To protect our national security, military and government agencies require higher levels of security from their paper shredders. Many government agencies are required to dispose of top-secret or otherwise classified papers and documents under strict rules and guidelines: NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 – developed on January 30, 2003.

What is NSA/CSS Specification 02-01?

NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 outlines the required shred size for document paper shredders for government agencies disposing of top-secret or classified documents:

· Maximum Particle Area: 90% of shredded particles shall not exceed 5 square millimeters and the remaining 10% of particles shall not exceed 10 square millimeters.

· Maximum Particle Dimensions: 75% of the shredded particles shall have no edge dimension exceeding 5 millimeters in length. The remaining particles may exhibit edge dimensions between 5 and 12.5 millimeters in length.

The standard specs being used by most manufacturers (Dahle, MBM/Destroyit, Martin Yale/Intimus/Olympia, Fellowes, HSM, Kobra) for NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 are 1mm x 5mm or approximately 1/32” x 3/16”. This can reduce a standard 8.5” x 11” paper into approximately 15,500 particles.

The NSA/CSS EPL 02-01 lists a large number of high security shredders that meet the these specifications.