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Dincel is a permanent polymer formwork system used to construct reinforced concrete walls. Hollow interlocking panels are assembled on site, reinforcement is added where required, and the panels are filled with concrete. Unlike temporary formwork, the polymer shell remains around the concrete after the pour.
Dincel can be used for basement walls, retaining walls, structural walls, lift and stair cores, boundary walls, pool walls and other concrete structures where permanent formwork suits the design.
In construction, Dincel refers to a proprietary permanent formwork system used to shape reinforced concrete walls.
The panels create the wall profile and remain in place after the concrete has been poured and cured.
That means the completed wall consists of:
The formwork is therefore part of the finished wall rather than something that is removed after construction.
Dincel is the permanent formwork used to create the wall, while the completed structural element is a concrete wall.
The distinction is important.
The polymer panels themselves do not replace the structural role of the concrete and steel reinforcement. Instead, they form the shape of the wall, remain around the concrete, and become part of the finished wall system.
So when someone refers to a "Dincel wall", they are usually referring to the complete wall assembly rather than the polymer panels alone.
Permanent formwork is a system that stays in place after the concrete has been poured.
Conventional formwork is usually temporary. Timber, steel, aluminium or other formwork systems are assembled around the structural element, concrete is placed inside them, and the formwork is stripped away after the concrete has gained enough strength.
Permanent formwork follows a different process.
The formwork:
This can remove the separate formwork-stripping stage from the construction sequence.
Dincel is one example of permanent formwork used for wall construction.
The overall process is relatively straightforward.
The exact position, dimensions and alignment of the wall are established from the project drawings.
The panels are connected to create the required wall shape.
Different panel profiles, corners and accessories can be used depending on the design.
Steel reinforcement is installed according to the structural engineer's requirements.
The amount and position of reinforcement depend on what the wall needs to do.
Doors, windows, service penetrations and structural openings are coordinated before the pour.
The panels are supported so they remain correctly aligned during concrete placement.
Concrete is pumped or placed into the wall according to the project specification.
After the concrete has cured, the Dincel panels remain permanently in place.
For a more detailed look at structural applications, Dincel structural walling explains how the system is used for basements, retaining structures and other reinforced concrete walls.
A completed Dincel wall contains three main components:
Concrete forms the main structural core of the wall.
Steel reinforcement is included according to the structural design.
The reinforcement may vary depending on:
The Dincel shell remains around the wall after the concrete has been placed.
This differs from conventional temporary formwork, which is removed.
Dincel can be used for a wide range of reinforced concrete wall applications.
The suitability of Dincel still depends on the structural design, waterproofing requirements, access and construction method.
Dincel currently offers several wall profiles designed for different structural requirements.
These include:
The correct profile is not chosen simply because one wall is taller than another.
Selection can depend on:
The structural engineer or project designer should specify the appropriate profile.
Dincel can provide several practical construction benefits where the system suits the project.
Because the polymer shell is permanent, there is no separate stripping stage for the wall panels.
This can simplify construction sequencing.
The panels are relatively lightweight before concrete placement, making individual components easier to move and position around the site.
Permanent formwork can be especially useful where access outside the completed wall is limited.
This can apply to:
Dincel can form part of a reinforced concrete wall system where the concrete and reinforcement are engineered for the required loads.
Urban Pour also builds in-situ concrete walls, which use conventional cast-in-place concrete construction and may be more suitable where project geometry or finish requirements favour traditional formwork.
The polymer remains around the finished wall and can contribute to the overall water-resistant wall system.
This can be useful for below-ground applications when combined with correct junction, drainage and waterproofing detailing.
Permanent formwork is not automatically the best solution for every project.
Important considerations include:
Wall dimensions, reinforcement, openings and connections need to work with the selected formwork system.
Services and structural openings should be planned before the concrete pour.
Late changes can be more difficult once the wall is filled.
Dincel does not remove the need for engineering.
The concrete, reinforcement, wall profile, footings and connections must still be designed for the actual project loads.
The polymer shell can contribute to water resistance, but junctions, penetrations and other interfaces still require proper waterproofing design.
The wall needs to be filled using the correct concrete specification and placement method.
Both systems can be used to create reinforced concrete walls.
The key difference is whether the formwork remains after the concrete has been poured.
Neither system is automatically better.
The right choice depends on:
Dincel is designed to provide a permanent polymer skin around the concrete wall and the manufacturer reports waterproof testing of its panel joints.
However, no below-ground structure should rely on the wall panels alone.
Water can enter at:
Drainage and groundwater also need to be managed.
For basement projects, the waterproofing system should therefore address the complete structure.
Dincel can be used to construct load-bearing walls where the wall has been properly engineered.
The structural capacity comes from the complete wall system, including:
The polymer panels do not independently provide the full structural capacity of the wall.
Yes.
Dincel can be used as permanent formwork for reinforced concrete retaining walls.
A retaining wall still needs to be designed for:
For retaining applications, the structure should be designed as a complete wall-and-footing system.
Yes.
Basement walls are one of the most common applications for permanent formwork systems.
Dincel can be useful where:
During residential basement construction, the Dincel walls need to coordinate with footings, slabs, drainage, reinforcement and waterproofing.
Dincel walls can require steel reinforcement depending on their structural role.
The reinforcement arrangement is determined by the engineer.
Factors that influence reinforcement include:
A basement wall and an internal non-retaining wall may therefore have very different reinforcement requirements.
For structural applications, yes.
The engineer may need to specify:
Dincel should be treated as part of an engineered structural system rather than as a standalone wall product.
Dincel may be worth considering when:
It may not be the best option where:
The final choice should be based on the complete project rather than the product alone.
Dincel is one option for creating reinforced concrete walls using permanent formwork.
Its suitability depends on the structural design, wall application, access, waterproofing requirements and how the wall connects to the rest of the building.
Urban Pour works across structural concrete, basement construction, excavation and reinforced wall systems, allowing Dincel to be assessed as part of the complete structure rather than as an isolated product.
For projects involving basements, retaining walls or other structural concrete elements, the architectural and structural drawings provide the best starting point for assessing whether Dincel is appropriate.
Dincel uses proprietary polymer panels that remain around the concrete after the wall is poured.
Yes. The hollow panels are filled with concrete during construction.
Yes. The panels remain in place after the concrete has cured.
Dincel can be used to form structural reinforced concrete walls when properly engineered.
The polymer system contributes to water resistance, but junctions, penetrations, drainage and other waterproofing details still need proper design.
Yes. It can be used for basement and retaining-wall applications where appropriately designed.
Dincel remains permanently around the concrete, while conventional formwork is generally removed after the concrete has gained sufficient strength.
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