THE CONSISTENCY OF ALUMINUM, THE WORKABILITY OF WOOD

BRIDGE DECK FORMWORK

INSTALLATION GUIDE

TRUS JOIST FORM BEAM

PRODUCT INFORMATION
ORIENTATION OF FORM BEAMS
Microllam LVL
EDGE ORIENTATION

LOAD

Edge orientation refers to the application

of load parallel to the glue lines.

END VIEW

FLAT ORIENTATION

LOAD

Flat orientation refers to application of

load perpendicular to the glue lines.

END VIEW

CAUTION:

Form Beam products have higher strength in the edge orientation. Square Form Beams must be installed in the
edge orientation unless the formwork drawings specifically permit flat orientation. Consult the formwork designer
if you have questions about proper orientation.

IDENTIFICATION OF FORM BEAMS

Mill Number

Microllam LVL Form Beams are identified with continuous

embossing along both edges of the member. Information
embossed on the member includes the month and year of
manufacture, the Trus Joist mill number, the grade and
species and the third-party inspection agency logo.

04.93

2.0E SP
FORMWORK

34

Grade and Species

Independent Third Party
Inspection Agency
Month and Year of Manufacture

INSPECTION OF FORM BEAMS

Do not cut, notch, or drill Form Beams except as shown on the formwork drawings.
Inspect all Form Beams for damage before using them. Damaged Form Beams must be removed and replaced immediately. Failure to remove and replace
damaged Form Beams may result in collapse of the formwork.
Check for:
Damage due to overloading (e.g. crushed bearing areas, stress cracks).
Damage due to dropping, forklifts, or other improper handling.
Improper saw cuts, drill holes, or notches.
Signs of decay or insect damage.
CHECK FOR IMPACT DAMAGE
CHECK FOR DAMAGE
CAUSED BY OVERLOADING

CHECK FOR FORKLIFT DAMAGE

CHECK FOR DAMAGE

DUE TO DROPPING

STORAGE AND HANDLING OF FORM BEAMS

Make sure that everyone who handles Form Beams is aware of their value.
Use a forklift or crane to unload trucks and move Form Beams around the job site. Do not drop Form Beams from trucks.
Form Beams should be moved by hand or crane when stripped. Do not drop Form Beams.
Do not use Form Beams for loading ramps or other unintended purposes. Microllam LVL scaffold planks are available from your Trus Joist dealer.
Store Form Beams in a level, well-drained location away from equipment traffic areas. Set bundles of Form Beams on stickers that provide air circulation
under the bundle and easy access for forklifts. Place stickers approximately every ten feet or less. Stickers between stacked bundles of Form Beams must
align with those on the ground.
Storage conditions must provide protection from rain and ground moisture. Cover Form Beams with a material that will shed rain, but is porous enough to
allow moisture to escape, such as the wrapping on bundles of new Form Beams. Plastic tarps will trap ground moisture unless arranged in such a way as to
allow air circulation under the tarp.
Wet Form Beams that are to be returned to storage must have stickers placed between layers in the bundle to allow air circulation around each piece.
Stickers must align vertically. Failure to take these precautions may result in warping, cupping, or decay.

Protect products from sun and water

N
HE Y
Y W ST
ER FRO
IP P O R
L
S T
WE

ALIGN STICKERS VERTICALLY

Use stickers at 10 on-center to

keep products above ground
and out of mud and water

WARRANTY:
Trus Joist warrants that its concrete forming products will be free from manufacturing errors or defects in workmanship and material.
The above warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, express or implied. The implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
are excluded from this warranty. Consequential and indirect damages are hereby excluded.

TRUS JOIST
BRIDGE DECK FORMWORK INSTALLATION GUIDE
This guide contains minimum criteria that apply to all bridge deck formwork installations. Consult the formwork drawings for information about a specific project. Contact your supervisor, the formwork designer, or Trus Joist if you are in doubt about the proper use of
Trus Joist Form Beams. Failure to do so may result in exposure to unsafe conditions which could lead to injury or death of persons
on the job site.

FORM BEAM JOIST

OVERHANG BRACKET ASSEMBLY

DOUBLE FORM BEAM WALER

TYPICAL BRIDGE DECK FORMWORK SYSTEMS

SEE DETAIL SECTION A

FORM BEAM JOIST
by TRUS JOIST

PLYWOOD

DOUBLE FORM BEAM WALER by TRUS JOIST

STEEL GIRDER

COIL BOLT HANGER

SEE DETAIL SECTION B

Form Beam joists and double Form Beam

walers suspended from steel bridge girders
by coil bolt hangers. Refer to the formwork
drawings for waler and joist spacings. The
high strength of Trus Joist Form Beams
permits wider joist and waler spacings. Verify
the adequacy of the plywood deck and coil
bolt hangers. Refer to the formwork drawings
for proper joist orientation.

PLYWOOD

FORM BEAM JOIST

by TRUS JOIST

DOUBLE FORM BEAM WALER by TRUS JOIST

COIL BOLT HANGER

Form Beam joists and double Form Beam

walers suspended from pre-cast concrete
bridge girders by coil bolt hangers. Refer to
the formwork drawings for waler and joist
spacings. The high strength of Trus Joist
Form Beams permits wider joist and waler
spacings. Verify the adequacy of the plywood
deck and coil bolt hangers. Refer to the formwork drawings for proper joist orientation.

PRE-CAST CONCRETE GIRDER

SEE DETAIL SECTION C

FORM BEAM JOIST
by TRUS JOIST

PLYWOOD

Form Beam joists supported by two sets of

double Form Beam walers and adjustable
steel supports. Refer to the formwork drawings for waler and joist spacings. The high
strength of Trus Joist Form Beams permits
wider joist and waler spacings. Verify the
adequacy of the plywood deck and adjustable
steel supports. Refer to the formwork drawings for proper joist orientation.

DOUBLE FORM BEAM WALER

by TRUS JOIST

ADJUSTABLE STEEL SUPPORTS

PRE-CAST CONCRETE GIRDERS

SEE DETAIL SECTION D

PLYWOOD

Form Beam joists suspended from steel or

pre-cast concrete bridge girders by adjustable
hangers. Refer to the formwork drawings for
joist spacing. The high strength of Trus Joist
Form Beams permits wider joist spacings.
Verify the adequacy of the plywood deck and
adjustable hangers.

FORM BEAM JOIST by TRUS JOIST

STEEL GIRDER

ADJUSTABLE HANGER

PRE-CAST CONCRETE GIRDER

TRUS JOIST FORM BEAM DETAILS

DETAIL A1

DETAIL B1

COIL BOLT HANGER

DETAIL B2

COIL BOLT HANGER

FORM BEAM by TRUS JOIST

COIL BOLT HANGER

FORM BEAM JOIST by TRUS JOIST

SAWN LUMBER SLEEPER

DOUBLE FORM BEAM
WALER by TRUS JOIST

STEEL GIRDER
PLATE WASHER
DOUBLE FORM BEAM
WALER by TRUS JOIST

PLATE WASHER
PRE-CAST CONCRETE GIRDER

PRE-CAST CONCRETE GIRDER

DETAIL B3

DETAIL B4

COIL BOLT HANGER

FORM BEAM by TRUS JOIST

DOUBLE FORM BEAM

WALER by TRUS JOIST

CUT CANNOT EXTEND PAST

INSIDE FACE OF BEARING
UNLESS SHOWN ON APPROVED
FORMWORK DRAWINGS OR
APPROVED BY THE FORMWORK
DESIGNER.

DETAIL C1
ADJUSTABLE STEEL COLUMN
SUPPORT CANNOT BE PLACED
OUTSIDE A DISTANCE d
(DEPTH OF DOUBLE SUPPORT)
FROM THE INSIDE FACE OF
BEARING, UNLESS SHOWN ON
APPROVED FORMWORK DRAWINGS AND/OR APPROVED BY
THE FORMWORK DESIGNER.

COIL BOLT HANGER

FORM BEAM JOIST
by TRUS JOIST

DOUBLE FORM BEAM

WALER by TRUS JOIST

DOUBLE FORM BEAM

WALER by TRUS JOIST

PRE-CAST CONCRETE GIRDER

FORM BEAM WALER

by TRUS JOIST
PLATE WASHER
PLATE WASHER

WALER MUST BEAR

FULLY ON GIRDER

PRE-CAST CONCRETE GIRDER

PRE-CAST CONCRETE GIRDER

DETAIL D1

DOUBLE FORM BEAM WALER ASSEMBLY

ADJUSTABLE HANGER

TWO ROWS OF
16d COMMON AT 12 O.C.
WOOD BLOCK
WOOD SPACER STRIPS:
THICKNESS EQUAL TO COIL BOLT DIAMETER
8 WIDE OR AS REQUIRED TO AVOID SPLITTING
RECESSED FROM THE ENDS OF THE WALER TO
ACCOMODATE THE COIL BOLTS

STEEL GIRDER

FORM BEAM JOIST by TRUS JOIST

GENERAL NOTES
Bearing Length Requirements
3000 lbs Reaction

6000 lbs Reaction

9000 lbs Reaction

1"

3"

4"

1000 lbs Reaction

2000 lbs Reaction

3000 lbs Reaction

1" Form Beam Joists

1"

2"

3"

2" Form Beam Joists

1"

1"

2"

3" Form Beam Joists

1"

1"

1"

Double 1" Form Beam Walers

Notes:
1. Bearing length requirements are calculated on the basis of an allowable compression perpendicular-to-grain design value, Fc, equal to
638 psi. The minimum requirement is 1".
2. Bearing across the full width of the member must be provided.
3. The supporting member is assumed to be adequate.

Minimum Lateral Restraint Requirements:

Applied Load
Applied
Load

Depth to width ratio 2 to 1; none required.

2 to 1 depth to width ratio < 4 to 1; all points of bearing (e.g.,
solid blocking).
Depth to width ratio 4 to 1; 24" on-center along the loaded
edge of the member (typically provided by attachment to plywood sheathing with minimum 8d nails).
Walers: Both points of bearing and at mid-span.
General: Lateral restraint requirements for a particular project may be
more stringent. Consult the formwork drawings for particular
requirements and means of providing lateral restraint.

Depth

Joists:

Width

WARNING
Formwork is unstable until laterally braced as required to prevent buckling
or roll-over.
Lateral bracing must be tied to a rigid element in the structure.
Do not allow workers to walk on unbraced formwork. SERIOUS INJURY
MAY RESULT!
Do not stack materials on unbraced formwork.

Lateral Restraint of FORM BEAM walers

TOE NAIL IN SUCH A MANNER

AS NOT TO SPLIT FORM BEAM

SPECIAL CLEATS CAN BE USED

WOOD THIS GOOD DOESNT GROW ON TREES

Trus Joists selection of concrete formwork products includes
Microllam LVL Form Beams and Form-I Joists. For design and
application efficiency, contact your Trus Joist Representative
or call 1-800-441-4852 for additional information.

200 E. Mallard Drive Boise, ID 83706

(208) 364-3600

1-800-423-5808
Microllam LVL is a precision-engineered laminated veneer lumber manufactured by Trus Joist.
Veneers are laid up with grain parallel and bonded together under heat and pressure to produce a high quality
lumber up to three times more consistent than conventional sawn lumber. Wood this good doesnt grow on trees.

, Microllam, Parallam and TJ-Beam are registered trademarks and Form-I and Trus Joist are trademarks of Trus Joist, A Weyerhaeuser Business, Boise, Idaho.
Copyright 2001 by Trus Joist
Reorder 3421
July 2001