The use of self-compacting concrete (SCC) is gaining significance for reasons of its high flowability without segregation. However, the flowability performance of SCC as indicated by the standard tests is different from that observed in field particularly in the congested reinforcement areas of structural elements. The congested reinforcement poses multiple lines of resistance to the flow of SCC. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the flow performance of SCC against multiple resistance from the reinforcement. For simulating the multiple lines of resistance to the flow of SCC, a new test named as ‘constrained flow test (CFT) of SCC’ has been attempted. The parameters of the investigation include the diameter and spacing of reinforcement. The results indicated that the variation of the diameter of reinforcement relative to its spacing has a significant influence on the flowability of SCC. A new parameter termed as ‘flowability coefficient’ which takes in to account the effect of spacing and diameter of reinforcement on the slump flow of SCC has been proposed and quantified.