SECURITY SEALS cab be divided into three groups – tamper evident seals, barrier seals and electronic seals. Tamper-evident seals are simple seals such as foils or films, plastic wraps, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, crimped cables or other irreversible mechanical assemblies. They are not designed to provide additional security, only to provide evidence of tampering, should it occur. Barrier seals are devices or materials such as snap seals, cables, padlocks, container seals and bolt seals that serve to prevent invasion. When breeched, they do provide physical evidence of tampering. In addition to physical seals, security seals can include electronic sytems that monitor for changes through an electrical cable or fiber-optics. They can provide output to monitors allowing guards or law enforcement to intervene. These devices are often called e-seals.

 

Security seals are used to identify if a seal, container or package has been opened. Security seals are used to show evidence of tampering. Specific types of security seals include lead seals, numbered seals, railcar seals, and truck seals.

 

Security seals are used for many different types of applications including: consumer product protection, hazardous materials accountability, nuclear nonproliferation, homeland security, theft prevention, shipping integrity, container seal security, counterterrorisum, and counterespionage.

 

E-seal technology can deliver on-spot tracking and tracing as well as preventing container tampering. Earlier this year, an International Organization for Standardization group comprised of ocean carriers, terminal operators and technolgoy companies agreed to work out the operational standars for the e-seal, which should be finalized by the end of 2006. The Department of Homeland Security is expected to develop new regulations regarding container seals. E-seals are not currently required but expectations are the government will be heading in that direction. Combining e-seals with the “smart box” another technological advancement that would notify when a container has been tampered with are potential outcomes in today’s environment.