Big Bags for Flood and Disaster Control

Filling with sand: weight and fill height

Flood barriers are usually filled with sand or soil, and that is heavy. For three items, the table uses guide values to calculate how high you may fill and how much a bag then weighs. A 45 × 45 × 60 cm bag weighs about 180 kg when full of dry sand. The 90 cm bag reaches its load capacity of 1,000 kg before it is full.

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.

Where the data sheets name flood control

For 13 items the data sheet expressly names flood control as an area of use: BB45T, BB60T, BB70, BB90T, BB90, BB901, BB902T, BBS001, BBS002, BBS003, BBS004, BBS005, BB90U. These include the small and medium big bags from 45 × 45 × 60 to 90 × 90 × 110 cm. The special big bags name it as well; they are intended for controlled filling and emptying.

Storable and palletised

When empty, big bags are bundled to save space. Per pallet we deliver 400 (BB90) to 1,200 pieces (BB45T). An emergency stock can thus be planned in pallets: 1,000 pieces of BB60T make one pallet, which at 0.22 m³ nominal volume is, by calculation, a good 200 m³ of material. For permanent outdoor use, storage time and UV exposure must be taken into account: polypropylene fabric ages in sunlight.

Planning example: one pallet of BB60T

1,000 pieces of BB60T (60 × 60 × 60 cm, 500 kg load capacity) make one pallet. With sand (1.50 t/m³), a fully filled bag weighs about 325 kg; the load capacity of 500 kg is not reached. Each bag gives 0.216 m³ nominal volume, each pallet by calculation 216 m³. Use this scheme for your needs: quantity in m³ divided by nominal volume per bag gives the number of pieces; number of pieces divided by 1,000 gives the number of pallets.

Plan the location and lifting equipment in advance

• Ground: a filled 90 cm bag weighs up to 1,000 kg. The ground must carry the point load.
• Lifting equipment: four lifting loops for crane and forklift; always attach all four.
• Filling: with sand or soil, check load capacity and fill height; distribute the material evenly.
• Bottom: the closed bottom prevents material from running out.

With the Fill Limit Calculator you check your material. The Big Bag Finder supports selection by size and handling.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and date

• Item data: product data sheets of DS SafetyWear Arbeitsschutzprodukte GmbH (areas of use, dimensions, load capacity, packing unit).
• Bulk densities: guide values of the Fill Limit Calculator (sand dry 1.50, soil 1.60 t/m³).

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.