WHAT IS THE GRADING LIMITS FOR FINE AGGREGATES?

Grading Limit For Zone-1

To describe an aggregate by its maximum and minimum size is not sufficient. It has to be graded from its minimum to maximum size. IS-383 recommends the following grading limit for fine aggregates.

Grading Limits For Fine Aggregates

Sieve Size Percentage of Passing For
Grading

Zone-I

Grading

Zone-II

Grading

Zone-III

Grading

Zone-IV

10 mm 100 100 100 100
4.75 mm 90 – 100 90 – 100 90 – 100 95 – 100
2.36 mm 60 – 95 75 – 100 85 – 100 95 – 100
1.18 mm 30 – 70 55 – 90 75 – 100 90 – 1000
600 micron 15 – 34 35 – 59 60 – 79 80 – 100
300 micron 5 – 20 8 – 30 12 – 40 15 – 50
150 micron 0 – 10 0 – 10 0 – 10 0 – 15

Important Notes

  • Since the values for 600 micron size are not overlapping for different zones, it is used for confirming the zone of a sample of fine aggregate.
  • Zone-I represents the coarse sand and zone-IV represents the finer sand in all the four zones.
  • Fine aggregate belonging to zone-IV should not be used in RCC work unless tests have been made for suitability of mix proportion.

14 thoughts on “WHAT IS THE GRADING LIMITS FOR FINE AGGREGATES?”

  1. This zoning needs clearer explanation; the table leaves most readers confused. I understand the percentage of a particular sample passing through a particular sieve grades the sand, but not everyone does so and it took me some long time to deduce that.

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  2. hello everyone plx how can i get more information on the Effect of fine aggregate zones on Sandcrete block??????? plx reply asap its my project

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  3. how zone I,II,III,IV are classified ? either based on the layer formation of sand in river (or) based on he land where it is being mined? Please clarify.

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  4. Hai everyone to joine this group actually asking one question what is zone1,234 of aggregates anybody explaine it

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  5. When the grading falls outside the limits of any particular grading zone of sieves, other than 600 micron IS sieve, what does this “by a total amount not exceeding 5 percent” mean? , 5 percent of which total amount ?

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  6. Where the grading falls outside the limits of any particular grading zone of sieves, other than 600 micron IS sieve, by a total amount not exceeding 5 percent, it shall be regarded as falling within that grading zone.
    Here , what does this “by a total amount not exceeding 5 percent” mean? , 5 percent of which total amount ?

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