BIOREGIONAL RECLAIMED

Electrical Fixtures & Fittings

There are a range of electrical fixtures and fittings that cost enough new to make reclamation cost effective. The majority are also highly processed with significant metal components. This results in a high embodied CO2 value and significant environmental benefits from their reclamation.

Smaller Units
For smaller items sufficient quantities of units must be available from a single site to make resale attractive on a commercial scale. Items such as sockets, switches and light fittings can be removed from office demolitions in bulk and sold on at prices that are competitive with new products.

Some items such as flush floor sockets costing over £20 each new and are worth extracting in whatever volumes are available from each site. Any fittings with metal surfaces, such as brass, chrome or stainless steel also command resale prices that justify extraction.

Larger Items
Larger items such as airconditioning units, generators, water pumps and heating systems are sufficiently valuable to warrant reclamation. Companies exist that recondition and sell on these items.

Specification and Certification
There are numerous manufacturers of electrical fittings. Crabtree, Marbo, MK, Volex and Wylex all have extensive ranges featured in the Screwfix catalogue. All produce a similar range of fittings in varying styles.

Potential buyers of larger volumes of reclaimed electrical fittings are principally concerned that the fittings are safe and of a similar style so they can be matched into the design of the new office or home. Most fittings will adhere to the current British Safety Standards that specify the requirements from a unit such as a two gang socket (BS1363 relates to electric sockets in detail).

When an extraction is planned from an older building it is vital to check that fixtures to be removed conform to current standards as well as those in place when fitted. This can be done by identifying the manufacturer and model number and looking on the manufacturer’s website for the relevant certification.

There is an electrical appliance safety certification course and examination that can be taken to qualify as a licensed tester. This allows the holder to guarantee fittings following inspection. If retailing electrical fittings it is essential to have at least one certified tester on staff.

Electrical light fitting with energy efficient bulb