Electrostatic Grounding

Static discharge from bulk bags being filled with corn starch, or any other powdered material is likely to cause static discharge during bulk bag filling.

Experience in the field is limited because much depends on the materials used in the bag fabrication and the wide variation in static discharge hazards between different customers handling the same ingredient.

Corn starch is known to present a serious hazard risk, and usually the bag maker is required to build in anti-static properties to the bulk bag to overcome the problem.

The basic protection involved when installing such a bulk bag filling station includes:

1. Ensuring the bulk bag filler is completely grounded/earthed.
2. The bulk bag inlet clamping device is grounded/earthed to the bulk bag filler (the clamping ring has a flexible copper braid earthing strap which firmly attaches to the earth.)

For the bulk bag itself, and in the case of unlined bags, use a grid fabric with an FDA approved conductive coating on the inside. Earthing tapes around the top panel of the bag (usually carbon impregnated plastic tape) are sewn in. Similarly, the bottom panel with the bottom earthing strap sewn together creates a completely safe earth for the fabric of the body of the bag.