EADMS & ISO 21 964
Currently, the most widely used security standards are EADMS and ISO 21 964 (DIN 66 399). In many aspects these 2 standards are quite the same, however, there are 2 important differences.
In the case of ISO 21 964 (DIN 66 399), whether a shredder can meet a particular standard (particle size) is self-proclaimed (by the manufacturer). In the case of EADMS a notary certified audit is done to determine the achievable particle size in relation to the machine settings.
The other important difference is the allowable deviation. The allowed deviation from the recommended particle size in the ISO 21 964 standard is much greater than the equivalent standard within EADMS. For example: standard H5 in ISO 21 964 requires 90% of the particles to be less than 320 mm² but allows for 10% to be as big as 800 mm². This in itself already disqualifies H5 as acceptable for classified data.
Below table illustrates the difference in allowable deviation for each standard
Difference in allowable deviation for each standard
| ISO H-5 | Particle size | Quantity within 1000 particles |
|---|---|---|
| 90% | « 320 mm2 | 900 |
| 10% | « 800 mm2 | 100 |
| EA DMS ‘C’ | Particle size | Quantity within 1000 particles |
|---|---|---|
| 92,5% | « 300 mm2 | 925 |
| 5% | « 400 mm2 | 50 |
| 1,5% | « 500 mm2 | 15 |
| 0,75% | « 600 mm2 | 7 |
| 0,25% | « 800 mm2 | 2 |
Achieved results MAXXeGUARD, cutting 3,5” magnetic HD’s, at 1 mm cut length:
| Particle size | % of particles |
|---|---|
| << 100 mm² | 68 % |
| 100 – 200 mm² | 18 % |
| 200 – 240 mm² | 12 % |
Footnote: the particle size was determined by weight of each platter particle as a % of the weight of a complete platter. Variations may occur. Further reduction of the particles can be achieved by performing a cross-cut.
