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Encasement Forma is a bespoke metal casing system that wraps structural columns, exposed steelwork and building services in a finished aluminium, stainless-steel or steel skin. It is specified for both interior and exterior applications, with circular, square, rectangular, semi-circular and elliptical sections available, plus project-specific shapes. The important design task is not choosing a generic cover: it is coordinating the clear internal dimension, fixing build-up, finish, joints, access and any separate fire-protection requirement with the manufacturer before fabrication.
What Forma column casings are—and what they are not
Forma casings are non-loadbearing architectural enclosures. They conceal a column or service zone and create a controlled visual finish around it; they do not replace the structural member or automatically protect it from fire. Encasement manufactures each casing to the specified geometry, material, dimensions and finish rather than supplying a universal, cut-to-fit sleeve.
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The system is intended for projects where a column must remain accessible for coordination but look deliberate in a finished space. Reported applications include Porsche West London, Tetrosyl’s head-office reception area, Birmingham Dental Hospital and Winchester College. Those examples show where the manufacturer says the system has been used; they are not independent evidence of a particular service life, cost saving or durability rating.
Forma is positioned for indoor and outdoor work. The same project may require different substrates, coatings, joint details or linings on different columns, so the specification should identify the exposure and interface conditions for every location.
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Materials, profiles and construction
Choose the metal for the environment and appearance
| Material | Typical specification information | Points to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | Available within the Forma range; casing skin thickness is selected within the 1.5 mm–3 mm range according to profile and material. | Finish compatibility, colour, exposure and any required internal brace. |
| Stainless steel | Available for architectural metalwork where the selected grade and finish are suitable for the project. | Grade, brushing or polishing standard, exterior environment and sample approval. |
| Steel | Available within the range, with thickness determined by the profile and material selection. | Specified coating system, corrosion environment, joint appearance and maintenance expectations. |
The quoted 1.5 mm–3 mm range describes the metal skin, not a guaranteed thickness for every profile. Encasement can supply a lightweight internal brace where curved, square or rectangular sections need additional rigidity. Ask for the proposed section and support arrangement rather than assuming the skin alone will resist site handling or impact.
Profile options
The brochure lists circular, semi-circular, square, rectangular and elliptical profiles. Encasement’s product description also refers to hexagonal and other unique custom forms. Treat these as specification-dependent options, not a promise that every shape is standard stock. A drawing should show the finished outside dimensions, clear internal opening, split or joint position, access requirements and the relationship to adjacent walls, ceilings and floors.
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Sizes, clearances and height planning
Standard circular sizes
For circular casings, the 21 October 2024 brochure lists the following standard external diameters and corresponding minimum internal diameters:
| External diameter (mm) | Listed minimum internal diameter (mm) |
|---|---|
| 250 | 244 |
| 300 | 294 |
| 350 | 344 |
| 400 | 394 |
| 450 | 444 |
| 500 | 494 |
| 550 | 544 |
| 600 | 594 |
| 650 | 644 |
| 700 | 694 |
| 800 | 794 |
| 900 | 894 |
| 1000 | 994 |
The internal figures are listed minimums, not a substitute for checking the actual column, any packers or services, the timber battens and the installation tolerance. Custom circular dimensions are available, as are bespoke square, rectangular, elliptical and special profiles. Final measurement and manufacturer drawings should govern fabrication.
Tolerances and tall columns
The brochure gives a profile dimensional tolerance of approximately ±4 mm and a nominal metal-skin thickness tolerance of ±0.1 mm. Coordinate these tolerances at wall junctions, door reveals, skirting and ceiling lines; a nominal diameter should not be treated as a site-measured guarantee.
An individual casing is listed up to 3000 mm high. Where the column is taller, Encasement states that multiple units can be stacked. The project drawing must establish the horizontal joint, alignment, access sequence and any collar or cover needed at the transition; no universal maximum stacked height or joint detail is stated.
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Finishes and visual control
The standard specification lists brushed, polished and polyester powder-coated (PPC) finishes. The technical section expands the menu:
- Polyester powder coatings to BS 6496/7, with colours available from RAL or BS 4800/381C ranges.
- Brushing and polishing assessed to BS 1134 Part 1.
- Anodising to BS 3987 at 25 microns where the selected material is suitable.
- Patterned, embossed, perforated and oxide-tinted finishes, subject to material and profile feasibility.
- Textured or embossed options, including Rimex finishes, when confirmed for the chosen substrate.
For an exterior casing, request written confirmation that the proposed substrate, coating, texture and fixing detail are suitable for the exposure. A showroom sample is useful because brushing direction, perforation, emboss depth and colour can read differently on a large curved surface. Confirm whether the approved sample represents the production batch and which faces will be visible after installation.
How the fixing and joint system works
Forma is secured to the structural column with timber fixing battens and screws. The brochure states that these battens and screws are supplied by others, so the contract should assign responsibility for their design, procurement, substrate preparation and installation. An extruded infill feature joint conceals the fixings in the finished casing.
Optional components include head collars, skirting collars and internal acoustic lining in 6 mm or 20 mm thicknesses. A lightweight internal brace can be supplied where the selected profile needs more rigidity. These items affect the clear opening and the finished projection, so they belong on the coordinated drawing rather than being added after the casing has been ordered.
Recommended coordination sequence
- Survey the host condition. Record the structural column or service bundle, plumb variation, obstructions, slab and ceiling levels, and the space available for battens and screws.
- Define the finished envelope. Select the profile, external dimensions, internal clearance, split location, access panels and any head or skirting collars.
- Choose material and finish. State the metal, thickness range, colour or surface treatment, visible face and exposure category. Obtain a sample where appearance matters.
- Resolve the support. Show timber battens, screw positions, packers, brace requirements and who supplies each item. Do not assume the decorative skin can be fixed directly to an irregular column.
- Coordinate interfaces. Check doors, balustrades, handrails, skirtings, suspended ceilings, sprinklers, lighting, cleaning access and movement joints.
- Approve the manufacturer drawing. Encasement makes technical drawings available in PDF and DWG formats. Use the approved drawing for fabrication and site setting-out.
- Install and inspect the joint. Verify the casing is plumb, the infill feature is fully seated, collars are aligned and the finish has not been damaged during handling.
Can Forma be used outside?
Yes. Encasement describes Forma as suitable for exterior as well as interior applications. “Exterior” is not a complete performance specification, however. The project team must identify the site’s weather exposure, pollution or coastal conditions, drainage and water traps, cleaning regime, adjacent materials and the expected appearance of joints over time.
Specify the exterior substrate and finish together. For example, a polished surface, a powder-coated surface and an anodised surface have different visual characteristics and maintenance considerations. Ask Encasement to confirm the selected combination for the actual profile, including edges, perforations, collars and any concealed support. Coordinate movement and sealant details at the head, base and interfaces with walls so that water cannot be directed behind the casing.
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Prices, lead times and the availability of particular finishes can change. Obtain a project quotation and current technical confirmation before fixing the programme or ordering materials.
Fire performance: a crucial distinction
The brochure says the ferrous and non-ferrous metals used for Forma can be regarded as non-combustible according to BS 476-4. That is a statement about the material. It is not a fire-resistance rating for the casing, and it does not demonstrate that the enclosed structural column will retain its required load-bearing performance in a fire.
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How to decide whether Forma fits the project
Use the following decision points before requesting fabrication:
- Geometry: Is the column circular, angular, irregular or carrying services that need a special profile?
- Clearance: What is the measured obstruction envelope, including battens, insulation, brace and access needs?
- Exposure: Is the casing internal, sheltered external or fully exposed, and has the finish been confirmed for that condition?
- Appearance: Is the priority a quiet colour match, visible metal grain, reflective polish, texture, perforation or a bespoke pattern?
- Height: Can the column be handled as one unit, or does the drawing need stacked sections and a deliberate joint?
- Maintenance and access: Will services, inspection points or cleaning require removable sections?
- Acoustics: Would the 6 mm or 20 mm lining option solve a specific reverberation or breakout concern, and does it fit inside the available clearance?
- Fire: Is a separately tested structural protection system required?
Where other Encasement material families may be relevant
Forma should not be confused with Encasement’s other casing families. The company’s descriptions identify Circa as MDF for interior-only use, Quadra as pre-formed plywood for interior-only use, Polyma as GRP for interior and exterior use, and Gypra as GRG for interior-only use. Metza is a distinct fire-rated casing system for mezzanine support columns. These products may be comparison points when the project prioritises weight, substrate, moisture exposure or fire performance, but they are not interchangeable specifications and should not be treated as equivalent to Forma.
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Encasement advertises a supply-and-install service for its casing products, which can give a live project one commercial route for both manufacture and fitting. Confirm the exact scope: survey, shop drawings, battens, screws, protection of finished surfaces, access equipment, making good and responsibility for adjacent trades. The available evidence does not establish standard prices, lead times, commissions or referral terms, so those details must come from a project quotation.
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A complete enquiry should include the column schedule, marked-up plans and elevations, required clear internal dimensions, material and finish, exposure, height and joint strategy, collars or lining, fire requirements, site access and the date by which approved drawings are needed. Include photographs and a measured survey where existing construction is irregular.
Common specification mistakes and fixes
Ordering from the nominal column diameter
Problem: The casing arrives too tight once battens, packers or services are included. Fix: Dimension the entire obstruction envelope and obtain the manufacturer’s clear internal dimension on the approved drawing.
Assuming every profile is a stock size
Problem: A semi-circular, elliptical or unusual section is treated as an off-the-shelf item. Fix: Identify the desired geometry early and have Encasement confirm whether it is standard or bespoke.
Leaving the joint until site
Problem: Stacked sections, collars or infill joints clash with ceilings, skirtings or access panels. Fix: Draw the complete vertical assembly and interfaces before fabrication.
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Specifying a finish without checking the substrate
Problem: A texture, anodising process or coating is selected without confirming suitability for the chosen metal and exterior exposure. Fix: Approve a representative sample and obtain written technical confirmation.
Using decorative casing as fire protection
Problem: Non-combustibility is read as a fire-resistance period. Fix: Keep the structural fire strategy separate and specify a tested protection system where required.
Quick Recap
Practical specification checklist
- Column or service reference and verified site dimensions.
- Profile, external dimensions and clear internal opening.
- Material, nominal skin thickness and tolerance requirements.
- Interior or exterior exposure and approved finish sample.
- Unit height, stacked-section joint and handling plan.
- Timber battens, screws, packers and brace responsibilities.
- Head collar, skirting collar, acoustic lining and access requirements.
- PDF and DWG manufacturer drawings approved before manufacture.
- Separate structural fire-protection specification and evidence, if needed.
- Confirmed quotation, lead time, delivery protection and installation scope.
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