Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is P-4 enough for HIPAA, GLBA or state privacy rules?
P-4 is the level most commonly cited as adequate for personal and confidential data, and it is what the majority of commercial offices specify. None of those regulations name a DIN level directly - they require destruction that makes reconstruction impracticable - so the decision sits with your compliance policy. If your policy names a level, check it against P-4 (particles up to 160 mm2; this machine produces 100 mm2). For higher-sensitivity material, P-5 or above means a different machine class, not a C14.
Can it shred credit cards and CDs?
Credit cards yes, CDs no. The C14 4 x 25 mm carries T-4 and E-3 ratings, which cover magnetic-stripe and chip cards, and HSM lists credit cards among its shreddable materials. There is no O rating on this model, so optical media are outside its specification - feeding a CD through it risks the rollers. In this batch, only the SECURIO C18 5.8 mm and the P36i models carry optical media ratings.
Why does it only take five or six sheets?
Because cutting a sheet into 4 x 25 mm particles takes far more work than slicing it into strips. The C14 uses the same 160 W motor for both cut types, so the finer cut costs throughput. That is the standard trade in shredders: security and capacity move in opposite directions. If you need both, you need more motor - the C18 or P36i chassis rather than a bigger C14.
How often will the bin need emptying?
HSM puts the 20 l (5.3 gallon) container at roughly 184 sheets' worth of shredded paper. At a realistic office pace of 30 to 50 pages a day that is a weekly job. Cross-cut particles pack denser than strips, so this model holds more paper by weight than the strip-cut C14 despite the identical container. There is no bag - pull the container out and empty it.
Will it run continuously?
No. The C14 is a personal shredder with a duty cycle suited to short bursts, not continuous feeding. Work through a stack in batches and give the motor a rest if it slows or the housing gets warm; the thermal cut-out will stop it if you push through that. For back-to-back running you want a departmental machine such as the SECURIO P36i, which is built for continuous operation.
How is this different from the C16 4 x 25 mm?
Same cut, same security level, same 225 mm throat. The C16 has a taller housing with a 6.6 gallon container instead of 5.3, a 185 W motor instead of 160 W, and takes six to seven sheets instead of five to six. The C14 is 2 inches shorter overall. If desk space is the constraint, take the C14; if bin-emptying frequency is the constraint, take the C16.