General Contractor Practice Exam

What is the safety factor of form ties?

1. 1 to 1

2. 2 to 1

3. 3 to 1

4. 4 to 1

The correct answer is: 2 to 1

The safety factor of form ties is an important component in construction, particularly when dealing with concrete formwork. A safety factor of 2 to 1 indicates that the form ties are designed to support loads that are twice as much as the anticipated maximum load they are expected to encounter during use. This factor provides a level of reliability and reduces the risk of failure during construction operations. In the realm of construction safety, this 2 to 1 ratio is commonly accepted as a standard, ensuring that the formwork is stable and capable of resisting the forces exerted on it, including the weight of wet concrete and other environmental factors. A higher safety factor could indicate greater reliability, but in this context, 2 to 1 strikes a balance between safety and practicality, making it an industry standard. Choosing different ratios, such as 1 to 1 or higher ratios of 3 to 1 or 4 to 1, might either indicate insufficient strength to handle unforeseen conditions or unnecessary over-engineering, respectively. Understanding this safety factor is crucial for contractors to ensure structural integrity and worker safety on job sites.