The Six Levels of Paper Shredder Security By Jeff McRitchie At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

One of the most important things to consider when buying a paper shredder is the type of security it offers. And while the word "security" may make you think of a security guard or a lock and key, when it comes to paper shredders, "security" refers to how small the remains of your document will be after it's shredded.

There are six different levels of paper shredder security and each shredder's security level is based on the Deutsche Industrial Norm (DIN) scale, which ranges from DIN 1 (lowest security) to DIN 6 (high security). An explanation of each step on the scale follows. You should also keep in mind that paper shredders come in both strip- and cross-cut varieties. Strip-cut machines offer the lowest security and the scraps that come out of them are the thin, spaghetti-like strips most people associate with paper shredders. The security levels on these machines only range from Level One to Three. On the other hand, cross-cut machines cut paper into tiny pieces and are a good choice if you need a shredder with a higher level of security. That being said, here are the paper shredder security levels.

Level One

This is the most basic level of security with strips that measure 3/8 to 1/2" (10.5 to 11.8 mm). Level One security is ideal when the documents you're shredding don't contain any private information.

Level Two

Level Two shredders produce strips that are smaller than and more secure. On a strip-cut machine, shreds will come out measuring 1/8 to 1/4" (3.9 to 5.8 mm); shreds from a cross-cut shredder will measure approximately 9/32 x 1.5" to 3 5/32" (7.2 x 40 to 80 mm). If you'll be shredding things like personal letters and internal business documents, a Level Two shredder may be a good choice.

Level Three

When you need to destroy confidential documents such as financial information and personnel files, Level Three offers a good amount of security. Strips from a strip-cut machine will measure 1/16" (1.9 mm). Meanwhile, the shreds from a cross-cut machine range in width, but are commonly about 1/8 x 1 1/8" (3.9 x 30 mm).

Level Four

This level of security is for use when the papers you're destroying contain information that's vital to your company's existence. Only cross-cut shredders offer this level of protection, with the shreds' averaging 1/16 x 5/8" (1.9 x 15 mm).

Level Five and Level Six

Also only available from a cross-cut shredder, Level Five and Six security is for top secret documents. Machines with these security levels are primarily used by the government, military, and some research facilities. The particles from these machines are tiny: a Level Six machine's fragments can measure a mere 1/32 x 3/16" (1 x 5 mm). Level Six is so extreme it's actually not on the DIN scale at all, but it's often referred to as a DIN level anyway.

In some cases, top secret facilities and government organizations may call for a shredder that offers security beyond DIN level 6. In this case, there are document disintegrators. These machines are designed to reduce a document to bits of paper that are so minuscule the document can never be reassembled. In fact the shred particles are so small they appear to be like dust. These machines guarantee that your confidential information will never be seen again.

This has been an overview of the two different types of paper shredders and what level of security they offer. When choosing a shredder for your home or office, selecting a machine that offers the highest possible amount of security is one of the most important decisions you'll make. Be sure to choose wisely!

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