A Hünnebeck beam is an adjustable steel beam or prop used to support concrete formwork. The beam transfers the load of the fresh concrete and the formwork to the props or the ground, and is adjustable in length so it can be set to the right height.
Construction
The Hünnebeck beam is often telescopic:
- An inner beam (usually with a solid web) slides into an
- outer beam (often built as a lattice), so the length is adjustable steplessly or in steps
- Multi-part versions also exist for supporting large spans
The name comes from the Hünnebeck company, which supplied this kind of formwork and support equipment.
Application
- Cast-in-situ concrete — supporting floor and beam formwork until the concrete can carry itself
- Temporary structures — as an auxiliary beam in scaffolding and shoring
Points of attention
- Take account of the beam’s maximum load and permitted span; fresh concrete is heavy
- Place enough props under the beam and provide a firm, load-bearing base
- Only strike the formwork once the concrete has cured sufficiently
Related terms
- Formwork
- Hünnebeck
- Prop
- Beam
- Cast-in-situ construction
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.