B-grade surplus electrical & lighting — SWA 16mm² 3-core armoured cable (180m drum) — CardiffB-grade

SWA 16mm² 3-core armoured cable (180m drum) — Cardiff

Cardiff·180m drum·Listed 28d ago
£465/lot

Sold by Cardiff Urban Reclamation (Demolition) · Ref L0669

Condition grade 6/10 (B-grade). Assessed by the seller at listing; figures below relate to this specific lot of 180m drum.

About this lot

Part-used drum. Brand new, BASEC approved. Ideal for outbuilding sub-mains and EV charger installations. Located in Cardiff — collection or arranged regional delivery available. Offered by Cardiff Urban Reclamation (demolition) from their Cardiff yard, listed 28 days ago.

Site over-orders, cancelled jobs and careful strip-outs are where the best material bargains in the UK come from — this lot is one of them. It is graded down on appearance alone; structurally and functionally it performs as A-grade.

Measurements & specifications

CSA
3 × 16mm²
Approval
BASEC BS5467
Location
Cardiff
Ref
SB-71-11
Quantity / lot size
180m drum
Electrical safety
PAT tested with certificate
Standards
BASEC approved cable
Batch check
2 units function-tested from the lot
Packaging
Original boxes, sealed

Condition report & known defects

6/10
  • Allow a cutting/waste margin of ~10% over a normal A-grade order.
  • Cosmetic seconds — graded down for appearance, not performance.

Carbon & sustainability notes

This listing carries no CO₂-saved figure because the material is new; the sustainability win here is waste prevention — first-quality stock staying out of the waste stream entirely.

If your project tracks embodied carbon (BREEAM, Part Z readiness, or client ESG reporting), keep this listing reference as evidence of avoided emissions.

Collection & delivery

  • Buyer collection in Cardiff; forklift loading available weekdays 7:30am–4pm.
  • Seller can quote hiab or flatbed delivery within ~30 miles of Cardiff; from £65.
  • Ask the seller for close-up photos or a video walkround if you can't visit — they expect the request.

Typical applications

  • Commercial fit-outs (office panels, emergency lighting)
  • EV charger sub-main runs (SWA stock)
  • Hospitality and retail feature lighting
  • Garden, outbuilding and security lighting

How to buy, collect and install this lot

  1. 1Confirm your requirement against the measurements above — bring a tape and the 180m drum figure when you visit Cardiff Urban Reclamation in Cardiff.
  2. 2Reserve the lot in writing with a deposit; get the batch/reference (L0669) and condition grade (6/10) on the receipt.
  3. 3Arrange transport: car/van accessible, assistance with loading provided. Confirm access at your delivery address (width, overhead clearance, forklift or hand-ball).
  4. 4On arrival, check the count against the 180m drum stated and photograph any transit damage before signing the delivery note.
  5. 5Store correctly on site — for electrical, that means dry, level and off the ground; keep original packaging on until the day of use where possible.
  6. 6Dry-lay or trial-fit a small sample first to confirm electrical performs as expected in your specific application before committing the whole lot.
  7. 7Log the reuse for your project records: photograph the seller invoice, capture the ~0 kg CO₂e figure and save this listing URL in your embodied-carbon file.

Pre-purchase checklist

  • Measure twice — confirm 180m drum covers your net requirement plus a 5% waste/cutting allowance.
  • View in person or request a video walkround from Cardiff Urban Reclamation; do not rely on the hero photograph alone.
  • Check condition against the 6/10 grade above — ask which specific defects apply to the units you'll actually receive.
  • Confirm the batch or shade reference (L0669) so what you inspect is what you collect.
  • Agree collection or delivery cost in writing — pallet, hiab, flatbed or hand-ball each price very differently.
  • Verify VAT position: is the £465/lot figure ex-VAT or inclusive? Trade sellers default to ex-VAT.
  • Ask about returns or replacements if the delivered quantity falls short — reputable demolitions stand behind the stated count.
  • Screenshot this listing (title, price, condition, CO₂ figure) as your negotiation baseline — surplus prices drift as lots age.
  • Check compatibility if you're matching existing material (brick blend, tile shade, timber section) with a physical sample first.
  • Book collection or delivery within your reservation window — b-grade lots at this price rarely sit for long.

Price in context

  • At £465/lot, this lot sits roughly 35% below current UK merchant list for equivalent new material — the typical spread for b-grade electrical.
  • Delivered-to-door pricing (including pallet freight within ~40 miles of Cardiff) tends to add £65–£85 to the headline figure; collection stays as advertised.
  • Comparable b-grade lots in the surplus electrical & lighting category have moved on SurplusBuilder within 4 days of listing — well-priced surplus doesn't linger.

Sustainability deep-dive

The headline saving on this listing (waste avoidance) is benchmarked against manufacturing new fittings and copper cable (copper ~4 kg CO₂e per kg; an LED panel ~25 kg CO₂e). That's the embodied-carbon figure — the emissions locked into new material at the point of manufacture, before it ever reaches your site.

In UK building terms, embodied carbon typically accounts for 40–60% of a project's whole-life emissions once operational energy is decarbonised. Reusing electrical like this lot from Cardiff bypasses the manufacturing stage entirely, which is why substitution consistently outperforms offsetting on lifecycle assessments.

For projects tracking against Part Z (the proposed embodied-carbon amendment to the Building Regulations), BREEAM Mat 01 credits, or the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, reused material counts at zero embodied carbon in the A1–A3 modules. Keep the seller invoice, this listing URL and the CO₂e figure together in your carbon file.

Beyond carbon: buying this lot from Cardiff Urban Reclamation keeps first-quality electrical out of the UK construction waste stream (currently ~62 million tonnes/year, per DEFRA). It supports the circular-economy supply chain — sellers who divert stock only continue diverting when there's a viable resale route.

Questions about this lot

Can surplus electrical gear be used in a certified install?+

Yes — new surplus carries the same markings and standards as merchant stock. Your electrician certifies the installation, not the purchase route.

Is part-used cable drum length guaranteed?+

The stated length is measured, not estimated — Cardiff Urban Reclamation re-measures drums on listing with a ±1m tolerance.

Are the LED fittings covered by warranty?+

End-of-line stock typically retains the manufacturer's product warranty from date of purchase — keep the invoice as proof.

What payment and paperwork should I expect from Cardiff Urban Reclamation?+

Cardiff Urban Reclamation issues a VAT invoice on collection or dispatch — bank transfer is standard, card on request. For anything over £500 we recommend a written spec confirmation before paying, so the exact electrical description and quantity are on record.

Can I reserve this lot while I organise transport from Cardiff?+

A short reservation (typically 48–72 hours) is usually possible with a 10% holding deposit. Surplus stock moves quickly, especially b-grade lots at this price point — confirm the hold in writing so the seller doesn't re-list.

Is this suitable for a Part L / Part Z reporting project?+

The material itself carries the same certifications as merchant stock; document the reuse route in your carbon log even without a specific CO₂e figure — waste avoidance still counts under Part Z reporting guidance.

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