ISRI proposes nonferrous scrap metal specification changes

The board of directors for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, will consider nonferrous scrap metal specifications modifications and additions during its Spring Meeting April 24, 2017, in New Orleans in conjunction with the Washington-based association’s ISRI 2017 Convention & Exposition (ISRI2017).  

Among the proposed changes are:

• Barley No. 1 copper wire shall consist of No. 1 bare, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire, commonly known as Bare Bright copper wire. Wire gauge subject to agreement between buyer and seller. Green copper wire and hydraulically compacted material to be subject to agreement between buyer and seller.
• Berry No. 1 copper wire shall consist of clean, untinned, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire and cable, free of brittle burnt wire. Wire gauge subject to agreement between buyer and seller. Free of copper tubing. Hydraulically briquetted copper subject to agreement.
• Birch No. 2 copper wire shall consist of miscellaneous, unalloyed copper wire having a nominal 96 percent copper content (minimum 94 percent) as determined by electrolytic assay. Should be free of the following: excessively leaded, tinned, soldered copper wire; brass and bronze wire; excessive oil content, iron and nonmetallics; copper wire from burning; insulation; hair wire; brittle burnt wire; and should be reasonably free of ash. Hydraulically briquetted copper subject to agreement.
• Candy No. 1 heavy copper solids and tubing shall consist of clean, unalloyed, uncoated copper clippings, punchings, bus bars, commutator segments, and clean copper tubing. Hydraulically briquetted copper subject to agreement.
• Berry/Candy Candy/Berry – a combination of copper wire and heavy copper as defined in Berry and Candy. See above.
• Cliff No. 2 copper solids and tubing shall consist of miscellaneous, unalloyed copper scrap having a nominal 96 percent copper content (minimum 94 percent) as determined by electrolytic assay. Should be free of the following: excessively leaded, tinned, soldered copper scrap; brasses and bronzes; excessive oil content, iron and nonmetallics; copper tubing with other than copper connections or with sediment; copper wire from burning;  insulation; hair wire; brittle burnt wire; and should be reasonably free of ash. Hydraulically briquetted copper subject to agreement.
• Birch/cliff – a combination of no. 2 copper wire and copper as defined in birch and cliff. See above.
• Elmo mixed electric motors shall consist of whole electric motors and/or dismantled electric motor parts that are primarily copper-wound. May contain some aluminum-wound material, subject to agreement between buyer and seller. No excessive steel attachments, such as gear reducers, iron bases and pumps, or loose free iron allowed. Specification not to include sealed units or cast iron compressors.
• Small Elmo electric motors shall be sized to approximately basketball size or smaller and shall consist of whole electric motors and/or dismantled electric motor parts that are primarily copper-wound. May contain some aluminum-wound material, subject to agreement between buyer and seller. No excessive steel attachments such as gear reducers, iron bases and pumps, or loose free iron allowed. Specification not to include sealed units or cast iron compressors.
• Shelmo shredded electric motors (also called “shredder pickings” or “meatballs”) shall consist of mixed copper-bearing material from ferrous shredding, comprised of motors without cases. May contain up to 10 percent aluminum-wound material and may contain insulated copper harness wire, subject to agreement between buyer and seller. Trace percentages of other contaminants and fines may be present. No free iron or sealed units.
• Sheema shredded electric motors (also called “shredder pickings” or “meatballs”) shall consist of mixed copper and aluminum bearing material from ferrous shredding, comprised of motors without cases. May contain insulated copper harness wire, subject to agreement between buyer and seller. Trace percentages of other contaminants and fines may be present. No free iron or sealed units.
• Zeyda shredded insulated copper wire shall consist predominantly of recovered ICW (insulated copper wire) that has been derived by either mechanical or physical separation. This material is likely to have other metals in small percentages (should be less than 5 percent) that were not successfully separated. The percentage of each metal within the overall product shall be subject to agreement between buyer and seller.  Shall have passed one or more magnets to reduce or eliminate free iron and/or large iron attachments. Shall be free of radioactive material, dross or ash. Material to be bought/sold under this guideline shall be identified as “Zeyda” with two numbers to follow, indicating the estimated percentage recoverable copper wire and the second indicating the maximum amount of other metals or contaminants expected (e.g., “Zeyda 45/3” means the material contains approximately 45 percent copper and up to 3 percent other material). Also may be screened to permit description by specific size ranges.

ISRI’s Nonferrous Division approved each of the specification changes in January 2017. The changes are intended to more accurately reflect the commodities that are currently being traded in the nonferrous scrap metal marketplace, ISRI says.

At the board of directors meeting, the board may choose to adopt, amend or reject the recommendations of the division or table them pending further review. More information about the rules governing the procedures from the addition, amendment, or withdrawal of ISRI’s scrap specifications can be found in the “Scrap Specifications Circular."

To submit comments, recommendations, or questions please contact Joe Pickard at JoePickard@isri.org. There will be an open comment period for 30 days following the vote by the board.