ISO 21898

FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 21898
ISO/TC 122/SC 3
Packaging — Flexible intermediate
Secretariat: BSI
bulk containers (FIBCs) for non-
Voting begins on:
dangerous goods
2024-05-16
Emballages — Grands récipients vrac souples (GRVS) pour
Voting terminates on:
matières non dangereuses
2024-07-11
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO­
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
Reference number
ISO/FDIS 21898:2024(en) © ISO 2024

FINAL DRAFT
ISO/FDIS 21898:2024(en)
International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 21898
ISO/TC 122/SC 3
Packaging — Flexible intermediate
Secretariat: BSI
bulk containers (FIBCs) for non-
Voting begins on:
dangerous goods
Emballages — Grands récipients vrac souples (GRVS) pour
Voting terminates on:
matières non dangereuses
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
© ISO 2024
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO­
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
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Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/FDIS 21898:2024(en) © ISO 2024

ii
ISO/FDIS 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

iii
ISO/FDIS 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.

iv
FINAL DRAFT International Standard ISO/FDIS 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:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .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

ISO/FDIS 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
...