Chemical Spill - Chemical absorbents are yellow and are used with most aggressive chemical liquids.
Maintenance Spill - Maintenance absorbents are grey and are used with most liquids that do not degrade the absorbent.
Oil Only Spill - Oil Only absorbents are white or blue and are used with oils, hydrocarbons, and liquids which do not mix with or absorb water.
Chemical Compatibility Chart
Spill Control Standards
BS 7959 – BS Standards – Material used for the control of liquid spillages
BS 7959 is the British Standard, which contains 3 parts for spill control products: Absorbency, Oil Only Sorbents and Colour Coding for spill.
BS 7959-1:2004 – Determination Of Sorbency
This tests the absorbency rate for a variety of different sorbents that is: pads, socks, pillows etc using diesel fuel, hydraulic oil, motor oil, xylene, deionized water. The absorbency is measured in litres of liquid absorbed per Kg. After 30 seconds if the sorbent has retained the liquid it passes the standard.
BS 7959-2:2002 – Determination Of Water Repellency Or Buoyancy For Hydrophobic (Oil Sorbent) Materials
This test is performed in the same manner as part 1, however it is only measured the absorbency for oil only sorbents.
BS 7959-3:2007 – Colour Coding Sorbent Materials
This part of the standard specifies a system of colour coding for sorbent materials and their packaging.