Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 1.9 x 15 mm P-5 and not P-4?
Because DIN 66399 rates particle cut on area and width. 1.9 x 15 mm is 28.5 mm2, under the 30 mm2 limit for P-5, and 1.9 mm is under the 2 mm width limit P-5 also requires. P-4 permits up to 160 mm2, so a P-4 particle such as 4.5 x 30 mm is nearly five times the area of this one.
Can it shred CDs or DVDs?
No. HSM rates this model E-4, F-2, P-5 and T-5 - there is no O rating for optical media on the P-5 B34. The cutting head is designed for paper and card-type carriers, not rigid polycarbonate discs. Use a dedicated optical media destroyer, or one of the P-2 or P-4 machines in the range, which do carry an O rating.
Does the automatic oiler need refilling?
Yes. It draws from a replaceable oil bottle, so treat it as an ongoing consumable. HSM does not publish a refill interval because it depends entirely on shredding volume. Keep a spare bottle of HSM shredder oil available and check the level whenever you empty the waste container.
How much floor space does it need?
The cabinet is 591 x 439 x 845 mm with the oiler fitted - 50 mm wider than the plain 1.9 x 15 mm B34. Allow clearance in front to pull the 100-litre container out and to the oiler side for bottle changes. The machine weighs 42 kg, so plan the delivery route as well as the final position.
Is P-5 enough for HIPAA or client confidentiality requirements?
Neither HIPAA nor most confidentiality agreements name a DIN level; they require destruction that makes reconstruction impracticable. P-5 at 28.5 mm2 is generally regarded as sufficient for medical, financial and legal records and is a defensible answer in an audit. Your own written policy is the document that decides it - if that policy names a level, follow it.
How often will the bin need emptying?
HSM rates the 100-litre container at roughly 1,273 shredded sheets at this cut. A practice destroying fifty to a hundred sheets a day will empty it every few weeks. Micro-cut waste settles noticeably, so use the fill-level window rather than judging by the last time you looked.
Does the lifetime cutting-roller warranty apply?
Yes, and it is one of the better reasons to choose P-5 over P-6 here. HSM's lifetime warranty on the induction-hardened solid steel cutting rollers covers security levels P-2 through P-5, so this machine qualifies while the 0.78 x 11 mm and 1 x 5 mm versions of the same cabinet do not. The cover is for the rollers only, not the oiler, motor or electronics.