If you trade scrap beyond your local market, you will meet strange words: Barley, Berry, Birch, Candy, Honey, Taint/Tabor, Tense, Zorba. These are ISRI codes, short names for scrap grades defined in specifications originally published by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) in the United States. ISRI has since merged into the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), but the code names remain the common language of the global scrap trade, including in India. This guide explains the most important ones.
Specifications are periodically reviewed. For contracts, always reference the current official specification and add any agreed tolerances.
Why codes matter
Scrap is not uniform. Two lots of "copper scrap" can differ greatly in purity and value. Codes give buyers and sellers a shared definition: what's allowed, what's not, and typical tolerances. Using them:
- Reduces disputes about quality.
- Enables price comparison across markets.
- Is essential for imports and exports.
- Signals professionalism in marketplace listings.
Copper codes
| Code | Common name | Description (simplified) |
|---|---|---|
| Barley | Bare bright copper wire | Clean, bare, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire, free of oxidation |
| Berry | No. 1 copper wire | Clean, unalloyed, uncoated copper wire; light oxidation allowed |
| Candy | No. 1 heavy copper solids and tubing | Clean unalloyed copper clippings, punchings, bus bars, tubing |
| Birch | No. 2 copper wire | Unalloyed copper wire with more oxidation, coatings or solder |
| Cliff | No. 2 copper solids and tubing | Unalloyed copper solids with more oxidation, coatings or solder |
Traders often pair them: "Berry/Candy" means No. 1 copper and "Birch/Cliff" means No. 2 copper. Insulated copper wire and chopped copper wire nodules have their own specifications.
In everyday Indian trade, you will also hear "super D", "kaccha" and "pakka" copper; map these to ISRI equivalents when trading widely.
Brass and bronze codes
| Code | Common name | Description (simplified) |
|---|---|---|
| Honey | Yellow brass scrap | Mixed yellow brass solids: castings, rolled and drawn items, free of excessive contamination |
| Ebony | Composition / red brass | Red brass (gunmetal-type) castings and valves |
| Label | Brass pipe | Brass pipe scrap |
| Lake | Brass shell cases | Cartridge brass cases without primers |
| Ocean | Mixed unsweated auto radiators | Copper/brass radiators |
Brass and red-brass turnings have separate specifications; keep them apart from solids.
Aluminium codes
| Code | Common name | Description (simplified) |
|---|---|---|
| Taint/Tabor | Clean mixed old alloy sheet | Clean old aluminium sheet of two or more alloys, free of foil, iron and non-metallics |
| Tense | Mixed aluminium castings | Clean aluminium castings, free of iron and other contamination |
| Zorba | Shredded non-ferrous | Mixed shredded non-ferrous metals, predominantly aluminium, from shredders |
| Twitch | Shredded aluminium | Floated, fragmented aluminium from automobile shredding, upgraded from Zorba |
| UBC grades | Used beverage cans | Several codes cover loose, baled, shredded and briquetted cans |
Aluminium extrusion scrap (6063) is often traded by its alloy number rather than a code name.
Ferrous HMS codes
| Spec | Common name | Description (simplified) |
|---|---|---|
| ISRI 200/201 | HMS 1 | Heavy steel generally 1/4 inch and thicker, prepared to size |
| ISRI 202 | HMS 1 (variant) | Specified heavy steel variants |
| ISRI 203/204 | HMS 2 | Lighter steel, black and galvanised, prepared to size |
| ISRI 210/211 | Shredded scrap | Homogeneous shredded steel |
| P&S | Plate and structural | Cut plate and structural steel to specified sizes |
Blends like HMS 1&2 80:20 are contract terms combining these grades.
Stainless steel and other alloys
Stainless steel is often described by AISI grade (304, 316, 430) and form (solids, turnings) rather than ISRI code names. Nickel alloys, titanium and other specialty metals are usually traded by specific alloy designations and chemistry.
How to use codes in India
- Listings: On marketplaces, use both the ISRI code and a plain description, e.g. "Barley (bare bright copper wire), 1.2 tonnes".
- Contracts: Reference the code and specification, then add specific tolerances for contamination, moisture and size.
- Inspection: Train staff to recognise common grades; use XRF where needed.
- Pricing: International price reports quote by code; domestic buyers increasingly do too.
Common confusions
- Barley vs Berry: Barley is bare bright; Berry is No. 1 wire that may be lightly oxidised. Price them separately.
- "Birch/Cliff": No. 2 copper, often traded together; clarify ratios.
- Honey vs Ebony: Yellow brass vs red brass/gunmetal; the latter is more valuable.
- Zorba vs Twitch: Both shredded, but Zorba is mixed non-ferrous while Twitch is upgraded aluminium.
- "HMS" in domestic trade: Often used loosely for heavy MS without strict ISRI preparation.
A worked example: rewriting a vague listing
Before: "Copper scrap, 2 tonnes, mixed, good quality."
After: "Copper scrap, 2 tonnes total: 1.2 t Barley (bare bright copper wire, cleaned, unoxidised), 0.5 t Candy (bus bar and copper strip, clean), 0.3 t Birch (No. 2 copper wire with some coatings). Photos available. Located Ramnagar, Varanasi. Weighment at certified weighbridge."
The second listing lets buyers price each grade accurately, reduces back-and-forth, and usually attracts better offers because buyers do not have to price in uncertainty.
How to learn the codes quickly
- Start with the grades you actually generate; most factories only deal with a handful.
- Keep reference photos of each grade in your scrap store.
- Ask your buyer to explain how they grade your material, and compare with the specification.
- Use plain-language descriptions alongside codes until everyone is comfortable.
Codes and Indian terminology
| Indian trade term | Closest ISRI meaning |
|---|---|
| Super D / bright copper | Barley (bare bright) |
| Pakka tamba | No. 1 copper (Berry/Candy) |
| Kaccha tamba | No. 2 copper (Birch/Cliff) |
| Peetal honey | Honey (yellow brass) |
| Gunmetal | Ebony (composition/red brass) |
| Aluminium section | Extrusion (6063), often traded by alloy |
| Aluminium kadai/utensil | Clean sheet; closer to old sheet grades |
| Bhari loha | Heavy MS, similar to HMS 1 or P&S |
Local terms vary by region, so always confirm what a buyer means.
How buyers use codes when pricing
International price reports publish separate prices for grades such as Barley, Berry/Candy, Birch/Cliff, Honey and Taint/Tabor. A buyer who receives a listing with a clear code can look up the relevant benchmark, apply freight and processing costs, and send an offer quickly. A listing that only says "copper scrap" forces the buyer to assume the worst grade or ask many questions, which slows the deal and usually lowers the price.
Codes and photographs work together
A code tells a buyer what the material should be; photographs show what it actually is. For marketplace listings and export offers, pair each code with a wide photo of the heap, close-ups of typical pieces, and a photo of anything that might be questioned, such as coatings or attachments. This combination answers most buyer questions before they are asked.
Learning the codes your business needs
Most factories only deal with a handful of codes. A wire-and-cable contractor needs the copper wire codes and insulated wire specifications; a pump manufacturer needs Honey and Ebony; a window fabricator needs extrusion and Taint/Tabor; a steel fabricator needs HMS and P&S. Start with the grades you generate, keep a reference sheet with photos in your scrap store, and add others as your trade grows.
A note on tolerances
Specifications describe an ideal, but real lots vary. Contracts therefore add tolerances, for example a maximum percentage of attachments, moisture or off-grade material. Agree these numbers in writing and use the same inspection method at loading and arrival. Tolerances turn a code into a workable commercial standard.
Codes in domestic contracts
Even for domestic sales, writing "Honey brass solids, max 2% iron attachments" or "HMS 1&2 80:20, cut to 1.2 m" in a purchase order saves disputes later. Codes give both parties a shared reference point without lengthy descriptions.
How Kabadi24 uses ISRI codes
On the Kabadi24 marketplace, sellers can describe lots using ISRI codes and plain language, and our trade desk grades material to ISRI specifications for import and export deals. This makes listings easier to compare for buyers across India and overseas.
Conclusion
ISRI codes are the vocabulary of professional scrap trading. Learning the main copper, brass, aluminium and ferrous codes helps you describe lots accurately, compare prices, negotiate contracts and trade across borders with fewer disputes.