UN bags and dangerous goods
What a UN certification is, when it is required, and why it is not an option you add at the last minute.
What is a UN bag?
A UN certified FIBC is packaging approved for the transport of dangerous goods. It has passed a series of standardized tests — drop, toplift, stacking, tightness, tear — and carries a marking that states precisely what it is authorized to carry.
Reading the marking
The code printed on the bag is not decoration: it states the construction type, the authorized packing group, the maximum mass, the year of manufacture and the country of approval. An inspector reads it in seconds — and just as quickly spots a bag that does not match its contents.
Packing Group II
Medium danger substances. The most common FIBC certification: it also covers Group III material by extension.
Packing Group III
Low danger substances. A Group II approved bag qualifies; the reverse is never true.
Why it cannot be added later
Certification applies to a specific construction, tested exactly as built: fabric, seams, loops, liner, closures. Change one element — even an apparent upgrade — and the bag falls outside its approval. That is why a UN bag is not a standard bag with a box ticked: it is a distinct product, with its own lead time and documentation.
What we need to quote you
The UN number of your substance, its packing group, the mass to be shipped, and the intended mode of transport. With that, we confirm the correct approved construction. Without it, no serious supplier can quote a UN bag — be wary of any who do.
Important: classifying your substance and selecting compliant packaging is the shipper’s responsibility under TDG and DOT regulations. We supply approved packaging matching what you declare to us.
Question about your application?
Our specialists have been sizing FIBCs for three generations. Tell us your product and your constraints.