Mivan Shuttering: Latest technology in construction

 Mivan shuttering is a fast-paced construction technique which offers strength and durability to a building by use of aluminium frameworks. It is much quicker than the traditional beam, column, and brick construction. This technology does not use column and beam but involves walls and slabs cast in easy to handle, light weight, pre-engineered aluminium frames.

With a growing focus on affordable homes and "Housing for All", real estate stakeholders are increasingly emphasising on the use of new and innovative construction techniques. One such technology is Mivan shuttering which is being promoted for its ability to aid mass construction activity.

So, what exactly is Mivan Technology? Historically, the Mivan Technology, or the aluminium formwork system, was developed by a European company. Later in 1990, the Mivan Company Ltd started manufacturing these formworks, hence giving the name ‘Mivan Technology’.

Use in India

So far, the technology has not been used extensively in India. The concept is popular in Gulf countries, Europe and some parts of Asia. However, its use is being promoted in India to realise the most ambitious government scheme – Housing for All by 2022.

Mehul Thakur, Director, Viva Homes, asserts, “To make housing affordable for masses, there is a need to focus on new construction technologies which can reduce construction time and cost. Mivan Shuttering is the solution to this. In addition to saving time and money, the technology can also ensure quality and strength of buildings.”

Mivan Shuttering: Components and parts

The following components and parts are used in Mivan Shuttering technology:

Wall components: This includes a wall panel, stub pin, rocker and kickers.

Beam components: This has beam side panel, prop head and panel for Soffit beam.

Deck components: This has deck panels, deck prop, prop length, Soffit length.

Other components: External and internal soffit corner and wall panel corners.

Mivan Construction technique

Setting up the wall reinforcing steel -

The wall reinforcing steel is used to give a structure to the building and support the concrete until they gain half of the required strength. The aluminium formworks are cast around the steel mesh, which is factory made and directly erected on the construction site. 

Placement of aluminium formwork

– Along the wall reinforcing steel, prefabricated room sized walls and floor slabs are erected. These aluminium alloy slabs are accurately made and are easy to handle. Spaces for windows, ducts, doors and other features such as staircases, façade panels and chajjas are also integrated in these structures. The forms are joint together using the pin and wedge system, which can be dismantled quickly after the concrete structure is made.

Pouring concrete 

After casting the forms, high-quality concrete is poured. This concrete takes the form and shape of the cast, which is later removed to make way for a structure made entirely of cement concrete supported by wall reinforcing steel. The aluminium forms can be reused at least 250 times, resulting in minimum waste from the construction site.

The resulting structure is accurate, smooth and finished. It has high tolerance and requires no further plastering. As a result, it saves time, effort and money.

What are the advantages of Mivan Shuttering Technology?

The first and foremost advantage of using this technology is the pace of construction. Narendra Karkhanis, COO, Pashmina Developers says, “Mivan Technology reduces the construction time by almost half in comparison to conventional practices. Since it has a set procedure to follow, it minimises the need for skilled labour and completely eliminates labour intensive activities such as masonry and rendering.” 

On the structural front, the technology makes the buildings more seismic-resistant and durable. Since there is a lesser number of joints, the building faces reduced leakages, hence requiring negligible maintenance.

There is uniformity in Mivan construction and the walls and slabs have a smooth finish. Moreover, the technology gives the scope to take out more carpet area in comparison to conventional techniques.

What are the demerits of Mivan Technology?

Construction by Mivan Technology does have certain demerits too. The finished structure could have visible finishing lines due to small sizes of components used. After the structure is made, modifications are difficult to make, thereby making the building inflexible. The walls and slabs could also show cracks due to shrinkage. This can be prevented by either using control strips in the structure or by reducing the heat of hydration by using fly ash. 

It remains to be seen if this technology works in the construction industry considering indigenous technologies are promoted off late. However, if the advantages of the technology meet the larger goal of 'Housing for All', it could prove to be a boon for Indian real estate. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mivan Shuttering?

Mivan shuttering technology is a construction technique which is fast-paced, is more strong and durable as aluminium formworks are used in the building.

What is IS code for Mivan Shuttering?

The detailing requirement is as per IS 456:2000 code.