Fine aggregate concrete consists of a mixture of Portland cement, fine aggregate (sand) and water, so proportioned and mixed as to provide a pumpable fine aggregate concrete. Fine aggregate concrete has a typical mix water/cement ratio of 0.65 to 0.75.

The pumping of fine aggregate concrete into the fabric forms causes a reduction in the water content by filtering excess mixing water through the permeable fabric. The reduction of mixing water substantially improves the water/cement ratio of the in-place fine aggregate concrete thereby increasing its strength and durability. With a typical loss of approximately 15% of the total mixing water, 27 cubic feet (or 1.0 cubic meters) of pumpable fine aggregate concrete will reduce to approximately 25 cubic feet (0.93 cubic meters) of hardened concrete. The mixing water reduction will also result in an increase of approximately 8 percent in the sand and cement per cubic yard (cubic meter) of concrete.

The range of fine aggregate concrete mix proportions provided in the table has been developed under a variety of field conditions. The consistency of the fine aggregate concrete delivered to the job site should be maintained in the 9-11 second range when passed through the 0.75 inch (19 mm) orifice of the standard flow cone that is described in ASTM D 6449.

Tests utilizing a concrete slump cone are not appropriate.