Multiple paper documents cannot go to the trash. The law requires that personal and administrative forms must be destroyed so that other natural or legal persons do not easily hold information that may be sensitive. Reason why companies and even individuals invest in a document shredder . It is an electrical device that is used to shred useless and top secret classified paperwork. Depending on its level of security, a document shredder makes between 500 and 15,000 paper fragments for a single A4 sheet. This equipment exists in several sizes to adapt to the use and budget of all consumers.
A few points are important in choosing a good paper shredder . This is why the editorial staff provides you with a practical buying guide. This article will also guide you to proper use and maintenance for this device.
How to choose a document shredder?
A document shredder is generally part of the practical equipment for a professional environment . Most companies use this device, especially in the administrative and human resources departments, which handle physical documents on a daily basis. On the one hand, a paper shredder brings ecological benefits by reducing paper waste. Your garbage bag will only be more cluttered with a ton of paper at the end of the evening. And on the other hand, it guarantees the elimination of documents classified as confidential. In fact, this office device is mandatory in some institutions that perform in sensitive operations such as special intervention agencies.
If you really need this hardware in your business, it’s time to buy it. However, selecting the model that meets your expectations may take some time. We offer to give you a hand in setting the purchase criteria for this product.
Category
The category of the document shredder determines the number of people who will use this device. A personal model and for TPE adapts for a single user. If your workforce does not exceed 5 people, the small office shredders will be able to satisfy you. Office shredders are suitable for approximately 15 users . If the employees who need this equipment exceed thirty people, opt for a departmental or industrial shredder.
type of cut
The majority of medium security level shredders achieve a straight cut when shredding. At the end of the process, you will get cut strips, similar to spaghetti. For a higher level of security, it is advisable to use a document shredder that performs a cross cut . The papers will be cut in the direction of the length and the width in order to give small pieces of paper, in the form of confetti.
security level
The fragments of the papers can be reconstructed if necessary. In order to avoid the reversibility of the process, it is in your interest to favor a document shredder with a high level of security , hence class 2 or 3. For class 2, i.e. P4 and P5, you will benefit from protection high by obtaining scraps of paper of less than 30 mm2. In case you are interested in maximum security, security level P6 and P7 of class 3 given as a result of particles less than 5 to 10 mm2.
Document type
If you don’t just have paper to shred, choose a versatile document shredder . Basically, select the prototype that doesn’t require you to tear out paper clips and staples. Subsequently, it should be known that the best model supports CDs or DVDs, hard drives, cardboard boxes as well as passports. In this case, its gear should be very resistant and very sharp in order to ensure the process in less than 5 seconds.
How to use a document shredder?
A document shredder accompanies you on a daily basis in order to get rid of unnecessary papers. It can also be very useful during major cleaning in your business or even in your home. Take advantage of this device to destroy any physical files you no longer need. Robust, this equipment guarantees a long service life. Minimal in size, the waste obtained will easily fit into a single garbage bag even if it is in very large quantities. If you’ve just purchased your paper shredder , a few basic guidelines might help you use it properly.
Read the user manual
Whatever the brand of your document shredder , the manufacturer offers a user guide. After unpacking the device from its original package, start by informing yourself about its technical details, installation and use. In this way, you will avoid incorrect manipulations and operations that could harm the correct operation of the equipment. For example, you will get instructions on how to remove the output tray when it is full.
Lubricate the device
Before using your new paper shredder for the first time, it must be serviced to prevent rapid wear. Which consists of putting oil on the cylinders of its cutting block, especially if you have chosen a model deploying a cross cut. This action will allow you to avoid unwanted vibrations during paper shredding , as well as to reduce the noise of the device and its repetitive jams.
Respect the destruction cycle
The instruction manual provided by the manufacturer generally includes the destruction cycle for the device you ordered. This is its maximum continuous run time as well as its cool down time. These figures are determined based on the engine power of the device. For a desktop paper shredder , 2 minutes of shredding papers requires 15 minutes of downtime. For a 5 minute kill, allow 30 minutes for cooling.
Document Shredder FAQ
❓ How does a document shredder work?
A document shredder takes a few seconds to destroy your sensitive printed matter. In principle, the papers that you insert on the device are sucked inside thanks to a recognition sensor placed on the cutting head. Your papers then go through rotating teeth to get confetti or strips, depending on its type of cut. The device activates the rotation of its teeth provided that its head is well fixed. You will get the waste in a collection bin. The document shredder can be stopped during its operation in the event of a jam or strong vibration. Learn more
❓ Why buy a document shredder?
In business, a recycle bin is not at all the safest place to get rid of many confidential documents. While you’ll probably need to make sensitive paperwork disappear on a daily basis, a paper shredder is the best solution. Many companies don’t want to keep all job applications, especially if they don’t have a dedicated archive room. In this case, it is necessary to destroy these files which contain the maximum of personal information. Which correctly follows the European General Data Protection Regulation, if your place of business is in Europe. Learn more
❓ What standards apply to a document shredder?
The DIN 66399 standard applies to the document shredder. These are the levels of security that the device will give you. In fact, this criterion is to be considered when choosing the best document shredder on the market. This standard puts this equipment into 3 classes. Class 1 grants a normal level of security. What concerns the reduction in crumbs of the paperwork which is not very important. On the other hand, to hide payslips, medical results, secret investigation reports and contracts, you need a class 2 or 3 shredder. Learn more
❓ What are the comforts attributed to the best document shredder?
If you are looking for a paper shredder that offers practical and comfortable use, it must first of all be economical. With an “Energy Smart” function, there is no energy consumption in standby mode. The “Automatic Feeder” function is indispensable. This is the autoload that you drop on the device. The “automatic return” function avoids jamming of this equipment. Models that ensure a long life have steel chains and gears. If you are thinking of destroying several documents for long hours, only a model with “24-hour function motor” will not overheat. Learn more
❓ How to maintain a document shredder?
The maintenance of a document shredder is not complicated. Whatever the manufacturer’s recommendations, remember to put oil regularly in the gears of the device. If the model of your choice includes a photoelectric cell at the paper insertion slot, clean this compartment with a cotton swab to remove dust. It should be remembered that you must respect the quantity of authorized sheets. The jam will be frequent, and can lead to the degradation of the document shredder, if you integrate for example 15 papers at the same time instead of 10 papers at most.
Your papers then go through rotating teeth to get confetti or strips, depending on its type of cut. The device activates the rotation of its teeth provided that its head is well fixed. You will get the waste in a collection bin. The document shredder is stopped during its operation in the event of a jam or strong vibration. Learn more
❓ Why buy a document shredder?
In business, a recycle bin is not at all the safest place to get rid of many confidential documents. While you’ll probably need to make sensitive paperwork disappear on a daily basis, a paper shredder is the best solution. Many companies don’t want to keep all job applications, especially if they don’t have a dedicated archive room. In this case, it is necessary to destroy these files which contain the maximum of personal information.
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