EU-27

Steel Scrap
Specification

In replacement of all previous EFR specifications,

whether standing alone or jointly agreed with other legal entities.
May 2007

EFR, the European Ferrous Recovery and Recycling Federation is

located in Brussels, Belgium.
EFR was created in 1992 from COFENAF the Liaison Committee
for ferrous scrap within the E.E.C., which was founded in 1967. EFR
members are national associations and federations in the EU Member States representing the interests of commercial firms that are
primarily involved in the collection, trade, processing and recycling
of ferrous scrap. In the EU Member States, more than a thousand
large companies and SMEs are represented through EFR.

May 2007

EU-27
Steel
Scrap
Specification

General Conditions applicable to all grades

As is practically achievable in customary preparation and handling of the
grade involved
The definitions of this list of specifications apply only to non-alloy carbon
steel scrap as raw material for the steel industry.

Environmental, health and safety considerations

A) SAFETY
All grades shall exclude:
1) pressurised, closed or insufficiently open containers of all origins which
could cause explosions. Containers shall be considered as insufficiently
open where the opening is not visible or is less than 10 cm in any one
direction;
2) dangerous material, inflammable or explosive, fire-arms (whole or in
part), munitions, dirt or pollutants which may contain or emit substances
dangerous to human health or to the environment or to the steel production process;
All grades shall be checked, within the limitations of accessibility and in
strict compliance with appropriate detection equipment for radioactivity,
to identify:
- material presenting radioactivity in excess of the ambient level of
radioactivity
- radioactive material in sealed containers even if no significant exterior
radioactivity is detectable due to shielding or due to the position of
the sealed source in the scrap delivery.

B) STERILES (cleanliness)
All grades shall be free of all but negligible amounts of other non-ferrous
metals and non-metallic materials, earth, insulation, excessive iron oxide in
any form, except for nominal amounts of surface rust arising from outside
storage of prepared scrap under normal atmospheric conditions.
All grades shall be free of all but negligible amounts of combustible nonmetallic materials, including, but not limited to rubber, plastic, fabric, wood,
oil, lubricants and other chemical or organic substances.
All scrap shall be free of larger pieces (brick-size) which are non-conductors
of electricity such as tyres, pipes filled with cement, wood or concrete.
All grades shall be free of waste or of by-products arising from steel melting, heating, surface conditioning (including scarfing) grinding, sawing,
welding and torch cutting operations, such as slag, mill scale, baghouse
dust, grinder dust, and sludge.
2

May 2007

C) RESIDUAL AND OTHER METALLIC ELEMENTS

Copper
All grades shall be free of visible metallic copper which means free of
copper - wound electric motors, sheets and copper coated materials,
bearing shells, winding, and radiator cores.
 ll grades shall be free of all but negligible amounts of wire, insulated wire
A
and cable tubing, and other copper, brass items mixed with, attached to,
or coating ferrous scrap.
 ll grades shall be free of material with high dissolved copper content
A
such as rebars and merchant bars which will be grouped in the high
residual grades.
 in
T
All grades shall be free of tin in any form such as tin cans, tin coated materials etc. as well as bronze elements such as rings, bearing shells etc.
Lead
All grades shall be free of lead in any forms such as batteries, solder, wheel
weights, terne plate, cable ends, bearings, bearing shells etc.
Chromium, Nickel, Molybdenum
All grades shall be free of alloyed steels and stainless steels as well as of
mechanical parts (which mainly contain these elements) such as motors,
drive gears for trucks, axles, gear boxes, gear wheels, tools and dies as well
as non-magnetic pieces.
Aimed analytical content (see Table 2 of this specification)
The levels indicated for certain of these metallic elements in the different
grades listed here, are the typical maximum contents.
S upply of scrap not falling within the analytical limits of this list of grades
is, nevertheless, permitted with specific prior agreement between supplier
and consumer based on the knowledge of the real nature/content of the
material in question.
S pecific or contractual maximum contents are subject to agreement
between supplier and purchaser and should be specified when ordering.

D) MIXTURE OF GRADES
No delivery shall contain a mixture of grades, unless by joint agreement.

May 2007

Table 1: EFRs EUROPEAN STEEL SCRAP SPECIFICATION

Category

Specifi- Description
cation

E3

Old thick steel scrap, predominantly more than 6mm

thick in sizes not exceeding 1.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 m, prepared in a
manner to ensure direct charging. May include tubes and
hollow sections.
Excludes vehicle body scrap and wheels from light vehicles.
Must be free of rebars and merchant bars, free of metallic
copper, tin, lead (and alloys), mechanical pieces and steriles
to meet the aimed analytical contents.
Refer to points B) and C) of the general conditions.

E1

Old thin steel scrap predominantly less than 6 mm thick in

sizes not exceeding 1.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 m prepared in a manner
to ensure direct charging. If greater density is required it is
recommended that maximum 1 metre is specified.
May include light vehicle wheels, but must exclude vehicle
body scrap and domestic appliances. Must be free of rebars
and merchant bars, free of metallic copper, tin, lead (and
alloys), mechanical pieces and steriles to meet the aimed
analytical contents.
Refer to points B) and C) of the general conditions.

E2

Thick new production steel scrap predominantly more than

3mm thick prepared in a manner to ensure direct charging.
The steel scrap must be uncoated unless permitted by joint
agreement and be free of rebars and merchant bars even
from new production.
Must be free of metallic copper, tin, lead (and alloys), mechanical pieces and steriles to meet the aimed analytical
contents.
Refer to points B) and C) of the general conditions.

E8

Thin new production steel scrap predominantly less than

3mm thick prepared in a manner to ensure direct charging. The steel scrap must be uncoated unless permitted by
joint agreement and be free of unbound ribbons to avoid
trouble when charging. Must be free of metallic copper, tin,
lead (and alloys), mechanical pieces and steriles to meet
the aimed analytical contents.
Refer to points B) and C) of the general conditions.

E6

New production thin steel scrap (less than 3mm thick)

compressed or firmly baled in a manner to ensure direct
charging. The steel scrap must be uncoated unless permitted by joint agreement. Must be free of metallic copper, tin,
lead (and alloys), mechanical pieces and steriles to meet
the aimed analytical contents.
Refer to points B) and C) of the general conditions.

OLD
SCRAP

NEW
SCRAP
Low
Residuals
Uncoated
(2)

May 2007

Dimensions Density

Thickness
6mm
<1.5 x 0.5 x
0.5 m

Thickness
< 6mm
<1.5 x 0.5 x
0.5 m

Thickness
3 mm
<1.5 x 0.5 x
0.5 m

Thickness
< 3 mm
<1.5 x 0.5 x
0.5 m
(except
bound
ribbons)

Steriles
(1)

0.6

1%

0.5

< 1.5 %

0.6

< 0.3 %

0.4

< 0.3 %

< 0.3 %

Category

SHREDDED

Specifi- Description
cation

Dimensions Density

Steriles
(1)

E40

Shredded steel scrap. Old steel scrap fragmentized into

pieces not exceeding 200 mm in any direction for 95%
of the load. No piece, in the remaining 5%, shall exceed
1000mm. Should be prepared in a manner to ensure
direct charging. The scrap shall be free of excessive moisture, loose cast iron and incinerator material (especially
tin cans).
Must be free of metallic copper, tin, lead (and alloys), and
steriles to meet the aimed analytical contents.
Refer to points B) and C) of the general conditions.

E5H

Homogeneous lots of carbon steel turnings of known

origin, free from excessive bushy. Should be prepared in
a manner to ensure direct charging. Turnings from Free
Cutting Steel must be clearly identified. The turnings must
be free from all contaminants such as non-ferrous metals,
scale, grinding dust and heavily oxidized turnings or other
materials from chemical industries. Prior chemical analysis
could be required.

(*)

E5M

Mixed lots of carbon steel turnings, free from excessive

bushy and free from turnings from Free Cutting Steel.
Should be prepared in a manner to ensure direct charging. The turnings must be free from all contaminants such
as non-ferrous metals, scale, grinding dust and heavily oxidised turnings or other materials from chemical
industries.

(*)

EHRB
(4)

Old and new steel scrap consisting mainly of rebars and

merchant bars prepared in a manner to ensure direct
charging.
May be cut, sheared or baled and must be free of excessive concrete or other construction material. Must be
free of metallic copper, tin, lead (and alloys), mechanical
pieces and steriles to meet the aimed analytical contents.
Refer to points B) and C) of the general conditions.

Max.
1.5 x 0.5 x
0.5 m

0.5

<1.5 %

EHRM
(5)

Old and new mechanical pieces and components not

accepted in the other grades prepared in a manner to
ensure direct charging.
May include cast iron pieces (mainly the housings of the
mechanical components).
Must be free of metallic copper, tin, lead (and alloys) and
pieces such as bearing shells, bronze rings and others as
well as steriles, to meet the aimed analytical contents.
Refer to points B) and C) of the general conditions.

Max.
1.5 x 0.5 x
0.5 m

0.6

<0.7 %

STEEL
TURNINGS
(3)

HIGH
RESIDUAL
SCRAP

>0.9

< 0.4 %

May 2007

Category

FRAGMENTIZED
SCRAP FROM
INCINERATION

Specifi- Description
cation

E46

Fragmentized incinerator scrap. Loose steel scrap

processed through an incinerating plant for household waste followed by magnetic separation, fragmentized into pieces not exceeding 200 mm in any
direction and consisting partly of tin coated steel
cans. Should be prepared in a manner to ensure
direct charging. The scrap shall be free of excessive
moisture and rust. Must be free of excessive metallic
copper, tin, lead (and alloys) and steriles to meet the
aimed analytical contents.
Refer to points B) and C) of the general conditions.

Dimensions Density

0.8

Steriles
(1)

Fe content
92 %

(1) C
 orresponds to the weight of steriles, not adhering to the scrap, remaining at the bottom of the
vehicle after unloading by magnet
(2) C
 oated Material must be notified
(3) F ree from all contaminants (non-ferrous metals, scale, grinding dust, chemical materials, excess
oil)
(4) R
 ebar and Merchant Bar must be classified apart due essentially to the copper content which
could place them out with old scrap and new scrap low residual grades.
(5) M
 echanical and engine components must be classified apart principally due to their Ni, Cr and
Mo content which could place them out with the thick old scrap and heavy new scrap low residual
grades.
(*) To date, no clear method to determine these values.

May 2007

Table 2: AIMED ANALYTICAL CONTENTS

The values retained for the analytical contents are those that have been experienced in real terms in the various countries
of the European Union and are achieved by scrap yards working normally with standard methods and standard equipment.

Aimed Analytical Contents (residuals) in %

Category

Specification
Cu

Sn

Cr, Ni, Mo

E3

0.250

0.010

0.250

E1

0.400

0.020

0.300

OLD SCRAP

E2

0.300

E8

0.300

E6

0.300

NEW SCRAP
Low
Residuals,
Uncoated
(2)
SHREDDED

E40

STEEL
TURNINGS
(3)

E5H

HIGH
RESIDUAL
SCRAP
FRAGMENTIZED SCRAP
FROM
INCINERATION

0.250

0.020
Prior chemical analysis could be required

E5M

0.400

0.030

EHRB

0.450

0.030

0.350

EHRM

0.400

0.030

1.0

E46

0.500

0.070

0.100

May 2007

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CRITERIA

The steel scrap must meet the following environmental quality criteria:
There must be no substantial contamination of the scrap as laid out in the descriptions of the EU-27 Steel Scrap Specification or equivalent national Member State or
international specifications.

T here must be no substantial mixing with hazardous waste, defined as waste

marked with an asterisk (*) in Commission Decision 2001/118/EC as amended
(OJ L 47,16.02.2001,p.1.).

All grades shall be checked, within the limitations of accessibility and in strict compliance with appropriate detection equipment for radioactivity, to identify:
- material presenting radioactivity in excess of the ambient level of radioactivity
- radioactive material in sealed containers even if no significant exterior radioactivity is detectable due to shielding or due to the position of the sealed source
in the scrap delivery.

Conformance to the above criteria must be ascertained by visual inspection (or sampling and evaluation) and testing for radioactivity.

May 2007

EFR
Telephone: +32 2 627 57 71
Fax: +32 2 627 57 73
www.efr2.org
c/o BIR, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, 24
B-1050 Brussels
Belgium