Fire safety and product safety is a critical consideration for businesses that handle volatile materials in flammable environments. For many dry products used in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical processing, the biggest fire risk comes from static electricity and the friction generated from the powdered particles rubbing against each other in storage or transport. In this article, we’ll look at the benefits of using specialist antistatic bulk bags to prevent static build-up and mitigate your fire risk, as well as aiding compliance with health and safety regulations.
Antistatic bulk bags are a type of FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) that have conductive threads interwoven with their polypropylene fabric. These materials are engineered to dissipate static electricity and prevent it from accumulating in your bag. An antistatic bag effectively creates a ‘Faraday cage’ around your products, neutralising any electrostatic charges that come into contact with the bag.
The principle behind antistatic FIBCs is simple but effective: when flammable materials are handled or moved, they generate static electricity. When this static builds up to a dangerous point, it can cause sparks or even an explosion. By ensuring that static electricity is safely dissipated, both your materials and the people handling it are protected.
Static electricity is a hidden but dangerous enemy in environments dealing with flammable substances – in which even a small spark can sometimes be enough to ignite vapours or powders and lead to catastrophic consequences. Unfortunately, almost every physical interaction generates some static electricity, including the contact between your employees’ shoes and the facility floor. Even putting on and taking off a coat can generate static.
Antistatic bags make sure that this static build-up doesn’t pose a quality or safety risk. As the bag is filled with materials, static build-up is either immediately dissipated or prevented, with the dual advantage of increased safety and quality assurance.
Antistatic bulk bags can help your organisation adhere to various industry-specific regulations and safety legislation, including the HSE’s guidance on electrostatic hazards, and the (US) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidance on managing static electricity hazards – NFPA 77: Recommended Practice on Static Electricity. These important guidelines include standards for bonding and grounding to eliminate static charges in environments with volatile dusts and vapours. These American but globally used standards can be purchased here, if you are interested.
Incorporating antistatic bulk bags into your supply chain can streamline operations through the safer handling and transport of flammable materials. Our bags, for example, are designed to be easy to use, making it simpler for employees to handle materials without the continual worry of static -related safety incidents. Antistatic bags provide a strong and robust layer of additional security during filling or discharge, with the antistatic properties of the bag keeping your materials safe and stable, increasing the reliability and efficiency of the logistics chain, and reducing downtime caused by safety concerns.
If you’re thinking about switching to antistatic bulk bags for your products or to find out more, please get in touch to discuss your bulk bag and packaging needs with one of our expert team today.
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