Bulk bags come in handy in the construction industry because they help carry gravel, sand, grain, and other materials. Using these bags, workers can easily transport massive quantities of materials in minimal time and without breaking a sweat. The use of bulk bags has also helped workers deal with the need to load construction materials onto vehicles. As a result, this enhances onsite efficiency and reduces fuel consumption. 

But despite bulk bags being used by construction businesses for decades, choosing one still proves to be a challenge. The main reason for this is that there are many available options to pick from, so picking the right one may be confusing and intimidating. 

To help you out, here’s a guide on how to pick the right bulk bag for your construction business. 

1) Size Considerations 

One of the crucial factors to consider when searching for antistatic bulk bags is their size—that is, width and length dimensions. Otherwise, you can’t store the desired weight or volume of construction materials, be it gravel or sand. 

In addition to the bulk bag’s length and width, there are other things that you need to factor in, such as the following: 

• The size of the pallet on which you’ll place and transport your bulk bags. This is vital to ensure that there is no unused pallet space and that no parts of the bulk bag are touching the ground or hanging along the edges.
• The product’s bulk weight per cubic foot. This calculation is done as follows:

Pounds of the product/pounds per cubic feet = X the bulk bag’s cubic feet capacity 

You can find bulk bags in different sizes, and this varies from one manufacturer to another. With that said, you should strive to find one that adheres to the maximum safe weight, which is usually 14,000 pounds. 

Because the construction material to be placed inside will be heavy, knowing the exact size of the bulk bag to get is critical. This is necessary to ensure the safety of the workers involved in the storage and transportation of the bulk bag. In addition, this helps ensure profit maximization while minimizing product waste as much as possible. 

2) Suitable Fabric Type And Weight 

Bulk bags generally come in four fabrics made from different materials with varying reactions to combustible items. The fabric materials are as follows: 

• Type A Fabric Bags: This fabric is used for making the standard bulk bag and is manufactured from polypropylene, UV additive, and calcium carbonate. These bulk bags aren’t ideal for carrying combustible materials. 
• Type B Fabric Bags: These bulk bags also contain polypropylene but can be used for carrying combustible items, thanks to an extra fabric coating that prevents sparks. 
• Type C Fabric Bags: These bags are ideal for guaranteeing protection from combustible powders because they contain carbon filaments. They’re made from dissipative or conductive yarns integrated into the polypropylene weave. For safety reasons, these bags should be grounded when being filled or transported. 
• Type D Fabric Bags: They’re made with antistatic fabric. Thus, they don’t need to be grounded when storing or moving flammable items. 

In addition to the fabric type, you also need to factor in the fabric’s weight. The three standard fabric weights are 5 oz., 6 oz., and 8 oz. Understanding these fabric weights is crucial because it may affect the bulkiness of the construction material you’ll be carrying. It’s best to consult with your chosen bulk bag supplier to determine the ideal fabric weight for your needs. 

3) Lining And Coating 

Your bulk bag’s coating and liner are crucial in blocking moisture or air from reaching the construction material inside, so you should be sure to consider this in making your choice. There are different lining and coating materials in the market. To pick out the best option, it’s best if you ask for advice from your bulk bag supplier. Since they have experience working with different construction companies, they can provide you with proper guidance in choosing a bulk bag with the suitable coating and lining for the materials you intend to store in it. 

4) Style 

You can get bulk bags in different styles depending on your needs and preferences. To identify the right style to get, you need to consider your transportation, storage, and filling and emptying methods. Some of the common styles to consider include the following: 

• Baffled Bulk Bags 

These bulk bags are designed with robust panels stitched on all sides, and this helps give it a uniform and robust square shape with less bulging. While baffled bags can’t hold too many items, they’re excellent for maximizing the available storage space. This is possible because these bags can be packed tightly next to each other. Therefore, they should be the go-to choice when looking to achieve transport and storage efficiency. 

• Spout Top Bulk Bags 

Do you want a bulk bag that guarantees stability during filling? If so, the spout top bulk bag is the perfect pick, because it comes embroidered with sturdy spouts at the top. These bags are the perfect solution when using specific fixed machinery, especially equipment that features a discharge hose. You should consider getting this bulk bag if you don’t want a lot of materials to be wasted and if you want to avoid having too much mess during shipping and storage. In addition, they help make processes more efficient and boast excellent durability and value. 

• Duffle Top Bulk Bags 

This bulk bag features a closeable fabric top and is the perfect choice to prevent the spilling of products during filling while still ensuring that the process is done quickly. You should also get this bulk bag to minimize wastage due to spillage during transportation and storage. 

If none of these are what you’re looking for, you could also opt to ask your supplier whether they’ve got suggestions for better options for your company. While the bulk bag styles mentioned above are the most common ones used, there are other styles that can meet your specific filling needs, including the cone top with fill spout, open top, and standard fill spout. There are also bulk bag styles that are ideal for emptying or discharging, such as the tie-open bottom, flat bottom, and spout bottom. 

Takeaway 

It’s a known fact that bulk bags are crucial for businesses operating in the construction industry. Because of how important they are, you should never buy this bag without first doing in-depth research. After all, a specific bulk bag might be the perfect choice for one construction business but the wrong pick for yours. Use the valuable tips outlined in this article to help you pick out the right bulk bag for your business needs.