Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1.9 x 15 mm genuinely P-5, or is that marketing?
It is genuinely P-5. DIN 66399 sets P-5 at a maximum particle cross-section of 30 mm2. Multiply 1.9 by 15 and you get 28.5 mm2, inside the limit. HSM states the full rating as P-5, T-5, E-4, F-2. If a specification asks for level 5 destruction of paper, this model satisfies it on the paper axis; check the T, E and F axes separately if you are also destroying film or electronic media.
Can it shred CDs and DVDs?
No. HSM rates this configuration for paper, staples, paper clips and credit cards only, and it carries no O rating for optical media. The 1.9 x 15 mm cutting geometry is too fine to pass a rigid polycarbonate disc safely. If you need to destroy discs on the same machine, the 4.5 x 30 mm P-4 version of the B24 carries an O-3 rating and handles them; otherwise use a dedicated media destroyer.
How many sheets per pass, and how does that compare with the P-4 model?
Nine to eleven sheets at 80 g/m2, or eleven to thirteen on lighter 70 g/m2 paper. The P-4 version of the same cabinet manages fourteen to sixteen. That is the cost of the finer cut, and it is unavoidable across every manufacturer: the more particles you make per sheet, the fewer sheets the motor can drive at once. In daily use the practical difference is about one extra pass for every three you would have made on the P-4.
How often does the bin need emptying?
HSM measures about 432 shredded sheets to a full container on this cut, which is more than the P-4 version manages in the identical 9.2 gallon bin because micro particles settle more densely. For one or two regular users that is roughly a weekly empty; for a shared four-person office, expect every day or two. The machine stops automatically when the bin is full rather than backing up into the cutting head.
Does it still take staples and paper clips at this security level?
Yes. HSM lists paper, staples and paper clips as rated materials for this model, and the cutting rollers are induction-hardened solid steel. That is unusual at P-5 in this size class and it is the single most practical feature of the machine, because it removes the step people skip. Binder clips, ring binder spines and bulldog clips are not rated and should be taken off first.
What bags does it use?
HSM part 3310000014, a 13 gallon tear-resistant bag supplied 100 to a roll, shared with the Classic 108, AF150 and AF300. Bags are not included with the shredder. The container is a rigid pull-out bin, so you can also run bagless and tip it into a secure recycling cart. If your P-5 waste has to leave the building under chain of custody, a bag is usually the easier option.
Is this shredder NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a 1 mm x 5 mm maximum particle and listing on the NSA Evaluated Products List. This machine cuts 1.9 x 15 mm, which is above that limit on both dimensions, and it is not on the EPL. P-5 is a DIN classification for commercial confidentiality, not a US government classified destruction approval. The two standards are not interchangeable and a P-5 or even a P-7 rating alone does not make a shredder NSA listed.
Do I need shredder oil, and how often?
Micro-cut heads carry more paper dust than strip-cut heads, so periodic lubrication extends roller life. HSM does not publish a fixed oiling interval for the B24 in its datasheet, so treat the operating instructions supplied with the machine as authoritative. If oiling is likely to be forgotten, HSM sells the same B24 cut sizes in an external automatic oiler version, which handles it without anyone remembering.