Definition
A "Kicker" or starter is a very short (typically 50mm to 100mm high) concrete extrusion cast exactly at the footprint of a column or wall directly above the foundation or floor slab. Its sole purpose is to provide a perfectly aligned, rigid physical guide against which the vertical column shuttering (formwork) can be securely clamped.
Practical Example
The surveying team draws the exact coordinates for 50 basement columns. Before the carpenters begin erecting the massive 3-meter tall column formwork, the concrete crew pours a 75mm tall "kicker" for each column. The next day, the carpenters simply lock their wooden formwork tightly around these solid kicks, guaranteeing the column will not shift out of plumb during a heavy pour.
Application in Superwise
Quality control relies heavily on Kickers. In Superwise’s QA module, engineers must fill out a "Pre-Pour Checklist" confirming the dimensions and grid-alignment of the kickers. If the kickers are off-center, Superwise flags the defect early, preventing the catastrophic error of casting a misaligned column.
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