Engineering References & Specifying Guides
We write for the engineer, plant manager, and technical evaluator. Explore practical guides on sizing geometry, calculating safety factors, mitigating electrostatic risks, and standard industrial terminology.
FIBC & Bulk Bag Technical Glossary
“The vocabulary, defined plainly.”
Bulk packaging involves technical terminology and shorthand. Ambiguity between buyers and manufacturers leads to specification errors. This glossary sets out the authoritative definitions Coastal FIBC works to across construction, safety, fabric, lifting, and trade.
FIBC Types A, B, C and D Explained
“Static electricity is the one FIBC risk that is invisible until it is not.”
Filling and emptying bulk bags moves metric tons of dry material rapidly against polymeric fabric, inducing significant triboelectric static charges. In the presence of combustible dusts or flammable solvents, this static charge can trigger devastating flash fires. International standard IEC 61340-4-4 classifies FIBCs into four distinct types.
Safety Factor: 5:1 vs 6:1
“The most consequential number on the specification, and the least understood.”
The safety factor is the ratio between the ultimate break load an FIBC survives on a certified test rig and its rated Safe Working Load (SWL). A 1,000 kg bag at 5:1 is built and tested against 5,000 kg. At 6:1, it is validated to 6,000 kg. Understanding this ratio is vital for risk mitigation.
How to Specify an FIBC
“Twelve data points. Get these right and everything else follows.”
Most FIBC enquiries arrive with three pieces of information: a capacity, a rough size, and a quantity. That is enough to produce a price, but not enough to produce the right bag. The gap between those two is where most bulk packaging failures begin. This guide details the twelve essential data points a manufacturer requires.
Have Questions About MOQ, Lead Times or Samples?
Check our official FAQ page answering critical commercial and technical requirements for international export buyers.
Rapid Technical Evaluation & Quotation in 24 Business Hours.
Send us your target payload, bulk density, and handling setup. Our technical sales engineers validate your requirements and provide an itemized export quotation within one business day.