Ensuring Security: Tamper-Proof Screw Types

Theft and vandalism are a threat in virtually every industry, from retail to agriculture. To protect your equipment from these threats, Polycase offers enclosures built with tamper-resistant screws. These enclosures and screws provide an added level of security to protect your product or device. If you’re considering how to secure an electrical enclosure, tamper-resistant screws can be a great choice. Let’s start by breaking down the basics of the many tamper-proof screw types together in this edition of our Polycase TechTalk blog.

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What Are Tamper-Proof Screws?

A tamper-proof screw or tamper-resistant screw is a screw designed to resist being removed except by authorized persons with the correct tool. Most tamper-proof screws cannot be removed with a standard screwdriver, helping to prevent unwanted entry into the enclosure.Typically, a tamper-proof screw will have an unusual drive head a normal screwdriver will not fit into. Depending on the screw’s model, its threads may also have atypical characteristics that change the way the screw behaves. Dozens of tamper-proof screw types exist, and almost all of them are compatible only with specific tools. 

Why Use Tamper-Proof Screws?

Security is the biggest concern for most businesses that choose tamper-proof screws. Tamper-proof screws are a great choice for a piece of critical equipment that can create hazardous conditions or for a security system control panel to ensure it can’t be cracked open. In addition to security, keeping employees safe from hazardous components is also another reason to consider these specialty screws. If there’s a high risk of employees unintentionally removing screws from the wrong enclosure and accessing hazardous equipment, security screws can provide an excellent way to reduce this risk. Need an Outdoor Enclosure? Browse Our Options!

Polycase ZH/ZQ Series Tamper-Resistant Screw. (Note the pin-in torx drive design which makes it impossible to remove with a standard screwdriver.)

Applications for Tamper-Proof Screws

What are some of the common applications in which you might find tamper-resistant screws being used? 

• Military equipment
• Public property
• Hospitals and other critical infrastructure
• Safes and cash boxes
• Security devices
• Industrial equipment

These applications often involve outdoor locations that require the use of outdoor enclosures. Such locations can also be vulnerable to unauthorized intrusion by people who may try to tamper with or remove equipment.

Understanding Tamper-Proof Screw Types

Several types of tamper-proof screws are widely available on the market today. Here are the basics of how a few of the most common types work:

• One-Way Screws: Designed to only screw one way into the enclosure unless the user has the correct tool
• Spanner Screws: Designed with two holes in the head that require a tool with a specific span size
• Tri-Wing/Tri-Head Screws: Designed with a triangular three-wing bit that is not compatible with normal screwdrivers
• Pin-In Torx Screws: Designed with a star-shaped drive with a central pin that requires a specific type of torx screwdriver 

Polycase offers our customers pin-in torx screws because they offer the perfect balance of reliable performance, rock-solid security and a cost-effective price point. Tamper-Proof Screws from PolycaseThe screws turn our boxes into tamper-resistant enclosures and are currently available for our ZQ Series and ZH Series of NEMA 6P enclosures. Both the ZH and ZQ Series offer a standard configuration using the tamper-resistant security screws. We also make these screws available by the bag of 25 screws for use with our ZH Series hinged NEMA enclosures.Our tamper-proof screws are #10-32 X .75 of an inch stainless steel captive screws. They feature a pin-in torx drive head that takes a T25 drive size. We use this specific tamper-proof screw type because the additional pin or post at the center of the drive head means even a standard torx bit can’t remove these screws. Use Tamper-Resistant Screws to Secure Your Enclosures

Polycase ZH-060404 polycarbonate enclosure, disassembled with its screws.

Polycase is proud to help our customers create more effective and more secure enclosures. For more high-security enclosure options, make sure to check out our lockable NEMA enclosures. And, as always, our enclosure pros are happy to answer your questions about any of our products. Just call 1-800-248-1233 or contact us online for whatever you need.