Lightweight H20 Timber Beam I Joist for High Load Formwork System

Created on 07.03

Case Study: Engineered H20 Timber Beam Delivers 5 kNm Bending Capacity and 50–80 Reuse Cycles in Modular Construction

01. Technical Background

A 320-unit modular housing project in Sweden utilized H20 timber beam formwork for all floor slab and wall pouring, both in factory casting and on-site module finishing. The system comprises high-strength engineered timber I-beams, phenolic-coated plywood, steel walings, and beam clamps.

02. System Specifications & Performance

Parameter
Specification / Result
Beam section
200mm height × 80mm flange width
Weight per meter
4.4–5.5 kg (depending on web version)
Bending moment (M)
5 kNm (design)
Shear force (Q)
11 kN (design)
Rigidity (E×J)
450 kNm²
Standard lengths
Up to 6.6m max production
Max shear failure load
40 kN
Moisture content
~13%
Engineering advantages:
  • Composite construction — solid timber flanges (spruce/fir) with plywood web bonded by waterproof structural adhesive
  • End protection — plastic/metal end caps reduce damage from impact and moisture
  • On-site adaptability — beams can be cut to length with a standard circular saw (30 seconds per cut)
  • Marked in 50cm increments — simplifies quick assembly and alignment

03. Reuse & Sustainability Impact

The project achieved 50–80 reuses across multiple construction phases with proper maintenance.
Metric
Result
Typical service life
4–5 years (with proper storage & maintenance)
Sustainability benefit
FSC-certified timber available; EPDs for LEED compliance
Carbon footprint vs. steel
Significantly lower embodied carbon
For the Germany-based LEED Gold project completed earlier in 2026, H20 beams were paired with recycled-content plywood and reused across multiple development phases—eliminating waste and supporting green building certifications.

04. Technical Applications

H20 timber beams are widely used in:
  • Slab formwork — as secondary beams (typ. spacing 40–62.5cm) and primary beams for spans up to 2.5m
  • Wall formwork — as walings (horizontal stiffeners) resisting lateral concrete pressure
  • Column formwork — adjustable clamping elements for square/rectangular columns
Contact our engineering team for site-specific load calculations and system configuration.
Yellow wooden beams with red ends stacked neatly in a warehouse setting.

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