Flowable Fill
Flowable Fill, technically called a “Controlled Low-Strength Material” (CLSM), is a fluid, self-leveling, low-strength material used for backfill and as a replacement for granular sub-base. Delivered in a ready-mix truck, flowable fills ease of placement, labor savings, easy excavation, and versatility make it the preferred fill for today’s time, safety, cost, and environmentally-aware contractors.
The American Concrete Institute, in document ACI 116R, defines CLSM as materials that result in a compressive strength of 1200 psi or less. It is most commonly used as a self-compacting, cementitious-based material used as an alternate backfill instead of compacted soil (excavatable). County Ready Mix has supplied flowable fill for challenging and diverse project applications, such as papermill rebuilds, road crossings, pipeline jobs, abandoned underground piping, crawl spaces under foundations, and more. Mix designs can be customized to your needs to meet required strengths and set times. Consult your County Ready Mix sales representative for more detailed information.
Common Uses for Flowable Fill:
| Backfill | Structural Fill | Other Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer Trenches | Road Base | Uderground Storage Tanks |
| Utility trenches | Mud Jacking | Slope Stabilization |
| Building Excavation | Sub Footing | Soil Erosion Control |
| Bridge Abutments | Floor Slab Base | Mud Mats |
| Conduit Trenches | Pipe Bedding | Abandoned Sewers and Tanks |
Advantages:
| Reduced In-Place Cost | The flowing, self-leveling consistency of flowable fill requires no placing in lifts. Tamping or compacting is eliminated. |
|---|---|
| Minimizes Settlement | Flowable fill assures high density backfill and reduces costly maintenance due to settlement. Flowable fill flows readily in and around pipes and tanks without voids. |
| Worker Safety | Fewer workers are subjected to trench failures and it can be subsequently cut or trenched without caving in or running. |
| Easily Removed |
Can be made to be easily excavatable without larger construction equipment. |
| Durable | More stable and less permeable than alternate compacted backfill, reducing erosion and washouts |
| Versatile | Adjustable to meet fill requirements. Can be normal density (> 50 lbs/ft3) or lower density, (<50 lbs/ft3) for reducing weight or for reducing thermal transfer. |
