Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shred CDs and DVDs in this machine?
No. This 1.9 x 15 mm cutting head is rated for paper, staples, paper clips and credit cards, but HSM does not list CDs or DVDs among its shreddable materials. Feeding optical media into a P-5 micro-cut head risks damaging the rollers. If you need to destroy discs, use a P-2 or P-4 SECURIO model, which HSM does rate for optical media, or a dedicated media destroyer.
How many people can share this machine before it becomes a bottleneck?
That depends on volume rather than headcount, but the useful figures are 14 - 15 sheets per pass and a 130 L container holding about 1,655 shredded sheets. As a rough guide, a P-5 machine like this suits a workgroup that generates up to a few hundred pages of shredding a day. If people start queuing, the constraint is almost always the security level rather than the motor - a lower DIN class on the same chassis runs considerably faster.
Is the sheet capacity figure realistic for US paper?
The 14 - 15 sheet rating is HSM's own figure measured at 80 g/m² paper. Standard US 20 lb bond letter is about 75 g/m², so on typical American office paper you should meet or slightly beat the rating. Be aware that HSM's overview brochure quotes capacity at 70 g/m² instead, which produces numbers roughly 15 percent higher; if you are comparing our spec against a brochure figure, check which paper weight each one uses.
Will legal and tabloid paper fit?
Yes. The throat is 15.75 in (400 mm), so 8.5 x 14 in legal and 11 x 17 in tabloid both feed in unfolded, as does A4 and A3 fed short edge. Wide continuous computer stationery also clears. This throat width is the main practical reason to choose the B35 over the narrower SECURIO B34, whose 310 mm intake handles letter, legal and A4 but leaves less margin on oversized stock.
Is this shredder NSA approved?
We have not verified a listing for this model on the NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List, so we do not claim NSA approval for it. Those two things are separate: NSA/CSS 02-01 requires a maximum particle of 1 mm x 5 mm and the specific model must appear on the NSA's own list. A DIN 66399 rating on its own - including P-7 - does not establish NSA approval. If you have a classified-destruction requirement, verify the model number directly against the current NSA EPL before ordering.
What bags fit this model, and are any included?
No bags are supplied with the machine. This chassis uses HSM's reusable collection bags for HSM 390, 411, 630, 730, 740, 830, SECURIO B35, SECURIO P36i and P40i, available in packs of 10 or 100 under part numbers 1442995000 / 1442995110 / 1442995001. Generic 34.3 gal liners will physically fit the 130 L container but often tear at the fold or slip off the frame, which makes emptying messier rather than cheaper. HSM also offers a cardboard box - b35 as an alternative to plastic.
How often does this shredder need oiling?
Any micro cut cutting head benefits from regular lubrication - the usual guidance is an oiled sheet or a pass of HSM cutting-block oil each time you empty the bin, and more often under heavy use. Dry rollers lose sheet capacity before they fail, so a shredder that seems to be weakening is usually just under-oiled. If nobody in your office will own that task, buy the version of this machine with the external automatic oiler fitted instead.
Can it run continuously, and how loud is it?
HSM builds the SECURIO cabinet range for continuous operation rather than short duty cycles, so it is designed to run through a full bin rather than needing a cooling pause every few minutes. Sustained overloading will still trip the thermal protection; feeding at or under the rated 14 - 15 sheets avoids that. Noise is around 56 dB(A) at idle, which is quiet enough to place the machine in an open-plan office rather than banishing it to a service room.