Beam clamp with tie rod: how it works and how many you need

The beam clamp with tie rod locks the side panels of a beam form without cleats, nails or wire. It goes onto the beam, is tightened with a wrench and comes off just as quickly when stripping. In this guide you will see how it works, where it goes, how it is fitted and how to work out how many your project needs.

The problem with the usual method

Until now the sides of a beam form, especially the outer side, have been locked the old way:

• Time lost: cleats are nailed at the bottom of the side panels and wire is tied at the top of the outer side.
• Damaged panels: nails pierce and split the boards, which means more repairs and replacements.
• Hard stripping: every nail has to come out and every wire has to be cut.

How the beam clamp with tie rod works

The clamp is a strong steel frame that wraps around the beam form. The tie rod pulls the two side panels together, so the form is held firmly at both the bottom and the top, with no wire.

• Opening: clamps beams up to and over 60 cm wide.
• Interior beams: it can be cut to the size you need.
• Even pressure: the form does not open during the pour.
• No nails or wire: the boards last longer.

Where it is used

• Interior beams
• Exterior beams and edge panels
• Upturned beams

Fitting in 2 steps

1. Place the clamp on the beam form.
2. Tighten the tie rod nut with a wrench. Done.

When stripping, loosen the nut and the clamp comes straight off, ready for the next beam. Fewer man-hours on forming and stripping mean the crew moves on to the next stage sooner.

How many beam clamps do I need?

It depends on the length and height of the beams and on whether the soffit is built with H20 beams or timber battens. So you do not have to guess, we made the free app Emporas Tools: you enter the beam dimensions and it tells you how many clamps with tie rod you need and at what spacing. It is available for Android on Google Play.

If you prefer, send us the drawings or the list of beams and we will tell you how many you need.

Clamps for beam soffits on beams

For beams with a soffit on H20 beams or timber we also have the clamps from the Italian maker Villalta, which tighten the sides without wire: the beam clamp for H20 beams and the beam clamp for timber battens. For wider beams there is the beam clamp extension. You will find them all in the Beam Clamps category.

Orders and trade prices

The beam clamp with tie rod is available from EMPORAS. For project quantities contact us, and for trade prices register for the B2B programme.

Frequently asked questions

What is a beam clamp with tie rod?

A steel frame that wraps around the beam form. The tie rod pulls the two side panels together, so the form is held at the bottom and the top without cleats, nails or wire.

Which beams is it used on?

Interior, exterior and upturned beams. It clamps beams up to and over 60 cm wide and can be cut to size for interior beams.

How is it fitted?

In two steps: place it on the beam form and tighten the tie rod nut with a wrench. When stripping, loosen it and it comes straight off.

How many beam clamps do I need?

It depends on the length and height of the beams and on whether the soffit is on H20 beams or timber battens. The free Emporas Tools app for Android works it out from the beam dimensions. You can also send us the drawings.

What is there for beam soffits on H20 beams or battens?

The Villalta beam clamps for H20 beams and for timber battens, and the beam clamp extension for wider beams.