| FIBC Construction | Confirm that the bag is a true square-bottom or form-stable FIBC and not a standard four-panel bag with a modified discharge. | Check the approved drawing, panel construction, base design, lifting-loop arrangement, and filled-bag shape. | Technical drawing and pre-production sample | Unstable pallet loads, poor container utilization, or deformation during stacking. |
| Safe Working Load | Match the bag’s rated capacity with the product density, filling volume, handling equipment, and stacking plan. | Common commercial ratings include 500 kg, 1,000 kg, 1,250 kg, and 1,500 kg, but the final rating must be established by design and testing. | Marked SWL on the specification sheet and bag label | Overloading, lifting failure, product loss, or workplace injury. |
| Safety Factor | Verify the intended safety factor for repeated handling and the applicable market requirements. | Many standard single-trip FIBCs are designed around a 5:1 safety factor; reusable designs may require a higher or separately validated rating. | Test report stating the safety factor and test method | Incorrect assumptions about reuse, lifting cycles, or allowable load. |
| Applicable Standard | Ask whether the design and testing follow a recognized FIBC standard. | ISO 21898 covers flexible intermediate bulk containers for non-dangerous goods, including design and performance requirements. | Declaration of conformity and relevant test records | Unclear compliance status and difficulty qualifying the product for regulated supply chains. |
| Dangerous Goods Use | Determine whether the bag will carry dangerous goods or only non-dangerous materials. | UN-certified FIBCs require the correct UN design type, marking, testing, and certification; ordinary FIBCs must not be represented as UN-approved. | Valid UN certificate for the exact construction and rating | Regulatory rejection, transport restrictions, or unsafe shipment. |
| Fabric Weight | Confirm woven polypropylene fabric weight, coating, and construction rather than relying only on the bag’s appearance. | Fabric weight is commonly specified in g/m²; the required value depends on SWL, safety factor, product density, and handling conditions. | Fabric specification, incoming-material records, and sample inspection | Insufficient strength, excessive material cost, or inconsistent production. |
| Lifting Loops | Check loop type, loop spacing, seam reinforcement, and compatibility with forklifts, cranes, or automated filling systems. | Typical configurations include four corner loops, cross-corner loops, sleeve loops, or special lifting systems; the equipment must match the configuration. | Loop drawing, lifting test report, and handling trial | Uneven lifting, loop damage, or inability to use the customer’s equipment. |
| Top Inlet | Specify filling inlet diameter, height, closure method, and dust-control requirements. | Common options include open top, duffle top, filling spout, and specially shaped inlets; dimensions should be confirmed against the filling line. | Dimensioned inlet drawing and filling compatibility test | Slow filling, dust leakage, or connection problems at the packing station. |
| Bottom Discharge | Define discharge outlet size, location, closure type, and the required discharge rate. | Common options include plain bottom, discharge spout, iris closure, flap closure, or full-opening base. The selected outlet must suit the product and receiving equipment. | Discharge drawing and product-flow trial | Bridging, incomplete emptying, uncontrolled discharge, or production downtime. |
| Dimensional Accuracy | Measure filled and unfilled dimensions, including length, width, height, inlet, outlet, and loop positions. | Use agreed tolerances on the approved drawing; dimensional tolerances should reflect filling, palletizing, racking, and transport requirements. | Inspection plan with recorded measurements from production samples | Overhanging pallets, blocked equipment, poor stacking, or container-space loss. |
| Form Stability | Evaluate whether the square-bottom shape remains stable after filling, lifting, transport vibration, and stacking. | Conduct a filled-bag stability trial using the actual bulk material or a representative test material. | Filled-bag photographs, stacking trial, and transport simulation results | Leaning loads, pallet collapse, and increased handling risk. |
| Liner Selection | Check whether an inner liner is required for moisture protection, fine powders, hygiene, or product containment. | Possible materials include polyethylene liners or form-fit liners; thickness and sealing method must be selected for the product and process. | Liner material specification and leak or seal test | Moisture ingress, contamination, product leakage, or difficult discharge. |
| Electrostatic Control | Assess the product’s dust and ignition characteristics and select the correct FIBC type. | Types A, B, C, and D have different electrostatic-control characteristics. Type C requires grounding during filling and discharge. | Electrostatic classification, grounding procedure, and test documentation | Electrostatic discharge, dust ignition, or serious operational hazards. |
| Product Compatibility | Check chemical compatibility between the product, polypropylene fabric, coating, liner, ink, and closure components. | Review temperature, moisture, acidity or alkalinity, solvent exposure, abrasion, and storage duration before final material selection. | Compatibility assessment and material declarations | Fabric degradation, leakage, contamination, or reduced service life. |
| Cleanliness and Hygiene | Specify whether the application needs technical, food-contact, pharmaceutical, or controlled-environment cleanliness. | Define acceptable foreign matter, lint, oil, odor, visible contamination, packaging method, and inspection conditions. | Cleaning procedure, hygiene declaration, and batch inspection records | Product contamination, customer rejection, or failed quality audits. |
| Printing and Traceability | Confirm printing location, number of colors, required warnings, lot identification, and label durability. | Include SWL, handling instructions, product information, manufacturing lot, and any required regulatory markings. | Artwork proof, label layout, and traceability sample | Incorrect handling, weak traceability, or labeling nonconformity. |
| Quality Control | Review controls for fabric, seams, loops, dimensions, closures, cleanliness, and finished-bag appearance. | Use an agreed inspection plan with sampling levels, acceptance criteria, defect classification, and corrective-action procedures. | Quality manual, inspection report, and retained production sample | Inconsistent batches and difficult resolution of quality claims. |
| Testing Program | Confirm that testing is performed on the same construction, material combination, and rating as the ordered bag. | Relevant tests may include lift testing, topple testing, compression or stacking testing, drop testing, seam strength, and liner leakage testing. | Current test reports linked to the exact product specification | Test results may not represent the delivered production bag. |
| Sample Approval | Approve a physical sample before mass production, especially for custom square-bottom designs. | Check filled shape, loop fit, inlet and outlet operation, dimensions, printing, liner installation, and packaging. | Signed sample approval record and approved reference sample | Production may proceed with an incorrect design or unapproved variation. |
| Packaging and Storage | Verify how empty FIBCs are folded, packed, protected, and stored before shipment and use. | Keep bags dry, clean, covered, and away from direct sunlight, heat, sparks, sharp objects, and chemical exposure. | Packaging specification and storage instructions | UV damage, moisture contamination, odor absorption, or weakened material. |
| Order and Delivery Control | Confirm minimum order quantity, lead time, production capacity, inspection timing, and shipment terms. | Use a written purchase specification covering quantity, tolerances, approved sample, packaging, documents, and change-control requirements. | Signed purchase specification and delivery schedule | Unexpected delays, specification changes, or disputes over acceptance criteria. |
| Supplier Qualification | Evaluate manufacturing capability without relying only on catalog claims or a low quotation. | Review process control, testing capability, traceability, corrective actions, production capacity, and experience with the required FIBC configuration. | Facility audit, process records, and reference production samples without brand-dependent claims | Higher risk of inconsistent quality, delayed delivery, or unsupported technical claims. |