What does "tamper evident" mean?
When something is described as "tamper evident", it means that the contents are not accessible without visible signs of tampering. This does not mean that the contents of sealed goods cannot be tampered with.
The term "tamper-proof" has different meanings depending on the application. In the case of Versapak products (such as our cash or laboratory bags), for example, if a security seal is used, it is recognizable if the seal has been removed (i.e. the tampering is visible). With typical security seals, it can be seen that once a seal has been applied to the closure mechanism of a bag, it breaks when removed and the same seal cannot be reapplied.
For some companies, simple visual color coding is appropriate for their tamper-evident solution. An example from practice is a company that carries out cell phone repairs, where the cell phones are delivered to the repair department with a specific color seal (e.g. red). Once employees have repaired the phone, it is returned to the Versapak bag with a new color seal (e.g. green) to indicate that the repair is complete.
For applications where additional tamper protection is required, Versapak offers numbered plastic security seals. This measure supplements the security system by introducing an additional tamper-proof reference point. This ensures that when the consignment is received at its destination, it can be verified that it is the same security seal number.
For cases where increased tamper evidence is required, Versapak's high-quality T2 seal is available with either a barcode or a QR code that can be customized to meet specific customer requirements. Find out more about the different security seals.
What are tamper-proof security seals?
Tamper evident security seals can be used for many different types of products depending on their intended use. The example above is a plastic seal that is applied directly to the closure mechanism of a bag and breaks when removed.
Alternative seals are Pull-through sealswhich are often used in situations where visual identification of tampering is required:
A practical example of pull-through seals with variable length is their use on fire extinguishers. Seals for fire extinguishers must be strong enough to remain on the product to visually indicate that the extinguisher has not been tampered with, but they must also be quick and easy to break if the extinguisher is needed in an emergency.
Similar seals are often used on first aid kits for emergency responders, with the first seal (green) indicating that the first aid kit contains everything it should. When the first aid kit has been opened and used, it is resealed with a red seal, indicating that the first aid kit needs to be refilled at the end of the shift.
What is an example of something being tamper-proof?
To understand what tamper evident means, you can look at how a seal on a corresponding bag works. There are many different types of security seals for use with bags, storage bags or transportation bags, and choosing the right seal may depend on commercial preference, cost or familiarity with a company's bags already in circulation.
At Versapak, we sell a range of bag seals, including (from left to right, pictured below) "T2" security seals, "Button" security seals and the "arrow" security seals. Please note: While we sell all of the types of security seals listed below, we do not generally sell security bags with the "Arrow" seal online. Please contact usif you would like to purchase a bag with this seal.
We illustrate this example using the T2 seal, which is a unique, patented Versapak seal design and has multiple indicators that show if a bag has been tampered with (see image below) - this illustrates how the clips of a seal are broken when an item has been tampered with.
Video about tamper evident security seals
Please click below to see a video of all our bag security seals.