UNSPSC 12131510: White phosphorus

A material made from a common allotrope of the chemical element phosphorus that is used in smoke, tracer, illumination and incendiary munitions. White phosphorus is a translucent waxy solid that quickly becomes yellow when exposed to light. For this reason it is also called yellow phosphorus. It is highly flammable and pyrophoric (self-igniting) upon contact with air as well as toxic (causing severe liver damage on ingestion and phossy jaw from chronic ingestion or inhalation). The odour of combustion of this form has a characteristic garlic smell.

White phosphorus is only slightly soluble in water and it can be stored under water. Indeed, white phosphorus is only safe from self-igniting when it is submerged in water. It is, however, soluble in benzene, oils, carbon disulfide, and disulfur dichloride

UNSPSC 12131510 White phosphorus (Commodity) is marked in state and local procurement systems but shows no recent solicitation activity aligned with its nominal scope. The three most recent opportunities tagged under or near this code — a Charlotte, North Carolina request for NIJ-compliant body armor (May 2026), a Sourcewell cooperative procurement for law enforcement equipment (April 2026), and a Rockland County, New York RFB for live ammunition, less-lethal ammunition, and less-lethal gases and grenades (April 2026) — do not involve white phosphorus. The body armor solicitation targets new, unused protective gear meeting NIJ standards for sworn personnel; the Sourcewell vehicle seeks to establish a general law enforcement equipment contracting solution for Minnesota public safety agencies; and the Rockland County procurement specifically covers live rounds from manufacturers including Federal, Remington, and Winchester, less-lethal ammunition from suppliers such as Pepperball and Combined Tactical Systems, and less-lethal gases and grenades from vendors including Avon Protection and Defense Technology. None of these solicitations reference white phosphorus or smoke-producing compounds as a deliverable.

Recent activity comes from North Carolina (Charlotte), Minnesota (Sourcewell cooperative), and New York (Rockland County), with the Rockland procurement structured as a cooperative contract available to other New York State political subdivisions and approved nonprofits under Section 103(3) of the General Municipal Law. The Rockland RFB closed April 23, 2026, with awards based on the highest percentage discount off manufacturer MSRP; the Charlotte solicitation closes July 29, 2026; and the Sourcewell procurement closed June 16, 2026. The code appears to lack state and local buying activity in its actual commodity scope. Vendors in protective equipment, ammunition, and law enforcement supplies should verify whether white phosphorus products are regularly solicited under this code or whether a different UNSPSC code aligns better with their offering.