For our guide on shred size click our Thumbnail above or to download a copy of the shredding standard EN15713 click here.

A standard shred size is suitable for most commercially sensitive documents. However, regulations and corporate governance can stipulate higher security levels. When destroying restricted or classified documents a smaller shred size can be specified.

For example, the UK Government’s CPNI standard covers the destruction of sensitive documents on behalf of government departments like the Ministry of Justice and it states documents must be cross cut.

Our destruction process uses state of the art shredders that completely destroy unwanted documents. In the UK the most referred to shredding standard is EN15713 but other standards for measuring shred size are used. For example the DIN Classification 66399 classifies shred sizes from P1 (largest) to P7 and is used in the specifications of office shredders.

Unlike most shredding companies we have shred trucks that will cross cut documents for maximum security.

The BSIA (British Security Industry Association) promotes the shredding standard EN15713 which defines various shred sizes. A less used but very important standard is DIN 66399.

EN15713 security level security level 4 (DIN Level P-1)

For most commercially sensitive documents security level 4 as defined in EN15714 is acceptable. Using the DIN standard this is classed as level DIN P-1. Unlike most shredding companies we have shredders that will cross cut documents for maximum security. The smaller shred size in EN15713 is security level 6 (approx the size of a push pin head) and is defined as 160mm sq (DIN P-4).

EN15713 security level security level 6 (DIN level P-4)

The smallest and most secure shred size in EN15713 is level 6 (average shred size is about the size of the head a push pin). Topwood have high security shredders that will cross cut documents to approx. 160mm sq.

Whatever the shred size all the paper is mixed in the back of a shred truck which can contain over 750mn shreds which makes it impossible to reconstruct documents.

In addition to the shred size all the millions of tiny paper pieces are mixed in the back of the shred truck making impossible to reconstruct documents.

Topwood operates its document and data shredding services to information security standard ISO 27001. This standard incorporates EN15713 so you can be 100% confident that our service is safe. Call us and we can help safely dispose of your confidential documents.