Bulk Bag Specifications

Complete FIBC types, SWL ratings, and safety factor specifications for all standard bulk bag sizes. Essential information for buying and selling used FIBCs.

FIBC TypesSWL RatingsSafety Factors

Standard FIBC Specifications

Size	Capacity	SWL (5:1 SF)	Volume	Fabric Weight	UN Rating	Market Share
35×35×35 inches 40% of market - most common	1,000 lbs	2,200 lbs (5:1 SF)	35 cubic feet	170-200 GSM	UN13H3/Y/150/S	40% of market - most common
35×35×45 inches 25% of market	1,500 lbs	3,300 lbs (5:1 SF)	45 cubic feet	190-220 GSM	UN13H3/Y/200/S	25% of market
35×35×50 inches 20% of market	2,000 lbs	4,400 lbs (5:1 SF)	50 cubic feet	210-240 GSM	UN13H3/Y/250/S	20% of market
37×37×47 inches 10% of market	2,500 lbs	5,500 lbs (5:1 SF)	55 cubic feet	230-260 GSM	UN13H3/Y/300/S	10% of market
Tubular (various) 5% of market	1,000-3,000 lbs	Varies by size	Varies	180-250 GSM	UN13H4/Y/XXX/S	5% of market

FIBC Types & Anti-Static Properties

Type A (Standard)

60% of market

Basic FIBC without anti-static properties

Fabric Construction

Plain polypropylene woven fabric

✓ Applications

+Non-flammable materials
+Low static environments
+General purpose use
+Agricultural products

✗ Restrictions

-No flammable materials
-No combustible dust
-No static-sensitive products
-Not for hazardous materials

Cost: Lowest cost option

Market Share: 60% of market

Type B (Anti-Static)

15% of market

Low breakdown voltage to prevent static buildup

Fabric Construction

Polypropylene with low breakdown voltage

✓ Applications

+Dry, flammable powders
+Combustible dusts
+Static-sensitive materials
+Pharmaceutical powders

✗ Restrictions

-No solvents or flammable vapors
-Must maintain low breakdown voltage
-Requires proper grounding
-Limited to dry materials

Cost: 15-25% premium over Type A

Market Share: 15% of market

Type C (Conductive)

20% of market

Conductive threads woven into fabric

Fabric Construction

Polypropylene with conductive threads

✓ Applications

+Flammable solids and liquids
+Solvents and chemicals
+Explosive atmospheres
+Hazardous materials

✗ Restrictions

-Must be properly grounded
-Conductive threads must be intact
-Requires grounding verification
-Not suitable if threads damaged

Cost: 50-100% premium over Type A

Market Share: 20% of market

Type D (Static Dissipative)

5% of market

Special fabric that dissipates static without grounding

Fabric Construction

Static dissipative polypropylene blend

✓ Applications

+Flammable materials (no grounding required)
+Areas where grounding is difficult
+Mobile applications
+Remote locations

✗ Restrictions

-Most expensive option
-Limited availability
-Requires fabric certification
-Performance degrades over time

Cost: 100-200% premium over Type A

Market Share: 5% of market

Safety Factors & SWL Calculations

5:1 (Standard)

Break strength ÷ 5 = SWL

Most common safety factor for general use

Calculation Example

11,000 lbs break strength = 2,200 lbs SWL

Applications

•General industrial materials
•Non-critical applications
•Standard bulk materials
•Agricultural products

Advantages

+Cost effective
+Widely available
+Adequate for most uses
+Industry standard

Limitations

-Lower safety margin
-Not for critical applications
-Requires careful handling
-Limited reuse cycles

6:1 (High Safety)

Break strength ÷ 6 = SWL

Higher safety factor for critical applications

Calculation Example

11,000 lbs break strength = 1,833 lbs SWL

Applications

•Food grade materials
•Pharmaceutical products
•High-value contents
•Multiple use applications

Advantages

+Higher safety margin
+Better for reuse
+Reduced failure risk
+Suitable for critical materials

Limitations

-Higher cost
-Lower capacity rating
-Less efficient material use
-Limited availability

8:1 (Food Grade)

Break strength ÷ 8 = SWL

Highest safety factor for food applications

Calculation Example

11,000 lbs break strength = 1,375 lbs SWL

Applications

•Food ingredients
•Pharmaceutical raw materials
•High-purity chemicals
•Export applications

Advantages

+Maximum safety
+Food grade compliance
+Multiple reuse capability
+Lowest failure risk

Limitations

-Highest cost
-Significantly lower capacity
-Special manufacturing required
-Very limited availability

Condition Classifications & SWL Retention

New/Unused

100% of market price

Brand new bulk bags, never filled

Characteristics

✓Factory fresh condition
✓Original manufacturer packaging
✓Full SWL rating intact
✓All loops and seams perfect
✓No UV exposure or degradation
✓Complete documentation included

SWL Retention: 100% of rated SWL

Best For: Food grade, pharmaceuticals, critical applications

Estimated Lifespan: Full 2-5 year potential (stored properly)

Single Use

60-75% of new price

Used once for compatible materials

Characteristics

✓One previous use only
✓Compatible previous contents
✓No visible damage or wear
✓Loops and seams intact
✓Minimal UV exposure
✓Clean interior condition

SWL Retention: 90-95% of rated SWL

Best For: Similar materials, non-critical applications

Estimated Lifespan: 1-3 additional uses estimated

Multi-Use

40-55% of new price

Used multiple times, showing wear

Characteristics

✓2-4 previous uses
✓Visible wear but structurally sound
✓Some loop stretching acceptable
✓Minor staining or discoloration
✓UV exposure evident
✓Still functionally safe

SWL Retention: 80-85% of rated SWL

Best For: Non-critical materials, cost-sensitive applications

Estimated Lifespan: 1-2 additional uses estimated

Industrial Grade

25-40% of new price

Heavy use, reduced capacity

Characteristics

✓5+ previous uses
✓Significant wear and discoloration
✓Loop stretching and deformation
✓Fabric thinning in stress areas
✓UV degradation visible
✓Reduced safe working load

SWL Retention: 60-75% of rated SWL

Best For: Low-value materials, internal use only

Estimated Lifespan: 1 additional use maximum

Scrap/Recycling

Fabric recycling value ($0.05-0.15/lb)

Beyond safe use, fabric recycling only

Characteristics

✓Structural damage or failure
✓Torn seams or loops
✓Excessive UV degradation
✓Holes or fabric deterioration
✓Contamination beyond cleaning
✓Unsafe for load bearing

SWL Retention: Unsafe - no load capacity

Best For: Polypropylene recycling only

Estimated Lifespan: End of service life

Previous Contents & Contamination Assessment

Food Ingredients

Low Risk

Previous food-grade materials

Market Value:75-85% of new price

Cleaning Required: Basic cleaning and inspection

Reusability: Excellent for similar food products

Restrictions: Must verify allergen compatibility

Examples

•Sugar and sweeteners
•Flour and grain products
•Salt and minerals
•Food additives

Agricultural Products

Low-Medium Risk

Seeds, fertilizers, feed products

Market Value:60-75% of new price

Cleaning Required: Thorough cleaning and inspection

Reusability: Good for similar agricultural use

Restrictions: Check for pesticide residues

Examples

•Seeds and grains
•Animal feed
•Organic fertilizers
•Agricultural minerals

Industrial Chemicals

Medium-High Risk

Non-hazardous industrial materials

Market Value:40-60% of new price

Cleaning Required: Professional cleaning and testing

Reusability: Limited to compatible chemicals

Restrictions: Requires compatibility verification

Examples

•Plastic pellets
•Industrial minerals
•Non-toxic chemicals
•Construction materials

Hazardous Materials

High Risk

Toxic, flammable, or reactive materials

Market Value:20-40% of new price

Cleaning Required: Specialized decontamination

Reusability: Very limited, usually single-use only

Restrictions: Requires hazmat certification

Examples

•Toxic chemicals
•Flammable powders
•Reactive materials
•Regulated substances

UN Specification Requirements

UN13H3

Woven plastic bag with inner liner

Construction

Woven polypropylene with PE liner

Applications

Powders, granules, food products

Test Requirements

•Drop test from specified height
•Top lift test at 6x SWL
•Cyclic top lift test
•Righting test

Marking Format: UN13H3/Y/SWL/YY/COUNTRY

UN13H4

Woven plastic bag without inner liner

Construction

Woven polypropylene only

Applications

Non-dusty materials, pellets

Test Requirements

•Drop test from specified height
•Top lift test at 6x SWL
•Cyclic top lift test
•Righting test

Marking Format: UN13H4/Y/SWL/YY/COUNTRY

Truckload Quantities

Bag Type	Quantity	Total Weight	Compression	Trailer Type	Notes
1,000 lb Bags - Empty	800-1,000 bags	4,000-6,000 lbs	High compression possible	53' dry van	Excellent compression ratio
1,000 lb Bags - Loaded	30-34 bags	30,000-34,000 lbs	No compression when loaded	53' dry van	Weight limited, not space limited
2,000 lb Bags - Empty	600-800 bags	4,500-7,000 lbs	Good compression	53' dry van	Larger bags compress less efficiently
2,000 lb Bags - Loaded	16-17 bags	32,000-34,000 lbs	No compression when loaded	53' dry van	Fewer bags due to higher capacity

Key Facts for Bulk Bag Trading

Safety Factor Critical

5:1 safety factor is standard, 6:1 for food grade, 8:1 for pharmaceutical. Used bags lose 10-40% of SWL depending on condition

Type Classification

Type A (60% market) for non-flammable materials. Type C (20% market) for hazardous materials requiring grounding. Type determines applications

Previous Contents Value

Food-grade previous contents: 75-85% of new price. Agricultural: 60-75%. Industrial chemicals: 40-60%. Hazmat: 20-40% maximum

⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

All used bulk bags are sold AS-IS with NO WARRANTIES, guarantees, or representations of any kind. These are USED PRODUCTS that will NOT meet strict regulations, compliance requirements, or quality standards. Condition classifications and SWL ratings are LOOSELY DEFINED and subjective - what one company considers single-use, another may not. Buyers are solely responsible for inspection, testing, and suitability determination. FIBC types, safety factors, SWL ratings, and condition classifications are estimates only and do not constitute any warranty or guarantee of performance, safety, compliance, or fitness for any particular purpose.