For engineers

Technical reference for project engineers and designers specifying manhole and stormwater pit formwork.

Inside an HDPE manhole inner form showing the ribbing
Engineering equivalence

Performs like steel formwork. Handles like plastic.

The HDPE system does the same job as conventional steel manhole formwork: it holds dimensional accuracy and stays stable during concrete placement. It maintains geometry through the pour, is compatible with existing reinforcement and concrete designs, and is installed and removed without heavy lifting equipment. Every component is cut in-house on an Australian-made Multicam CNC router.

Request the spec sheetWatch how it works
PFWH MO-1350 HDPE manhole outer form close-up
Comparison

HDPE vs steel formwork

Hire rates are comparable. The differences are in labour, machinery and site downtime.

HDPE
Transport

Steel: truck and lifting gear. HDPE: a ute, or carried by hand.

Installation

Steel: crane or excavator. HDPE: a two-person lift for most forms.

Cleaning

Steel: grinding or blasting. HDPE: wash down with a pressure cleaner.

Site impact

Steel: machinery, more labour hours and downtime. HDPE: no machinery, lower manual handling risk, minimal downtime.

Scope of application

Engineering notes

Where the system is used, what a typical job needs, and how design responsibility sits.

SPECSRequest the spec sheet

  • New land developments (stormwater and sewer manholes, typically 5 to 80 per development, 3 weeks to 3 months hire). Existing water supply and sewerage networks (relines and extensions, 1 to 4 weeks). Civil roadworks (stormwater manholes and gully pits). Civil sheds and apartment developments (single sets). Local council infrastructure and water treatment plants.

  • Inner forms and outer forms in various sizes, plus pour boards. Roadworks and council jobs usually add gully pit forms. High lifts, neck rings and expander shutters are available for deeper or custom pits.

  • Sewer manholes are now required to have HDPE liners fitted to the formwork inners and cast into the internal manhole walls. The liners protect the concrete from sewer gases, replacing Ultra High Build epoxy coatings and calcium aluminate renders.

  • HDPE formwork has been used on live civil infrastructure projects, including council and resource sector works, without impact on pour quality or project outcomes. Project references and detailed job scope descriptions are available on request.

  • This information is provided for technical reference only and does not alter design responsibility or structural certification requirements. Final approval, certification and responsibility for design and construction remain with the project engineer and relevant authorities.

  • The HDPE formwork system has been tested by a NATA-accredited laboratory. It is made from fully recyclable and reusable materials that don't degrade or rust. Certification details are available on request.

Request an engineering briefing

Tell us about your project and We will send the engineering spec sheet or walk your team through the system, site handling and project references. Prefer to talk? Call 0404 537 478.