Below you will find an
explanation of the shredding industries DIN Security Levels
DIN: Deutsches Institut
für Normung e.V. (DIN; in English, the German Institute for
Standardization) is the German national organization for
standardization and is that country's ISO member body.
Level 1
Low Security waste reduction (DIN 1)
Machines shred into long strips up to 12mm or about 1/2 inch in
width. Useful for general waste reduction for non sensitive
documents
Level 2
For shredding internal documents (DIN 2)
Long strips between 4mm and 6mm in width. For all internal home or
small office information that is not considered sensitive
Level 3
For shredding confidential documents
(DIN 3)
For all Confidential documents including Staff personnel details,
Company secrets, sales and marketing plans etc. Strips under 2mm or
in Cross-Cut Particles 4mm x 40mm
Level 4
Commercially Sensitive (DIN 4)
For shredding of secret documents. Machines supplied to UK
Government installation specifically state a maximum Cross Cut size
of Maximum 60sq. mm. Secret documents may include those which may
jeopardise personal or institutional safety if they were to fall
into the wrong hands.
Level 5
Top Secret or Classified (DIN 5)
Machines will shred to a maximum Cross Cut particle a size of 20sq.
mm: i.e. 1mm wide x 15mm long = 15sq.mm. These products are
specifically supplied to Government/Military installations where
documents must be shredded to avoid espionage and where information
may undermine State defence. Approved by the U.S. Department of
Defence and the Canadian R.C.M.P. for top secret shredding.
Level 6
Top Secret or Classified
The latest security level backed by the U.S. government. Ultra
secure shredding for the most sensitive documents. Cross Cut 1mm x
5mm (approximately 1/26" x 1/5")
