
Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is P-5 micro-cut the same as high security?
No. P-5 is the first of the micro-cut levels and is the usual answer for sensitive personal and financial data, but DIN 66399 runs to P-6 and P-7 above it, and those are what the phrase high security normally means in a procurement document. If a specification says high security without naming a level, ask which level before you buy — the difference between P-5 and P-7 is a factor of six in particle area and a completely different class of machine.
How often will the 37-gallon bin need emptying?
Around 1,000 to 1,300 sheets, better than the equivalent cross-cut machine because micro-cut particles are smaller and pack more tightly. In a department shredding steadily, that is typically a weekly job. The machine stops when the bin is full rather than jamming, so unattended runs are safe.
Can it shred staples and paper clips?
Yes, both, and they can go into the hopper without pre-sorting. Credit cards are accepted through the manual slot. Do not feed it CDs, DVDs, laminated pouches, adhesive labels or continuous form paper — none of them are rated for this machine, and a micro-cut head is less tolerant of them than a coarser one.
How often does it need oiling?
At minimum every time you empty the bin, and more often if it is running for long stretches. Micro-cut heads generate a lot of fine paper dust, and dust is the main cause of jams and cutter wear on machines at this level. Use ACCO's own oil, part 1760049; aerosol lubricants can damage the cutters and are not covered by the warranty.
What is the duty cycle?
Four hours of running, then a rest. Note that this is the same figure as the smaller 600M even though the hopper is 25 percent larger — the thermal budget did not scale with the capacity. Plan accordingly if you intend to run load after load.
Will legal paper fit?
Yes. The manual slot is 9.1 inches wide, which takes US legal at 8.5 inches and A4 at 8.27 inches without folding, and legal sheets load in the hopper as well. Keep stacks to one size where you can; mixed-size stacks are the most common cause of a stalled auto-feed.
Is this NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS 02-01 requires a maximum 1 mm x 5 mm particle and requires the model to be on the NSA Evaluated Products List. P-5 at 2 x 15 mm is not close to that geometry, and no AutoFeed+ model is listed. P-5 alone is never NSA approval, whatever a reseller's copy may imply.