing
compressive strength. For both the two-and-three reshore temperatures, or by increasing the number of reshore levels.
system cases and for the one floor per week construction 5.1.4.4 Slab deflections—Though the slabs may have
rate, the maximum construction load occurs on a seven-day- enough flexural strength to carry the high construction
old slab. The ratio of concrete strength at seven days to 28 loads, they may lack the concrete tensile strength and
days is 0.49, 0.75, and 0.89 for the 40, 60, and 80 °F (4.4, stiffness required to prevent extensive cracking and
15.5, and 26.7 ºC) curing environments, respectively. The excessive deflections.
maximum early age slab load is obtained by multiplying Deflection calculations for service load conditions should
these ratios with the above calculated design loads. Similar be based on the least-effective moment of inertia determined
strength ratios and maximum slab loads can be determined from either the construction loads with partial concrete
for a 10- and a 15-day construction rate. strength or the service loads with full concrete strength. A
5.1.4.2 Applied construction load—For the system with detailed deflection calculation method taking into consider-
two levels of reshores, the maximum slab load during ation the construction loads is provided in ACI 435R.
construction occurs on Level 3 during the placement of the According to ACI 318, the contractor is required to produce
fourth level slab. The total load is 169 lb/ft2 (8.09 kPa), with structural calculation and concrete strength data used in plan-
dead load Dc = 152 lb/ft2 (7.27 kPa) and live load Lc = 17 lb/ft2 ning shoring/reshoring operations. Such data and information
(0.82 kPa), (1/3 pro-rata share at each level) and the factored should be furnished to the engineer/architect who should eval-
construction load is: uate the effects of construction loads to immediate and long-
term deflections. A team effort between the contractor and the
engineer/architect is required to avoid deflection problems
Uc = 1.2 Dc + 1.6 Lc = 1.2  152 lb/ft2 + 1.6  17 lb/ft2 associated with construction procedures.
5.1.5 Adequacy of shoring/reshoring system—The wood
= 210 lb/ft2 (10.05 kPa) shores/reshores used in this example are construction Grade
S4S, Douglas fir larch sawn lumber with base value of
Similarly, for the system with three level of reshores, the compressive stress parallel to grain Fc = 1650 psi (11.37 MPa)
maximum slab load during construction occurs on Level 4 and EW = 1500 ksi (10.34  103 MPa). The unbraced shore/
during the placement of the fifth level slab. The total load on reshore length for a typical floor is taken as 9 ft 3 in. (2.82 m).
Level 4 is 1.38D or 155 lb/ft2 (7.44 kPa), with dead load The shores are assumed to be pin-ended. The allowable wood
Dc = 142.5 lb/ft2 (6.82 kPa) and live load Lc = 12.5 lb/ft2 stress is calculated to be 417 psi (2.87 MPa). The allowable
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14 SHORING/RESHORING OF CONCRETE MULTISTORY BUILDINGS (ACI 347.2R-05)

of the shoring-reshoring system should be based not only on

the placement load but also the post-tensioning stressing
sequence and resulting transfer loads.
This example does not account for any load redistribution
that will occur due to structural deflections, shoring/
reshoring system axial shortening, or both. Further, the
example assumes that the structural members do not have the
capacity to carry added post-tensioning transfer loads before
stressing of such members is complete. Often in the case of
large transfer girders, post-tensioning is provided to support
above levels of the structure that are not present at the time
the girder floor is post-tensioned. Finally, the example
assumes 100% of the structure’s dead load is balanced by the
post-tensioning. A safe method is to utilize the full dead
load; however, the shoring designer may elect to determine
the actual load transfer, or use information furnished by the
Fig. 5.3—Floor plan at typical beam and slab structural bay engineer/architect.
used in the post-tensioned construction example. ACI SP-4 provides general guidelines on formwork for
post-tensioned structures. Bordner (1987) presented a
stress is calculated according to the requirements of the detailed method on how construction loads are distributed
National Design Specifications for Wood Construction for during the post-tensioning process. The following example
visually-graded sawn lumber. Based on the allowable wood is based on the concepts and examples given in the above
stress, the maximum allowable axial compressive load on a two references.
single post is 5100 lb (22.68 kN). 5.2.1 Post-tensioned example data—A post-tensioned
As calculated previously, the maximum allowable construc- multistory reinforced concrete building is to be constructed
tion load on the shores or reshores is 169 lb/ft2 (8.09 kPa). using a system of shores and reshores. A partial floor plan of
Based on the maximum allowable axial load of each shore or a typical story level is given in Fig. 5.3. The post-tensioned
reshore, the maximum tributary area of each post is calcu- members include the slabs, beams, and girders.
lated to be approximately 30 ft2 (2.80 m2). A practical shore 5.2.1.1 Member sizes
or reshore spacing can be chosen, provided the maximum • Slab thickness 6 in. (152 mm).
tributary area of each post is kept within the calculated limit. • Beams 24 x 32 in. (610 x 813 mm).
Special consideration should be given to the first floor • Girders 30 x 36 in. (762 x 914 mm).
shores and reshores because the first floor is taller than a • Columns 24 x 24 in. (610 x 610 mm).
typical floor, and therefore, the allowable axial load of the • Story heights 10 ft (3.0 m).
shores and reshores is lower. The unbraced shore/reshore 5.2.1.2 Design loads
length of the first floor is 13 ft 3 in. (4.04 m). The allowable • Slab self weight 75 lb/ft2 (3.59 kPa).
wood stress and axial load are 212 psi (1.46 MPa) and 2600 lb • Beam stem 650 lb/ft (9.48 kN/m).
(11.56 kN), respectively. The maximum tributary area of the • Girder stem 937.5 lb/ft (13.68 kN/m).
shores and reshores at the first floor is approximately15 ft2 • Superimposed dead load 20 lb/ft2 (0.96 kPa).
(1.40 m2), which requires a dense spacing of wood posts. • Live load 50 lb/ft2 (2.4 kPa).
Lacing, bracing, or both, is required to increase the shore/ Live load reductions have been considered in the design of
reshore load capacity, and therefore, the post spacing. beams and girders.
Similar calculations should be performed for the lower 5.2.1.3 Concrete mixtures—Same as the two-way slab
floor reshores which, according to Table 5.1, receive construction example presented in the previous section.
reduced construction loads as the construction advances and 5.2.1.4 Shoring system
the reshores are removed from the ground floor. • One level of shores with two levels of reshores.
ACI SP-4 provides extensive details for formwork design. • Shore/reshore material and sizes: same as the two-way
Where manufactured shores/reshores are used, the manu- slab construction example.
facturer’s data should be consulted for safe working loads and 5.2.1.5 Construction loads
other safety requirements of the shores/reshores and hardware. • Slab, beam, and girder selfweight.
• Live load during concrete placement: 50 lb/ft2 (2.4 kPa).
5.2—Post-tensioned construction example • Live load during post-tensioning: 20 lb/ft2 (0.98 kPa).
This construction example illustrates the effects of post- • Form and shore selfweight:
To purchase a complete copy of ACI
tensioning on the shoring/reshoring loads. After stressing of slabs: 5 lb/ft2please
For 347.2R-05, (0.24 kPa)
visit the ACI store.
tendons, construction loads are partially or totally relieved For beams and girders (estimated): 20 lb/ft (0.29 kN/m).
from the shores that support the tensioned concrete 5.2.1.6 Construction weather conditions
members. The relieved shore loads are transferred to shores • 60 °F (15.5 °C) average daily concrete curing temper-
that support other members. Thus, the selection and design atures.
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