Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is P-6 the highest DIN level, and is there a P-8?
P-6 is not the highest, and there is no P-8. DIN 66399 defines seven paper levels, P-1 through P-7, with P-7 requiring a particle of 5 mm2 or less. This machine is P-6, meaning a maximum particle area of 10 mm2 with a strip width no greater than 1 mm; at 0.78 x 11 mm it comes in at about 8.6 mm2. Any listing that advertises a P-8 shredder is describing a level that does not exist in the standard.
Only six sheets per pass? Is that right?
Yes, six sheets of 80 g/m2 paper. It is not a fault or a conservative figure; it is the physics of the cut. Producing roughly 5,700 particles from one sheet takes far more cutting work than the 1,100 or so a P-4 cut produces, and the same 610 W motor has to do it. If six sheets is going to be a problem, the honest options are the P-5 version of this cabinet at nine to eleven sheets, or the larger SECURIO B35 at nine sheets in the identical P-6 cut.
Does the lifetime cutting roller warranty apply to this model?
No, and this is worth knowing before you buy. HSM's lifetime warranty on solid steel cutting rollers is stated for SECURIO document shredders at security levels P-2 to P-5. This machine is P-6, so it falls outside that cover. The standard three-year warranty on the shredder still applies. The rollers are the same induction-hardened solid steel used across the range; the difference is contractual, not material.
Can it shred credit cards, CDs or DVDs?
No. HSM rates this configuration for paper, staples and paper clips only. There is no O rating for optical media and cards are not listed. The 0.78 mm cutting geometry is too fine to pass rigid plastic without risking the head. If you need to destroy cards or discs to a high standard, use a separate media destroyer or choose a P-4 machine such as the B24 4.5 x 30 mm for that stream.
How much waste does the bin hold at this cut?
About 339 shredded sheets in the 9.2 gallon (35 litre) container. That is fewer than the P-5 version of the same machine manages, which surprises people, but very fine particles trap air and generate more dust rather than settling densely. The machine detects a full bin and stops automatically. At six sheets per pass, filling 339 sheets takes roughly 57 passes, so most single users empty it weekly.
Is this shredder NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a maximum particle of 1 mm x 5 mm and current listing on the NSA Evaluated Products List. This machine cuts 0.78 x 11 mm. The 0.78 mm width is inside the NSA limit but the 11 mm length is more than double it, so it does not meet the specification, and it is not on the EPL. A high DIN level and an NSA listing are separate qualifications; do not treat P-6 or even P-7 as a substitute for EPL listing.
Will it handle stapled documents without pre-sorting?
Yes. Paper clips and staples are rated materials for this model. That is genuinely useful at P-6, where competing machines often require clean paper. Keep in mind that a stapled six-page document is already at the sheet limit, so a thick stapled report will need separating anyway. Remove ring binder mechanisms, bulldog clips and plastic comb bindings, none of which are rated.
How does it compare with the SECURIO B35 in the same cut?
Identical 0.78 x 11 mm P-6 destruction, very different machine around it. The B35 takes nine sheets per pass instead of six, has a 15.75 in throat that clears tabloid, and a 34.3 gallon bin holding around 1,300 sheets against this machine's 339. It also weighs 118 lb and needs floor space. Choose the B24 for a small team or a single secure office; choose the B35 when P-6 has to serve a department.