Best Shredder for Home: Consumer Tips
The shredder cuts documents into such small strips that they contain hardly any usable information on their own and could only be reassembled with great effort. Instead of just cutting into strips, additional horizontal cuts are made with the cross-cut. In addition to paper, newer shredders can also shred credit cards and CDs or DVDs.
What differences are there among shredders?
There are various shredders on the market. The main difference is the five security levels according to DIN 32757. The most common are security levels 2 or 3, which generally represent the minimum requirement for data protection-compliant destruction. The security levels are divided as follows: Security level 1 recommended for general documents (strip cut: max. 12 mm strip width, cross cut: max. 1000mm² particle area); Security level 2 recommended for internal, not particularly confidential documents (strip cut: max. 6 mm strip width, cross cut: max. 400mm² particle area); Security level 3 recommended for confidential documents (strip cut: max. 2 mm strip width, cross cut: max. 4 mm width on max. 60 mm particle length (240mm² particle area)); Security level 4 recommended for documents to be kept secret (cross cut: max. 2 mm width on max. 15 mm particle length (30mm² particle area)); Security level 5 for maximum security requirements (cross cut: max. 0.8 mm width on max. 15 mm particle length (12mm² particle area). Other distinguishing criteria are the sheet feed width and the amount of paper that needs to be destroyed and disposed of. Furthermore, there are devices that can simply be placed on a waste bin and can therefore only shred small amounts of documents. Larger models sometimes have a conveyor belt and can shred entire piles of paper (including paper clips) or even data carriers like CDs or DVDs in no time. Smaller devices usually have a thermal protection switch that automatically requires the shredder to cool down for 15 to 30 minutes after one to two minutes of continuous operation.
What should you pay attention to when buying?
A GS mark is not strictly necessary, but it means that the manufacturer has had the product tested by an independent testing body and that the production of the product is regularly monitored. You can then assume that the device is safe from a technical perspective. Define the intended use of the device before purchasing. Shredders with lower cutting performance (from 4 sheets) are sufficient for private use, but for commercial use, depending on the volume of paper, you should choose devices with a higher cutting performance. An automatic start or also auto start/auto stop is practical, as the device detects when paper is inserted, shreds it, and switches off again by itself. Good shredders can also handle overlooked staples or paper clips.
