As an active member of the international working party on security seals standards, Tydenbrooks Security Products Group is working with customers, industry groups and end users to clarify the changes to the ISO 17712:2010 standard for High Security mechanical seals on freight containers.
Commenting Nic Dancey, Director of Sales & Marketing, Tydenbrooks EMEA, said: “We are responding to customer concerns about the implementation of this security seal standard, which exists to give the most protection to high risk and high value shipments particularly to and from the US, and discourage intruders.
“Published in September 2010, Annex B of the standard explained it would take full effect 18 months from publication, which is 1st March 2012. The two major changes are the requirement for the diameter of the steel lock body and bolt head to be a minimum of 18 mm reflecting user experience, and the second element causing most confusion, is that they must undergo physical tamper testing at a certified laboratory.”
He continues: “As Tydenbrooks continues to work with other seal manufacturers and users of High Security seals in developing this standard, we know of no laboratory in the world currently certified or willing to undertake these tamper tests. Work is progressing within the Technical Committee for Freight Containers to address this, and revisions will be shared in due course.
“C-TPAT partners have recently been advised, by the Homeland Security team in the USA and Canadian Customs, that companies with existing stocks of cable bolt seals should not discard seals currently in stock. Once exhausted they can then purchase seals which are compliant with the new ISO 17712:2010 standard. The new seal standards should reduce shipping delays that result when seals are missing or broken and reduce the possibility of cargo theft or tampering.”
Tydenbrooks Security Products Group offers a full range of ISO 17712/ C-TPAT High Security Seals including bolt and cable seals which require heavy-duty bolt or cable cutters for removal.
Meeting ISO 17712:2010 and C-TPAT for security compliance, the Alum-a-Loc for example is a heavy duty cargo security cable seal which builds in advanced security features and requires professional strength cable cutters for removal. The cable is non-preformed, which means it springs open on cutting and prevents it from being cut and reinserted in the body of the seal.
For extra security this can be combined with one of Tydenbrooks’ range of HS bolt security seals. Both seals are aimed at preventing the doors from being opened, and show immediate tamper evidence. If sold as a package, they can be marked with the same sequential number for easy checking and identification, and supplied as a packed kit.
The TydenBrooks Security Products Group
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