ISO 21898 Packaging - Flexible Intermediate Storage Containers (FIBCs) for Non-Hazardous Goods

The ISO 21898 Packaging – Flexible intermediate storage containers (FIBCs) for non-hazardous goods, published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), describes the material, construction and design requirements, type testing and marking requirements for flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) designed to contain non-hazardous solid materials in powder, granular or paste form and designed to be lifted from above with integrated or demountable devices. This standard also provides guidance on the selection and safe use of FIBCs.

For the purposes of this standard, a flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) refers to an intermediate bulk container having a body made of flexible material such as woven plastic fabric or plastic film, designed to be in contact with its contents directly or indirectly through its inner liner, and which is foldable when empty.

The ISO 21898 standard provides requirements for the design, manufacture, testing, and safe handling of FIBCs, commonly known as big bags, big containers, or supercontainers.

Flexible intermediate storage containers (FIBCs) are large, collapsible bags made primarily of woven polypropylene (PP) fabric. They are widely used in industries such as chemical, food, agriculture, mining, and pharmaceuticals for storing and transporting non-hazardous solid materials in powder, granular, or paste form. FIBCs are designed to be lifted from above using integrated or removable lifting devices (e.g., rings).

These are available in various types:

• Standard service type is reusable (typically a 5:1 safety factor)
• Heavy-duty reusable (typically with a 6:1 or 8:1 safety factor)

The safe working load can reach 2.500 kg or more, depending on the design.

The ISO 21898 standard specifies the following:

• Materials: Requirements for woven fabrics, seams, and other components (e.g., tensile strength, UV resistance).
• Construction and design: Including body fabric, lifting rings, seams, and stuffing/draining openings.
• Type tests: Performance tests for lifting, stacking, compression, tipping, and other load-bearing stresses.
• Certification and labeling: Mandatory information to be printed on labels or bags (such as manufacturer information, safe working load, safety factor, production date, testing center, transport pictograms).
• Selection and safe usage guide.

This standard applies only to non-hazardous goods (hazardous goods are subject to separate United Nations/International Maritime Organization regulations and stricter testing).

The latest update to this standard has introduced improvements in areas such as stacking and compression testing to better reflect real-world transportation conditions and enhance safety. For example, it offers clearer recommendations regarding filling height (suggesting it should not exceed twice the shortest base dimension for better stability) and strengthens compression and stacking performance requirements.

A compliant FIBC label typically includes the following:

• Manufacturer/supplier name and address
• Safe working load in kg.
• Safety factor (e.g., 5:1, 6:1)
• Reference to ISO 21898 standard
• FIBC type (standard service or heavy-duty reusable)
• Certificate number and test center
• Production date
• Transportation pictograms and special instructions

FIBC manufacturers, fillers, logistics companies, and end-users in global supply chains rely on this standard to ensure safety, traceability, and performance consistency. Testing is typically carried out by accredited laboratories.

The ISO 21898 standard is essential because it specifies common safety and performance requirements for flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) commonly used for the handling and storage of dry bulk materials such as powders, granules, and chemicals.

In practice, without such a standard, FIBCs from different manufacturers differ significantly in terms of strength, safety, and reliability, leading to risks during handling, storage, and transport. The main reasons why this standard is considered important are as follows:

• Safety during handling and transport: FIBCs can carry loads ranging from several hundred kilograms to over one ton. If they fail during lifting or stacking, the result can be serious injury, product loss, or equipment damage. This standard defines minimum strength, lifting cycle performance, and safety factors to mitigate these risks.
• Consistent performance requirements: This standard ensures that the bags meet the following defined criteria:
  • Safe workload
  • Safety factor (typically 5:1 or higher, depending on the species)
  • Seam strength and fabric durability
  • UV resistance and handling conditions

This consistency allows users to trust that certified FIBCs behave predictably, regardless of the supplier.

• International trade harmonization: Because this standard is globally recognized, it helps manufacturers and buyers in different countries work with the same expectations. This reduces technical disputes and simplifies procurement for logistics and industrial supply chains.
• Preventing damage and contamination: Properly standardized FIBCs reduce the following risks:
  • Spillage during lifting
  • Moisture ingress (when applicable design features are included)
  • Contamination of contents during transport
• Quality assurance and testing: This standard also defines testing methods (e.g., drop tests, top-lift tests, cyclic loading tests) so that products are validated not only against theoretical design but also against real-world stress conditions.

In conclusion, the ISO 21898 standard makes bulk packaging safer, more reliable, and globally consistent, protecting workers, products, and supply chains in industries heavily reliant on bulk material handling. This helps FIBCs to:

• It must withstand dynamic lifting, stacking pressure, and long-term storage.
• Maintaining consistent quality in weaving, seam strength, and overall structure.
• Reducing the risk of malfunction, spillage, or accidents during transport.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services compliant with the ISO 21898 standard.