International

Standard

ISO 21898
Packaging — Flexible intermediate Second edition
bulk containers (FIBCs) for non- 2024-08
dangerous goods
Emballages — Grands récipients pour vrac souples (GRVS) pour
matières non dangereuses

Reference number
ISO 21898:2024(en) © ISO 2024
 ISO 21898:2024(en)

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© ISO 2024
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 ISO 21898:2024(en)

Contents Page

Foreword..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv
1 Scope.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
3 Terms and definitions................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
4 Materials, construction and design.............................................................................................................................................................. 4
4.1 Materials....................................................................................................................................................................................................................4
4.2 Construction........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
4.3 Design filling height......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
4.4 Recycled materials............................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
4.5 Electrostatic protective FIBC.................................................................................................................................................................. 5
5 Performance.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
5.1 Type-testing............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
5.2 Preparation of FIBC for test...................................................................................................................................................................... 6
5.2.1 Filling.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
5.2.2 Conditioning......................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
5.3 Test requirements............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
5.3.1 Cyclic top lift test(s)....................................................................................................................................................................... 6
5.3.2 Compression/stacking test..................................................................................................................................................... 6
6 Statement of conformity........................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
7 Marking....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Annex A (normative) Evaluation of the UV resistance................................................................................................................................. 9
Annex B (normative) Cyclic top lift test..................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Annex C (normative) Compression/stacking test........................................................................................................................................... 24
Annex D (informative) Guidance on selection and use of FIBCs..................................................................................................... 25
Annex E (informative) Design of FIBCs...................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Annex F (informative) Optional methods for UV resistance test................................................................................................... 34
Bibliography.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 35


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 ISO 21898:2024(en)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 122, Packaging, Subcommittee SC 3,
Performance requirements and tests for means of packaging, packages and unit loads (as required by
ISO/TC 122), in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee
CEN/TC 261, Packaging, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN
(Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 21898:2004), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— in 5.2.1, a new note on non-standard filling material has been added;
— a new subclause 4.4 on the use of and requirement for recycled materials has been added;
— a new subclause 4.5 on electrostatic protective FIBC has been added;
— in Clause 7, the label has been modified;
— Annex A has been revised;
— Annex C has been revised;
— a new Annex F, Optional methods for UV resistance test, has been added;
— IEC 61340-4-4 has been incorporated in the document through a series of cross-references.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.


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International Standard ISO 21898:2024(en)

Packaging — Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs)

for non-dangerous goods

1 Scope
This document specifies materials, construction and design requirements, type test and marking
requirements for flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) intended to contain non-dangerous solid
materials in powder, granular or paste form, and designed to be lifted from above by integral or detachable
devices.
This document also provides guidance on the selection and safe usage of FIBCs.

2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 4892-3, Plastics — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 3: Fluorescent UV lamps
ISO 12048, Packaging — Complete, filled transport packages — Compression and stacking tests using a
compression tester
ISO 13934-1, Textiles — Tensile properties of fabrics — Part 1: Determination of maximum force and elongation
at maximum force using the strip method
IEC 61340-4-4, Electrostatics — Part 4-4: Standard test methods for specific applications — Electrostatic
classification of flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC)

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://​w ww​.iso​.org/​obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://​w ww​.electropedia​.org/​

3.1 General

3.1.1
flexible intermediate bulk container
FIBC
intermediate bulk container having the body made of flexible material such as woven plastic fabric or plastics
film, designed to be in contact with the contents, either directly or through an inner liner, and collapsible
when empty
3.1.2
heavy-duty reusable flexible intermediate bulk container
FIBC designed and intended to be used for a multitude of fillings and discharges, and both factory and field
repairable in such a way that the tensile strength across a repair is at least as great as that of the original


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 ISO 21898:2024(en)

3.1.3
standard-duty reusable flexible intermediate bulk container
FIBC designed and intended to be used for a limited number of fillings and discharges
Note 1 to entry: An FIBC of this category cannot be reused if damaged, i.e. it is not repairable.

Note 2 to entry: The replacement of a removable inner liner is not considered a repair.

3.1.4
single-trip flexible intermediate bulk container
FIBC designed and intended to be used for one filling only
Note 1 to entry: An FIBC of this category cannot be reused. Neither replacement of an inner liner nor repair of the FIBC
is relevant to this category.

3.1.5
FIBC type
FIBCs of like design, manufactured using like materials and methods of construction (giving at least equal
performance) to the same nominal cross-sectional dimensions
Note 1 to entry: Within a type, the circumference may be increased by up to 10 % by comparison with samples passing
a type test, provided the same geometry is maintained. Where the type has a base discharge spout, smaller diameter
discharge spouts of like design may be used.

Note 2 to entry: The presence or absence of an inner liner does not constitute a change of type.

3.1.6
safe working load
SWL
maximum load which the FIBC may carry in service, as certified
3.1.7
safety factor
SF
integer quotient between the final test load in the cyclic top lift test and the SWL value rounded down
Note 1 to entry: Safety factors can be illustrated as follows (see also B.3.3):

Example 1 Example 2

Designated SWL 500 kg 500 kg

Final load, cyclic test 2 400 kg 2 600 kg

Quotient 4,8 5,2

Integer quotient, rounded down 4 5

Note 2 to entry: The results in Example 1 indicate a single-trip FIBC which does not meet the requirements of this
document, whilst those in Example 2 indicate a single-trip FIBC which meets the requirements.

3.1.8
lifting device
integral and/or fixed lifting devices which form part of the FIBC and are tested with it
Note 1 to entry: Detachable lifting devices are regarded as lifting tools.

3.2 FIBC parts

3.2.1
walls
tube of one or more layers, seamless or made out of one or more panels joined together


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 ISO 21898:2024(en)

3.2.2
base
part of the FIBC which is connected to or integral with the walls and forms the base of the standing FIBC
3.2.3
plain base
base without an opening
3.2.4
full open base
extensions to the wall(s), forming the base of the FIBC after closing
3.2.5
top
part of the FIBC, excluding handling devices, forming the upper end of the FIBC after closing
3.2.6
body
walls and base of the FIBC
3.2.7
inner liner
integral or removable container which fits into the FIBC

3.3 Operating devices

3.3.1
filling spout
tube-shaped part at the top for filling the FIBC
3.3.2
filling slit
slit-shaped opening at the top for filling the FIBC
3.3.3
discharging spout
tube-shaped part at the base for discharging the FIBC

3.4 Handling devices

3.4.1
lifting devices
webbings, loops, ropes, eyes, frames or other devices formed from a continuation of the walls of the FIBC,
which are integral or detachable, and are used to support or lift the FIBC
3.4.2
four-point lifting
four lifting devices used simultaneously to lift the FIBC
3.4.3
two-point lifting
two lifting devices used simultaneously to lift the FIBC
3.4.4
one-point lifting
one lifting device, or one or more lifting devices brought to one point for lifting
3.5
coated and laminated materials
materials having a surface coating or comprising two or more layers laminated together to protect the
contents of the filled FIBC or to protect the environment against the effects of leakage of the contents


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 ISO 21898:2024(en)

3.6 Special treatments

3.6.1
stabilization
modification of the FIBC materials to give better resistance against weathering and ageing
EXAMPLE The addition of an ultraviolet (UV) absorber and/or an antioxidant.

3.6.2
electrostatic protective treatment
treatment for modifying the electrostatic behaviour of the FIBC
3.6.3
insect-repellent treatment
treatment for increasing the ability of the FIBC to protect itself and/or its contents against insect attack
3.6.4
flame-retardant treatment
treatment to impart flame resistance to the FIBC

4 Materials, construction and design

4.1 Materials
All categories of FIBC shall be manufactured from flexible materials covered by a written specification. The
FIBC manufacturer shall have an authorized statement of conformity for each separate batch of materials.
The materials can have a surface coating or consist of two or more layers laminated together to protect the
contents of the filled FIBC or to protect the environment from the effects of leakage of the contents.
The properties of the materials can be modified by additives to improve the resistance of the materials
against, for example, degradation by heat and sunlight, and to reduce the effect of static electricity.
NOTE IEC 61340-4-4 specifies a test method for the electrostatic classification of FIBCs.

All load-bearing materials of the FIBC shall be tested in accordance with the test method specified in
Annex A and shall retain at least 50 % of their initial values of the force at rupture and elongation at rupture.
Other light sources than the one specified in Annex A can be used. Details of these other light sources are
given in Annex F.
In case of dispute, the light source specified in Annex A shall be used.
Materials should be chosen and joined together in such a way that recovery is promoted.

4.2 Construction
All stitched seams and joints shall be locked off and/or back sewn, or provided with a minimum 20 mm tail. All
stitched seam-ends shall be secured. The surfaces to be joined by welding, gluing or heat-sealing shall be clean.
NOTE Annex E shows some design examples of FIBCs illustrated in Figures E.1 to E.13.

4.3 Design filling height

The designed filling height of the FIBC should be 2,0 times maximum of the shortest horizontal dimension of
the FIBC.
NOTE 1 For FIBCs with a circular cross-section, the shortest horizontal dimension is normally the diameter of
the FIBC base, even if the base has square dimensions. For FIBCs with a rectangular base, the shortest horizontal
dimension is normally the shortest side.


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