How to choose the right paper shredder
A paper shredder is an important tool in a business environment. These are the factors to consider for effective document disposal.
Paper records are still widely used even in the era of ubiquitous digital information. Many processes still rely on the use of paper documents such as contracts and mail, which require careful handling and disposal.
Protected health information and other private details could be compromised if these files were left unattended. Shredding these and other sensitive documents is therefore a necessary precaution.
Office shredders aid in the prevention of identity theft and reduce the likelihood of a costly data breach while also ensuring compliance with relevant requirements.
But how does one go about choosing the best office shredder?
There are a number of factors to think about while choosing an office shredder.
1. Consider the security level
Paper shredders for sale are categorised into several security categories based on the size of the paper particles after shredding. The official DIN 66399 standard defines a minimum particle size and cut type for each level.
It is generally recommended to utilise at least a P-3 shredder for the safe disposal of confidential data holding sensitive information. Cross cut and micro cut office shredders produce far smaller particles than strip cut shredders, making it more difficult to understand or rebuild the shredded paper.
A P-3 shredder, for example, breaks an A4 piece of paper into approximately 312 particles, whereas a P-1 shredder cuts it into only 36 particles.
2. Consider whether you need a manual or auto feed
Papers must be put into manual-feeding shredders one at a time. Auto feeding models, on the other hand, save the user’s time by allowing for bigger batches of paper to be fed into a tray or compartment to be shredded without assistance from the user.
If you have an auto feed shredder with a security PIN locking feature, you may leave it alone to do its work while you go about your day. More manual intervention would be needed with a shredder that is fed by hand.
3. Consider the run time of the individual machine
The run times and cool down times for paper shredders for sale can vary widely. In some cases, the continuous shredding time for simpler machines may be less than 10 minutes. On the other hand, high-capacity, industrial-grade shredders are designed to operate continuously for long periods of time.
Although micro cut shredders generate more heat than less intensive cross cut or strip cut machines when cutting papers into tiny particles to meet the criteria for high security levels like P-5, longer cool downs are not always necessary. The technical characteristics of the office shredder in issue determine the run time and the cool down time.
4. Consider the sheet capacity
A few sheets at most can be shredded at once using the most basic paper shredders for sale. If you don’t need to get rid of a lot of records at once and simply need to shred the occasional important document, then you should be fine with this low capacity.
Some shredders can take hundreds of pages at once, making them ideal for offices that regularly shred large amounts of paper.
Use the guidelines listed above to make the best paper shredder purchasing decision.
