Which article for whom?
- Purchasing: start with the checklist, read Safe working load and safety factor and check data sheets in the documents section.
- Site management and construction site: Handling and storage, Coating, liner and fabric and the Fill Limit Calculator.
- Occupational safety and remediation: Asbestos and mineral wool and the page Asbestos big bags and sacks.
- Engineering and construction: Big bag construction and the glossary.
The most important figures at a glance
| Figure | Value per data sheet and item data |
|---|---|
| Items in the range | 48, in five designs |
| Load capacity of big bags and sheet bags | 150 to 1,500 kg at safety factor 5:1 (single-trip) |
| Pieces per pallet | 32 (container bag) to 4,200 (flat bag) |
| Items with asbestos warning print | 18, warning print in seven languages |
| Items with mineral wool warning print | 9, warning print in three languages |
| Minimum quantity for printing | 5 pallets per order and motif |
| Declarations of conformity published | 3 of 48 (BBA90, BBA901, BBA320) |
The seven articles in brief
Big bag construction and designs
Fabric, construction, lifting loops, top, bottom and seams, plus the sizes with nominal volume and the five designs compared.
Safe working load (SWL) and safety factor
What 1,000 kg and 5:1 mean, which load capacities are in the range, a worked example with sand and what the load capacity does not cover.
Coating, liner and fabric
When uncoated is enough, when you need coated bags or a liner, fabric weights and liner thicknesses in the range, electrostatics type A to D.
Asbestos and mineral wool: packaging and labelling
TRGS 519 and TRGS 521, what the warning prints in seven and three languages say, a comparison of both waste streams and what you must clarify in addition.
Checklist: choosing the right big bag
Eight questions from material to evidence, two worked examples and typical selection mistakes.
Handling and storage of big bags
Checking, filling, lifting, loading, storing, emptying and disposing, plus typical mistakes and a quick check before lifting.
Glossary: big bag terms
More than fifty terms from data sheets, standards, waste law and printing, briefly explained.
How to read a product page
Each of the 48 items has its own page with the same structure. At the top is a gallery of four images: application image, printing example, product photo and a dimension drawing with lifting loops, for special big bags also with inlet and outlet spouts. Next, “Choose version” shows which variations of the same size exist: with or without print, with or without skirt, coated or uncoated. The technical data give dimensions, load capacity, safety factor, fabric, packing unit and standard reference according to the data sheet; missing values appear as “on request”. The “Fill quantities” section calculates from dimensions and load capacity how much you may fill with typical materials. Further down you will find the data sheet and declaration of conformity as a PDF, similar items and questions about the item.
Three questions to get started
- What goes in the bag? Then begin with the Big Bag Finder.
- How heavy will it be? Then calculate in the Fill Limit Calculator.
- Who needs to know what? Then read the article for your role above under “Which article for whom?”.
Regulations we cite
| Regulation | What it is about | Where it is explained |
|---|---|---|
| EN ISO 21898 | Flexible bulk containers (FIBC), safety factors | Load capacity and safety factor |
| TRGS 519 | Asbestos in demolition, remediation and maintenance work, waste in no. 18 | Asbestos big bags, Labelling |
| TRGS 521 | Fibre dust in work with old mineral wool | Labelling |
| IEC 61340-4-4 | Electrostatic behaviour, types A to D | Coating, liner, fabric, Chemicals |
| ADR / GGVSEB | Carriage of dangerous goods, UN packaging | Chemicals, Glossary |
Read along, recalculate, ask
You can retrace the worked examples in the articles and on the product pages with the Fill Limit Calculator. If you want to check a statement, open the item's data sheet. What you cannot find there, ask via the enquiry form.
Frequently asked questions
Are the articles legal advice?
No. They are general technical information. Regulations, data sheet, label and the requirements of your waste disposal company or client are binding.
Where do the figures come from?
From the items' product data sheets and the item data on this website. Worked examples use guide values for bulk density, as the Fill Limit Calculator does. Each article states its sources and its date.
How up to date are the articles?
Each article carries a date. When regulations or data sheets change, we adjust the articles.
What if I cannot find a statement?
Where a value is missing from the data sheet or sources contradict one another, we write “on request”. Ask via the enquiry form and we will confirm the value in writing.
Are the articles also available as a PDF?
No, but the items' data sheets are available as PDFs. You will find them on the product pages and collected under Data sheets and conformity.
