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Frequently Asked
Questions

Everything you need to know about RAM bags — from sizing and compatibility to shipping and disposal. Still have a question? Call us 24/7.

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The Bags

RAM makes six bag models designed around different job types and disposal methods:

  • PRO-350 — 6×4 ft · 75 cu ft · Fiberglass & Cellulose
  • PRO-450 — 6×4 ft · 75 cu ft · Rock Wool, Wet & Heavy loads
  • ECO+ Green — 7×4 ft · 88 cu ft · Fiberglass & Cellulose
  • Flex Bag — 13×3.6 ft · 125 cu ft · High-volume jobs
  • PRO-20 Yard — 12×7.6×6 ft · 540 cu ft · 20 & 40 yd dumpsters
  • PRO-30 Yard — 16×7.6×7 ft · 840 cu ft · 30 yd dumpsters

Both bags are the same size (6 ft × 4 ft) and hold the same volume (75 cu ft), but they differ in material strength. The PRO-350 is made from 2.4 oz polypropylene — ideal for standard dry fiberglass and cellulose removal. The PRO-450 uses 3.5 oz polypropylene, making it significantly more tear-resistant.

Choose the PRO-450 when dealing with rock wool, wet or water-damaged insulation, fire-damaged material, or any job where the insulation is heavier or more abrasive than normal.

The Flex Bag (13 ft × 3.6 ft) holds 125 cu ft — 67% more than the standard PRO bags — which means fewer bag changes per job. It's best suited for fiberglass and heavier loads where you want to minimize downtime swapping bags.

For large residential or commercial jobs, running Flex Bags can meaningfully cut total job time. Use our bag calculator to see the difference in bag count between models for your specific job.

These are dumpster-liner bags for large commercial jobs. Instead of filling dozens of standard bags and loading them individually into a roll-off container, you drop one of these bags into the dumpster and vacuum directly into it.

  • PRO-20 Yard (540 cu ft) — fits 20 & 40 yard dumpsters and 12–14 ft dump trailers
  • PRO-30 Yard (840 cu ft) — fits 30 yard dumpsters

The PRO-20 Yard and PRO-30 Yard are suited for both commercial and residential jobs — any project where material is going into a roll-off container. The labor savings are significant on jobs of all sizes. Instead of tying off, lowering, and stacking individual bags, the crew vacuums continuously until the job is done.

No. RAM bags are single-use disposable products. Once a bag is filled, the polypropylene is under stress from the weight and sharp debris inside. Reusing a filled bag risks tearing during handling or disposal — and a bag failure on a job site creates a significant cleanup problem.

RAM bags are not designed for long-term storage either. If you need to leave filled bags outside for multiple days, keep them out of direct sunlight or cover them with a tarp.

No insulation vacuum bags on the market are HEPA rated — including RAM bags. This is an industry-wide limitation, not specific to our products.

Because of this, RAM bags should never be used for the removal of asbestos insulation. Asbestos abatement requires specialized containment equipment and certified contractors. If you suspect your insulation may contain asbestos, stop work and contact a licensed asbestos inspector before proceeding.

RAM bags are made from 100% polypropylene — both non-woven and woven constructions — with five reinforced poly seams. The PRO-350 uses 2.4 oz material; the PRO-450 uses 3.5 oz material. The heavier the oz rating, the more tear-resistant the bag.

Polypropylene is the industry standard for insulation vacuum bags — it's strong, light, and handles the abrasive nature of insulation materials exceptionally well.

Yes. RAM bags are individually labeled, making them ready for resale straight out of the box. If you have specific labeling requirements for your business, call us at 404-354-6268 and we can discuss your needs.

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Sizing & Estimating

The number of bags depends on your square footage, insulation depth, insulation type, and how full you fill each bag. Use our free bag calculator to get an instant estimate — just enter your dimensions and the tool will give you bag counts for every RAM model.

As a rough rule: one 75 cu ft bag covers about 75 sq ft of attic at 12" depth when filled to capacity. At our recommended 85% fill, that's about 64 sq ft per bag. Always order 10–15% more than your estimate to avoid running short mid-job.

We recommend filling bags to 85% of their rated capacity. Overfilling puts stress on the seams and makes bags difficult to tie off and move safely. The 85% rule also gives you a margin of safety when dealing with heavier-than-expected material.

For wet, rock wool, or fire-damaged insulation, be even more conservative — 75% fill is safer when the material is dense or unpredictable.

Yes, significantly. Different insulation types have different densities and compact differently in bags:

  • Fiberglass — lightest, most efficient per bag
  • Cellulose — denser; slightly more bags needed
  • Rock wool — heaviest; expect 20–30% more bags
  • Wet insulation — much heavier; plan for 30%+ more bags

The bag calculator accounts for insulation type in its estimates.

Measure the length and width of your attic floor in feet — this gives you your square footage. Then use a ruler or tape measure to check the current depth of the insulation in several spots (depth often varies across an attic). Use the average depth for your calculation.

You can also estimate from outside: most homes have their insulation R-value listed in property records or visible on a sticker near the attic hatch. Use that as a starting point for depth estimates if you haven't been in the attic yet.

Always. Running short on bags when you're mid-job — suited up, machine running, attic open — is one of the most frustrating and costly stops in insulation work. We recommend ordering 10–15% more bags than your estimate.

Any unused bags can be stored and used on your next job. Bags keep well as long as they're stored flat, dry, and away from sharp objects.

One PRO-20 Yard bag (540 cu ft) holds the equivalent of about 7 standard PRO-350 bags. One PRO-30 Yard bag (840 cu ft) holds the equivalent of about 11 standard bags. For large jobs where material goes into a roll-off container, dumpster bags are dramatically more efficient in terms of labor.

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Compatibility

Yes. RAM bags fit all insulation vacuums and hoses with a 10-inch diameter or less, which covers virtually every machine on the market. The easy-fill spout accommodates both side-fill and top-fill attachment methods.

No — especially on modern high-HP machines. Current insulation vacuums run at 23HP or higher. Direct bag attachment at that velocity puts extreme stress on the bag inlet and will cause premature tears or failure.

Always use a section of hose curved at a 90-degree angle between the machine outlet and the bag. The curved hose deflects nails, staples, and large debris chunks before they hit the bag wall, dramatically extending bag life and preventing mid-job failures.

Yes. RAM bags are designed to be universal and work with all standard rental insulation vacuums available at Home Depot, Lowe's, and equipment rental centers. The 10" spout fits the outlet hose on all commonly available rental units.

Not effectively. Shop vacs are not designed to move the volume of material involved in insulation removal — they clog quickly, overheat, and don't generate enough airflow to pull loose-fill insulation through a hose efficiently. For any meaningful insulation removal job, a dedicated insulation vacuum is required.

RAM bags have a 10"–12" easy-fill spout that fits hose connections up to 10 inches in diameter. This covers all standard insulation vacuum hoses. If you're using a machine with an unusually large outlet, call us and we can advise on the best attachment method.

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Usage & Safety

Absolutely not. No insulation vacuum bags on the market are rated for asbestos, and RAM bags are no exception. Asbestos abatement requires specialized containment bags, equipment, and certified contractors with proper licensing.

If your home was built before 1980 and you haven't tested for asbestos, stop work and contact a licensed asbestos inspector before removing any insulation.

At minimum: an N95 or P100 respirator (not a basic dust mask), sealed safety goggles, full disposable coveralls (Tyvek), and gloves. For contaminated insulation (mold, rodents, fire), a full respirator and additional containment measures are recommended.

RAM sells disposable coveralls alongside our bags. Call or order online to add them to your order.

Once the bag is filled to the desired level, disconnect the hose from the spout and flatten the spout as much as possible to release trapped air. Fold or cinch the spout closed and tie it tightly. The low-dust filter on the spout helps contain fine particles during this step.

Yes, but with care. RAM bags are not designed for long-term outdoor storage. If you need to leave filled bags outside for more than a day or two, keep them out of direct sunlight — UV exposure weakens polypropylene over time — and cover them with a tarp to protect from rain and wind.

Standard insulation (dry fiberglass, cellulose) is typically accepted at most transfer stations and dumpsters as construction debris. Check with your local waste management provider for confirmation.

Contaminated insulation — mold, rodent, fire/smoke-damaged — may require special disposal handling. Contact your local waste authority before hauling to confirm requirements in your area.

RAM bags are engineered specifically for insulation removal. While contractors occasionally use them for other light debris, we only test and warrant them for insulation applications. Using bags for heavy, sharp, or chemically aggressive materials beyond their intended use voids any product warranty.

Four things prevent most tears:

  • Always use a curved hose section between the machine and the bag — never direct-attach to the outlet
  • Fill to 85% capacity or less — overfilled bags are the #1 cause of seam failure
  • Use the right bag for the material — PRO-450 or heavier for rock wool and wet insulation
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Insulation Types

The PRO-350 handles dry blown fiberglass extremely well. It's our most popular bag for standard residential attic removal. The Flex Bag is also excellent for fiberglass when you want fewer bag changes on larger jobs.

For fiberglass batts (as opposed to blown), you'll be hand-packing rather than vacuuming. Either the PRO-350 or PRO-450 works fine — use PRO-450 if the batts are particularly heavy or you're dealing with older, denser material.

Dry cellulose works well with the PRO-350. Cellulose is slightly denser than fiberglass but moves through hoses without issue when dry. If there's any moisture in the cellulose — which is common since cellulose absorbs moisture readily — upgrade to the PRO-450 and plan for heavier bags.

Always use the PRO-450 for rock wool. It's heavier and more abrasive than fiberglass or cellulose, and the standard PRO-350 will wear through faster and is more prone to seam failure under the weight. Fill PRO-450 bags to no more than 75% capacity when removing rock wool.

Yes, but use the PRO-450 — not the PRO-350. Wet insulation is significantly heavier than dry material and places much greater stress on bag seams. Fill to 75% capacity maximum and expect to use more bags than a dry-insulation estimate would suggest.

For severely water-damaged insulation that has become semi-solid or compacted, hand-packing into bags may be more effective than vacuuming.

Use PRO-450 bags and full PPE including a respirator rated for smoke particulates. Fire-damaged insulation is often brittle, clumped, or mixed with debris — go slowly and expect more bag usage than normal.

Check local regulations for disposal of fire-damaged material. Many areas have specific requirements for debris from fire-affected structures.

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Orders & Shipping

Yes. RAM offers free same-day shipping on orders placed before our daily cutoff time. We know that a stalled job costs you money, and we built our fulfillment around that. Call us at 404-354-6268 if you have an urgent order and need to confirm same-day availability.

Yes, free shipping on all orders — no minimum order size required. We also sell on Amazon if you prefer ordering through Prime, though ramvacbags.com will always have our full product selection.

Absolutely. Call us 24/7 at 404-354-6268. We're a family-owned business based in Roswell, Georgia, and someone always answers. If you have questions about which bag is right for your job, we're happy to help you figure it out before you order.

Yes. We work with insulation contractors across the country and offer pricing for repeat and bulk orders. Call us directly at 404-354-6268 to discuss your volume needs and we'll put together the right pricing for your operation.

Still have a question?

We answer our phones 24/7. Call, email, or use the calculator to get started.