The formwork or shuttering should be rigid and strong enough to support wet RCC. It should be leak proof and the face of the formwork should be treaed with ‘form release agents’ or mixture of grease and diesel so that deshuttering is easy. Formwork should not be removed until concrete has achieved sufficient strength. Under normal circumstances where ambient temperature is above 15 degree celsius and adequate curing is done, the following deshuttering period is considered safe.
| Type of Formwork | Minimum Period before striking the Formwork |
| Vertical Formwork of Columns, walls and beams | 16-24 hours |
| Total Deshuttering including support to slabs | |
| Span / Length upto 4.5 m | 7 days |
| Span / Length more than 4.5 m | 14 days |
| Total Deshuttering including support to beams | |
| Span / Length upto 6 m | 14 days |
| Span / Length more than 6 m | 21 days |