The new Physicians’ Hospital in Murrieta, California held some unique challenges for concrete subcontractor J.P. Toneman Construction. Toneman is primarily a tilt-up contractor that expanded their business to include a structural concrete division.
Although the frame of the building is structural steel, the massive grade beams supporting the structure are concrete. Ranging in sizes from 3’x3’ to 7’x7’, the grade beams boasted varying beam bottom elevations, oblique corners, and multiple intersections in four directions.
Immediately following the Rapid Clamp delivery, California experienced a rainy spell that prevented Toneman from constructing the beams, but the structural iron workers continued. By the time the site was dry enough for Toneman to return to work, the first floor was in place, including the steel pan decking. This change in plans meant that a crane could not be used for placing the Rapid Clamp forms for the grade beams.
Toneman solved this challenge with a high capacity telescopic forklift, and began moving and placing the formwork in 30’ sections (four 200cm x 300cm Rapid Clamp panels with the 300cm stood vertically) within the steel skeleton. Because Rapid Clamp is simple to put together with the Connecting Clamps, the crew quickly adapted to the system.