Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this machine genuinely NSA approved?
The NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List for Paper Shredders, January 2026 edition, lists "Securio P36i (L6) OMDD Combo" under HSM of America. That is the configuration this article corresponds to. Two cautions: the EPL is reissued periodically and you should check the current edition before a contract purchase, and an EPL listing covers a specific configuration, so confirm article 1854123S against the listing with HSM of America if the requirement is contractual.
Why only 8 sheets per pass?
Because P-7 means 5 mm² particles. Every sheet is being reduced to roughly 12,000 pieces, and the cutting head has to do all of that work in one pass. Eight sheets at 80 g/m² is HSM's own figure and it is normal for the class; every P-7 machine on the market trades throughput for particle size. Plan the workflow around batches rather than continuous feeding.
Can it shred staples and paper clips?
HSM lists paper for the main cutting unit on this article, without staples and paper clips — unlike the P-2 to P-6 P36i models. Treat that as a real restriction rather than a cautious footnote: a P-7 head has very fine teeth and metal is what damages them. Remove fastenings before feeding. If you need detection as a backstop, HSM's metal-detection articles in this family are 1855121N (P-6) and 1884121N (P-7, P40i).
What does the OMDD unit actually do?
It is a separate cutting unit with its own waste container that reduces CDs, DVDs, credit and loyalty cards and floppy disks to 2 x 2 mm particles. It runs independently of the paper head, so disc fragments never reach the paper rollers and shredded plastic stays out of the paper waste stream. OMDD stands for optical media destruction device.
How often will the bin need emptying?
Less often than you would expect. The 145-litre bin holds about 2,667 sheets of shredded material at this cut size, the highest figure in the P36i range, because P-7 particles are close to dust and settle tightly. Combined with 8 sheets per pass, most secure areas empty it monthly. Wear a mask when emptying — micro-cut waste is fine enough to become airborne.
Does it destroy hard drives?
No. The OMDD unit is for optical and magnetic media in disc and card form — CDs, DVDs, credit cards, floppy disks. A 2.5 in or 3.5 in hard drive, an SSD or a tape cartridge needs purpose-built equipment, and the NSA maintains separate Evaluated Products Lists for degaussers and for hard drive destruction devices. Do not attempt a drive in either unit.
What warranty does it carry?
Three years on the machine. HSM's five-year warranty and its lifetime warranty on the solid steel cutting rollers apply to SECURIO C, B and P series shredders in security levels P-2 to P-5 only, and a P-7 machine sits outside that band. This is a genuine downgrade against the cheaper models in the same cabinet and it belongs in your total-cost calculation.