Big Bags for Construction and Civil Engineering

Size by weight: what fits in which bag

On site it is usually weight that counts, not volume. A bag with 0.9 m³ nominal volume reaches its load capacity with sand before it is full. The table shows, for four standard items, how high you may fill with typical materials and how much that weighs.

Maximum fill height when the load capacity is respected, with the filling weight below. Calculation as in the Fill Limit Calculator: nominal volume from the external dimensions, bulk density as a guide value. The measured bulk density of your material is what counts.

The small bags (45 × 45 × 60 and 60 × 60 × 60 cm) do not reach their load capacity of 500 kg with these materials, even when completely full. The 90 cm bags, on the other hand, are usable only to about three quarters with sand and gravel. Anyone choosing BB902T with 1,500 kg load capacity can use almost the full height but must then rate the lifting equipment for the higher load.

Lifting and moving on site

• Always attach to all four loops. This applies to crane, attachment point and forklift. Attaching to only two loops loads the fabric on one side and is not covered by the load capacity.
• Do not drop material in from a great height. Sharp-edged material loads the fabric at points, especially with rubble.
• Lift evenly. No jerking, no dragging across the ground, no piercing the bag with a fork.
• Do not stand under the load.

Coated or uncoated

Uncoated fabric such as on BB45T, BB60T, BB90T and BB902T is air-permeable and absorbs moisture through the fabric. It is enough for dry, coarse material with covered storage. Coated bags such as BB70, BB90 and BB901 close the fabric pores and, according to the data sheet, protect against the ingress of moisture. They are the better choice for rain, damp material and outdoor storage. All three have a skirt that can be tied shut after filling.

Storing on site

Do not store filled bags in the sun permanently, because UV light weakens polypropylene fabric. Stack filled bags only if the manufacturer provides for it for the item and the stacking height has been checked. Unused bags stay in their original packaging until use. A pallet holds, depending on size, 500 pieces of BB90T up to 1,200 pieces of BB45T.

Special big bags and container bags

If you want to release sand or gravel in a controlled way at the point of use, use a special big bag with outlet, for example BBS004 with 1,250 kg load capacity. For large quantities of excavated material or rubble in a roll-off container, container bags line the container, neutral ones for example BB700 (700 × 240 × 240 cm). All items are available palletised; printing with a company logo is possible from 5 pallets per order and motif.

Sources and date

• Item data: product data sheets of DS SafetyWear Arbeitsschutzprodukte GmbH (dimensions, load capacity, packing unit).
• Bulk densities: guide values of the Fill Limit Calculator (sand dry 1.50, gravel and chippings 1.60, rubble mixed 1.40 t/m³).
• EN ISO 21898 (flexible bulk containers), safety factor 5:1 according to the data sheet.

As of: 23 October 2026. General technical information, not legal advice. The item's data sheet, the regulations cited and the requirements of your client or waste disposal company are authoritative.