Oil Spill Containment Booms
Absorbent booms that contain and absorb oil and fuel on water and land, filled to a true 5-inch and 8-inch diameter at full stated length.
Our oil spill containment booms stop a spill from spreading and absorb it at the same time. Use them for sheen capture, waterfront and marina spills, fuel transfer, terminals, responder caches and large industrial spills. Oil-only booms float fully saturated, and rope, rings and clips on both ends let you link booms into a continuous containment line. Read our spill booms guide for how they're used.
- Rated 11:1 under ASTM F726-17: about 6.4 gal (24 L) per 5"×10' boom
- About twice the oil absorbency per gram of leading competitor fill, in medium and heavy oils
- Oil-only booms float fully saturated
- True 5" and 8" diameter at full stated length, lot-checked
- Custom lengths priced per linear foot
Oil Spill Containment Boom Specifications
Sizes, SKUs, weights and rated absorbency for every standard boom. Booms ship 25 bales to a skid as standard.
Standard containment booms
| Size | Type & SKU | Pack | Weight | Rated oil absorbency | Per skid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5" × 10' | Oil-Only (OBOOM-510) Universal (GBOOM-510) Hazmat (HAZ-510) | 4 per bale | ~4.4 lb per boom 17.6 lb per bale | ~6.4 gal (24 L) per boom ~26 gal per bale | 25 bales (100 booms) |
| 8" × 10' | Oil-Only (OBOOM-810) Universal (GBOOM-810-S) | 4 per bale | 7.5 lb per boom 30 lb per bale | ~11 gal (42 L) per boom ~44 gal per bale | 25 bales (100 booms) |
| 8" × 20' | Oil-Only (OBOOM-820) | 2 per bale | On request | On request | On request |
| Bilge booms | 5" × 15", 5" × 18", 8" × 18" | 10–40 per box | On request | On request | On request |
| Custom lengths | Any size | To order | — | — | Priced per linear foot |
Ratings are for oil-only booms, rated conservatively at 11:1 (oil to sorbent by weight), the low end of our results. Fill was tested to the ASTM F726-17 procedure (10 g of loose fill, 15 minutes' immersion, 30–90 seconds' drain before weighing) in medium (canola) and heavy (80W-90 gear) oils, where it absorbed about twice as much oil per gram as a leading competitor's fill. Volumes assume an oil density of 0.9 kg/L. A leading competitor's equivalent 5"×10' oil-only boom is rated at up to 6 US gal. Ask us about universal and hazmat performance.
Construction
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fill | 100% recycled shredded polypropylene; hydrophobic in oil-only booms |
| Sleeve | Spunbond polypropylene scrim with netted outer |
| Hardware | Rope, rings and clips on both ends |
| Deployment | Connect end-to-end with a 12" deployed overlap |
| Buoyancy | Oil-only booms float fully saturated |
| Quality control | Diameter, length, fill weight and absorbency checked by lot |
Full specs, test results and pack counts are in the Green Spill Kits product sheet (PDF). Samples, SDS and technical test reports are available on request.
Where oil spill containment booms are used
- Waterfronts, marinas and terminals: ring fuel spills and capture sheen on the water's surface.
- Fuel transfer points: pre-deploy booms around transfer areas so a small release never reaches water.
- Storm drains, ditches and outfalls: stop contaminated runoff before it leaves your site.
- Responder caches and large industrial spills: link booms into long containment lines.
Choosing the right boom
Oil-only booms absorb oil and fuel and repel water, so they're the standard for spills on water. Universal booms absorb oil, coolant and water-based fluids for spills on land. Hazmat booms are for aggressive chemicals. Choose 5-inch booms for drains, smaller spills and calm water, and 8-inch booms when you need more absorbency per boom or a taller barrier.
How to deploy containment booms
Lay booms around the spill or across its path, working from upwind or upstream. Link booms with the rope, rings and clips on each end, overlapping them by about 12 inches so oil can't slip through the joints. Once the spill is contained, use oil absorbent pads and oil absorbent pillows to recover what's inside the boom line.
Containment booms filled to spec, made in Ontario
100% recovered polypropylene
Sorbent fill is 100% recovered polypropylene by dry weight, an EPA-designated recovered-content item.
Lot-checked fill and absorbency
Dimensions, fill weight and absorbency are checked by lot, so every case performs like the last.
Bilingual EN/FR labels
English and French labels, with SDS and disposal guidance available for every product.
No minimum order
Order a single case or a full truckload. There's no minimum on standard SKUs.
24-hour incident shipping
Reserved surge capacity means incident orders have shipped on 24 hours' notice.
Made in Ontario, Canadian-first
Manufactured in Campbellford, Ontario, supporting Buy Ontario, Buy Canadian and ESG purchasing criteria.
Oil Spill Containment Boom Questions
What's the difference between an absorbent boom and a containment boom?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, a containment boom is any floating barrier that stops a spill from spreading, and some heavy-duty containment booms don't absorb anything. An absorbent boom contains the spill and soaks it up at the same time. Green Spill Kits booms are absorbent containment booms: they do both.
How much oil does a containment boom absorb?
Our oil-only booms are rated at 11:1 oil to sorbent by weight, a conservative figure from the low end of our ASTM F726-17 test results. That works out to about 6.4 US gal (24 L) per 5"×10' boom, or about 26 gal per bale, and about 11 gal (42 L) per 8"×10' boom, or about 44 gal per bale.
Should I use a 5-inch or an 8-inch boom?
Use 5-inch booms for drains, smaller spills and sheltered water. Use 8-inch booms when you need more absorbency per boom (about 11 gal versus 6.4 gal) or a taller barrier against wind and chop.
Oil-only, universal or hazmat: which boom do I need?
Oil-only booms absorb oil and fuel and repel water, so they're the choice for spills on water. Universal booms absorb oil, coolant and water-based fluids on land. Hazmat booms are for acids, bases and aggressive chemicals.
Do oil-only booms float when they're full?
Yes. Our oil-only booms use hydrophobic fill and float fully saturated, so they keep containing the spill as they absorb it.
How do I connect booms together?
Each boom has rope, rings and clips on both ends. Clip booms end-to-end with about a 12-inch deployed overlap so there are no gaps for oil to escape between sections.
What are bilge booms used for?
Bilge booms are short booms, in 5"×15", 5"×18" and 8"×18" sizes, that sit in a boat's bilge or a small sump to absorb oil before it's pumped out. They ship 10 to 40 per box.
Can I order custom boom lengths, and how many come on a pallet?
Yes. We make custom lengths to any size, priced per linear foot. Standard 10-foot booms ship 25 bales to a skid, which is 100 booms. There's no minimum on standard SKUs.
What are your booms made from?
The fill is 100% recovered polypropylene by dry weight, in a spunbond polypropylene sleeve, made in Campbellford, Ontario. Plastic sorbents are an EPA-designated recovered-content item, which supports Buy Canadian and ESG purchasing criteria.
Get a quote on oil spill containment booms
Samples, SDS, technical test reports and pallet or truckload quotations are available on request. No minimum on standard SKUs.