Protection against any form of harm is a basic right of every individual. This is precisely why every household uses its own set of safety and security measures in a variety of situations, items, and practices. Similarly, a growing number of organizations are consistently focusing on manufacturing goods and systems with detailed and carefully developed safety features. This effort by responsible
organizations essentially enhances their product quality which reflects well on their reputation among the target audience. As a matter of fact, organizations that manufacture safe and secure goods contribute to community protection as well as industrial growth.

Basically, ensuring high safety levels enables manufacturing companies to produce products and systems that are safe for use. However, the significance of methods that induce product safety is even more necessary for product categories that have safety risks associated with them. In order to deliver the end users with products and systems that are designed to overcome the challenges from usage or external destruction, companies use a variety of materials and fixtures in their final product. In this regard, security / tamper resistant fasteners  (eg screws and nuts) are an outstanding example.

Brief Overview

As the name suggests, security/tamper resistant fasteners are screws and nuts that tamper proof products, devices and systems, making them resistant to theft, accidental damage or vandalism. The primary and distinguished design feature of security fasteners is their specialized drive systems that prohibit their removal using conventional tools.  In fact, security fasteners can only be installed and removed with specifically designed and designated tools. In some cases both security/tamper resistant screws and nuts are designed to be attached and not removed at all (one way drives).

From electrical appliances to security systems, from locks and vaults to toys and child safety restraint systems; tamper resistant screws and nuts are used in a wide array of devices. With their ability to tamper proof the products, security screws and nuts greatly reduce possible hazards for the users as well as unauthorized invasion by outsiders or vandals. To put it another way, tamper resistant fasteners offer the key benefits of low risks of injury, theft, and equipment damage.

Product Innovation

Similar to the advancement in many industries and individual companies, leading and enterprising firms that produce tamper resistant fasteners continuously improve their product offerings by subtle and/or dramatic changes to the drive systems that improve tool engagement while sufficiently changing the geometry of the drive so that new and unique tools are required for their insertion and/or removal.

Types & Examples

Considering the countless designs and types of security fasteners available, it is not possible to highlight a single one as an ideal choice. To derive this conclusion, it is important for the users to review their own product needs against the types and features of different tamper resistant screws available. Nonetheless, it is equally important to have basic knowledge of the types of security screws and nuts that are available.  Below are a list of some of the more common systems available:

 

Hex Socket Head Recess With Pin

This is similar to a regular hex socket recess design. However, right in the center of the recess is an additional pin or tip which differentiates it from a basic design and also makes it necessary for its removing tool to have a designated slot for pin insertion. Thus removal of a hex socket head with pin security screw requires a modified hex (allen) key or bit which accepts the center pin in the tamper resistant hex socket drive.

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Torx(r) Recess with Pin

The basic pattern of a regular torx with its six lobe geometry, resembling a star, is found on its tamper proof version as well. What makes it different and tamper resistant in nature is the small pin in the center of the recess. Despite its different types of applications, torx security fasteners are most commonly used in the electronic industry.

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Snake Eyes Spanner Drive

As the name indicates, this type of security fasteners has two holes on opposite ends around a screw head. Basically, it has two notches opposite each other, close to the inner circumference of the head. It is practically impossible to use any basic screw driver or similar tool to remove snake eyes tamper resistant screws.

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One-Way Slot Drive

A tamper resistant drive designed in such a way that the screw can only be turned in one direction – tightened.  They can be installed with a standard slot screwdriver. One-way screws are typically used where the screw is unlikely to be removed. They are difficult to remove with standard tools because the slot is designed to cause cam out when any amount of torque is applied in the direction to loosen the screw.

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Aluminum Breakaway Nut / Non-Removable Security – Tamper Resistant Nut

Upper hex nut breaks away from the lower threaded cone portion when torque is applied to the nut to tighten it leaving only the tamper-resistant conical portion. No specialty tool is needed – standard wrench is required for installation.

• Permanent Cone shaped nut
• Breakaway hex nut
• Accurate torque control
• Vibration resistant

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Bolting Systems & Tools

The method to install, tighten and remove security fasteners is not a lot different than that of ordinary screws. The use of specific tools and screw drivers for working with security fasteners results in a unique bolting system that is impossible to tamper with inadequate mechanism. In short, fastening and removal of tamper resistant screws requires a highly secure system with fairly uncommon devices and instruments. These tools are designed to have a steady grip on the drive systems of tamper resistant screws, depending on their screw head type and design.

These instruments have a shape that match specific type and dimensions of security fasteners and have defined slots to fit around distinguishing drives. Needless to say, the use of such specialized tools to fasten and tighten tamper resistant screws forms the essence of these fixtures. Any fastener or screw that can tamper proof a product or appliance must come with its own, exclusive bolting system.

Various Applications- The use of tamper proof screws has a wide scope of applications. As such tamper resistant screws are available types in a variety of materials and head styles are available with tamper resistant / security drives offering secure fastening for a variety of purposes and requirements. This means that there are plenty of devices and systems that have been designed with these fixtures to make the end product extremely safe for a variety of purposes.

Sometimes the safety requirements come from the needs of the customers or users of the product. In other cases, customers wish to keep the people around them safe and prevented from any possible injury from certain products them safe from any risks of injury. It could be their family members or possibly any individual who may have easy access to the certain device. In completely different scenarios, there are certain products in every household that can either become subject to theft themselves or lead to compromised security which may result in theft of other valuable belongings. When any of these items are designed to be tamper proof through the use of security fasteners, people reap the benefits of high security against any act of vandalism or robbery.Basically, the purpose fulfilled by the use of security fasteners in different products and systems makes these fixtures the center of attention for the manufacturing companies. On the other hand, there is another form of application for these fasteners which is rather infrequent. It is the use non-commercial or domestic use of tamper resistant screws for DIY projects. Likewise, domestic projects that are being personally monitored by the owners can also involve special request to use tamper resistant screws for additional security.

Electrical Appliances This is a common product category for which tamper resistance is an essential feature. Although basic precautionary measures are related to the usage of several gadgets, there is always the risk of injury associated with deliberate or unintended interference with their internal mechanism. As one would expect, if any individual is able to open up an electrical appliance there is a high potential of hazard, accident, or injury.

Security Systems & Related Components Whether people install security systems or it is the basic form of residential safety through secure entry points, the use of tamper resistant fasteners is a crucial step. For example, these screws in safes used by home users greatly reduce the possibility of theft. They also prevent misuse of weapons by adding further security to gun safes. Other applications are related to using security fasteners in doors, windows, hinges, cupboards, locks, etc.All in all, security fasteners are categorically a fundamental component in the safety strategy used in the design of any product. Not only do they result in high safety of the end users of such products and systems, but also add to the reliability and positive image of their manufacturers and vendors alike.