Types of fibc bags - A,B & C

Type A FIBC Bulk Bags (Standard / Non-Conductive)

IEC 61340-4-4: Type A FIBCs are designed for safely storing and transporting non-flammable, non-combustible materials. Because they offer no static protection, they must never be used in environments with flammable gases or for materials with low ignition energies. They are the industry standard for safe, everyday bulk handling across agriculture, construction, and non-hazardous chemical sectors.

• Material: Manufactured using standard, plain-woven polypropylene and other non-conductive fabrics.
• Static Behavior: As materials move during filling or emptying, friction against the fabric generates static charges. Type A bags do not dissipate this charge.
• Safety Restriction: Must not be used to transport combustible materials or operated in environments where flammable vapors or gases are present.
• Best For: Safe transport of completely non-combustible products (e.g., grain, sand, stones, stable minerals).

Cautions: Type A FIBC or Flexible Containers

• Don't transport flammable products
• Don't let flammable solvents or gases accumulate around Type A FIBC.
• Don't use near a flammable atmosphere with minimum ignition energy < 1,000mJ present

Type B FIBC Bulk Bags (Static-Protected / Low Breakdown)

IEC 61340-4-4: Type B FIBCs are constructed similarly to Type A bags but are treated to provide a critical extra layer of safety against electrostatic hazards. They are engineered specifically to prevent Propagating Brush Discharges (PBDs), which are highly energetic and dangerous sparks. While they protect against dust ignition, they do not dissipate static charges, meaning they must never be used if flammable vapors or gases are present.

• Material & Mechanics: Made from plain-woven polypropylene. Unlike Type A, the fabric or coating is specified to have a low breakdown voltage (less than 6 kV) to successfully halt propagating brush discharges.
• Static Behavior: Like Type A, they do not possess a mechanism to dispel or ground an electrostatic charge. They are not classified as fully anti-static or conductive bags.
• Safe Applications: Safely used for transporting dry, combustible powders and dusts, provided the Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) of the dust zones 21-22 with MIE > 3 mJ
• Critical Restrictions & Cautions:
  No Flammable Vapors: Must never be used if flammable solvents, gases, or vapors are present in the surrounding environment.
  Grounding: Do not attempt to ground a Type B bag, as the material is non-conductive and will not dissipate the charge to a ground point.

Type C FIBC Bulk Bags (Conductive / Groundable)

IEC 61340-4-4: Type C FIBCs, universally known as conductive or groundable bulk bags, are engineered to safely dissipate static electricity during the handling of highly volatile materials. By providing a direct path to the earth, these bags eliminate the risk of incendiary sparks. They are the industry standard for operations involving fine, highly flammable powders or environments where explosive gases and vapors are present.

• Material & Construction: Manufactured using a specialized fabric where non-conductive polypropylene is interwoven with a continuous grid of conductive silver or carbon threads.
• Static Behavior: Instead of letting static build up, Type C bags safely conduct the electrical charge along the grid threads directly to a designated grounding point.
• Interconnection: During manufacturing, all panels and components of the bag are precisely sewn to ensure that all conductive threads are electrically connected to one another and to the grounding tabs.
• Safe Applications: Safely used to transport highly flammable powders and can be operated in environments with explosive dusts, flammable gases, or volatile solvent vapors.

Critical Safety Cautions:

• Mandatory Grounding: The absolute safety of a Type C bag depends entirely on maintaining a secure, uninterrupted connection to the earth or ground during both the filling and discharging processes.
• System Integrity: Never use a Type C bag if the ground connection is missing, damaged, or shows electrical resistance greater than 10^7 ohms) from any point on the bag to the groundable tab. If it cannot be grounded, it behaves like a dangerous Type A bag.