FAQs

An NPSA rated product meets the standards set by the UK’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), the government agency responsible for providing security guidance to protect national infrastructure and sensitive sites.
For tamper-evident labels and tape, an NPSA rating means the product has been independently tested and certified for performance against tampering, intrusion or covert removal attempts, in line with official government specifications. These products are typically approved for use in high security environments such as government facilities, military logistics, critical infrastructure and regulated supply chains

LabelLock® tamper evident security labels are designed to adhere to a wide range of surfaces and through their suite of specialist security design features, show irrefutable evidence of attempts to remove or alter the label.

LabelLock® tamper evident security labels and tape have been engineered for maximum security.
If removed or interfered with, the label or tape instantly ‘voids’ to reveal a clear and irreversible ‘OPENED’ message, providing immediate evidence of unauthorised access.

LabelLock® labels and tape incorporate security features such as micro text on a clear adhesive border and a perfectly aligned ‘in-register’ void message to prevent copying, each label and every 150mm of tape having a unique sub-surface printed number and scannable code to prevent editing and replacement.
LabelLock labels and tape are NPSA approved.

LabelLock® is recognised as the premium brand of tamper evident labels and tape as it has been designed and manufactured by the label experts at Mercian Labels, who have over 56 years’ experience of producing world class labels.

We start with the basic raw materials such as the substrate, special inks and adhesives and craft the labels and tape from scratch, whilst some other ‘security’ label manufacturers simply buy the base material from elsewhere and print onto the top of it, which means that anyone can easily get hold of their base material and create identical copies.

For orders of more than 12,000 labels or 200 rolls of tape, LabelLock® can be completely custom made to incorporate a bespoke ‘void / OPENED’ message, in any language or font, your company logo and colours, as well as bespoke number sets, and all with the same premium security features.
LabelLock® labels and tape are NPSA approved for use by Academia, Industry, Government and Public Sector, Security Professionals, and Venues, Events and Public Spaces.

The two main types of tamper evident security label are either: 
‘No Residue’, which will show an irreversible ‘OPENED’ message across the label when the label is moved or removed to access the item or area that is being protected. It will not leave a residue on the surface the label is applied to. They are ideal for multi-use surfaces such as doors, windows, cabinets, aircraft and vehicles – and much more!
‘Dual Layer’, which will also show an irreversible ‘OPENED’ message when the label is moved or removed, whilst also leaving a permanent dry peel layer on the surface of the item or area being protected. Ideal for single-use items such as envelopes, boxes and packaging.

LabelLock® security labels and tape are made from a specific Polypropylene which is designed to deform easily if stretched or heated, they benefit from a high tack pressure sensitive adhesive, and are supplied in rolls on siliconised glassine paper.

There are number of products available that are marketed as tamper evident security labels, such as destructible labels, paper based tamper evident labels, holograms, silver void labels, etc., but after years of designing the optimum label to resist the highest number of attack methods, then testing and perfecting the types of materials and adhesives used, we believe that LabelLock® offers the best all round solution to the vast majority of our customers security needs, which is why our products are the only ones manufactured in accordance with the requirements of ISO17712-1.

LabelLock® labels and tape, depending upon the type, can be adhered to most surfaces including glass, powder coated metals, painted wood, synthetic doors, plastic, shrinkwrap, cardboard, paper, envelopes, etc., but we always advise that the product is pre-tested by the user in the intended application before actual use.

Custom LabelLock® labels and tape in standard sizes are available for quantities in excess of 12,000 labels or just 200 fifty metre rolls of tape.
Custom LabelLock® can be produced in different sizes, colours and designs, which can incorporate your own logo and branding. You can even customise the subsurface ‘OPENED’ message to suit your needs, language or application.
Speak to our team if you require any other sizes or need tamper evident security labels or tape for any specific purposes.

The two main types of security labels are either: 
‘No Residue’ tamper evident security labels, which are ideal for use on smooth surfaces such as computers, cars, aircraft, painted or synthetic doors, etc., and where you want the label to eventually be fully removed and / or maybe for a further label to be reapplied at a later time (such as securing a server cabinet, removing the label when you need access and then applying a new label to secure the cabinet again once you have finished the work you need to do).

‘Dual Layer’ tamper evident security labels are ideal for a single use where it does not matter that the base layer of the label will be permanently adhered to the surface, such as logistics parcels, shrink wrapped pallets of goods, envelopes containing confidential documents, etc.

If you are at all unsure on which type of LabelLock® to choose, then do not hesitate to contact the LabelLock® team for advice.

LabelLock® tamper evident security labels and tape can withstand temperatures as low as -40^oC (minus 40 degrees Celsius) and as high as +70 ^oC (plus 70 degrees Celsius) and are not sensitive to humidity, but that may not be the case with any other brand of tamper evident security label and / or tape.

For more details on the environmental performance of LabelLock® labels and tape, download the Product Data Sheets at https://LabelLock.com/resource-centre/

This will depend upon the type of tamper evident label used and the surface that it is adhered to.
No Residue LabelLock® will remove cleanly from smooth surfaces such as aircraft, vehicle bodywork, computer / server cases, hard plastic cases, etc.
Dual Layer LabelLock® is designed for use on single use surfaces such as envelopes and cardboard boxes and is impossible to remove without damaging the surface it has been adhered to, so please check that you are using the correct type of LabelLock® before each use.

The best way to test the effectiveness of LabelLock® tamper evident security labels or tape is to ask our team for some samples, which we can dispatch to any location around the world from our head office in Burntwood, UK, or you may prefer to be put in touch with one of our many national or regional distributors who operate in countries around the world, and who will also be able to help.

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty with any attack testing of your own, you can rest assured that the LabelLock® products are the only tamper evident security labels and tape that have been independently tested in accordance with the requirements of ISO 17712-1, and are the only UK manufactured tamper evident security labels and tape that are NPSA rated. 
Our in-house test on our YouTube Channel provides further insights into some of the destructive testing undertaken previously – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3T6f6Qz0K4

LabelLock® tamper evident security labels and tape are the only such products that have been independently tested and certified in accordance with the requirements of ISO 17712-1, and are the only UK manufactured tamper evident security labels and tape that are NPSA rated.

The LabelLock® 3.5mm diameter metal cable seals are also CTPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) compliant, and the LabelLock® Bolt Seals are CTPAT compliant as a Grade H (High Security Seal), making them suitable for use on shipping containers.

The data sheet for LabelLock® labels and tape lists a very conservative 12 months shelf life from the date of manufacture and is more appropriate if the product is stored in extremes of temperature, but 24 months is an acceptable time frame in the type of conditions found in temperate climates.

We are not aware of any industries where tamper evident labels are a legal requirement, but they are certainly accepted as best practice in many industries, companies and organisations, including government agencies, police forces, forensics, etc., and LabelLock® tamper evident security labels and tape are certainly NPSA rated and approved for UK Government use.

Absolutely. These are just a couple of the many, many uses of LabelLock® labels and tape.

LabelLock® security tape is used by product manufacturers and brand owners across the world to help protect their shipments. The inclusion of unique and traceable numbers on every label and every 150mm of security tape mean that, if a package or pallet have LabelLock® labels and / or tape applied, then they cannot be tampered with during transit without there being evidence of this having taken place.
If the protected item is checked and the individual numbers are cross referenced at every stage of its journey, then it will be clear if (and more importantly when) any tampering has taken place.
To speed up the process, each human readable number is accompanied by a QR code which contains the same number, making it easier to scan the code, rather than having to write down every number, every time.

Using Counterpart LabelLock® labels can further improve the speed and accuracy of checking, as the counterpart section can be easily detached and applied to a checklist which can accompany the goods throughout their journey.

We monitor and record all numbering at the point of manufacture, providing all the traceability you need.

LabelLock® Security Tape can be used to protect individual cartons and high value items by covering all normal package / carton / box access areas, making it immediately obvious if any tampering has taken place.

LabelLock® Security Tape can also be used to protect whole pallets of goods, making it easier to clear customs inspections as it is obvious that nothing has been added or removed since it started its journey. The same method is also more likely to protect against petty theft / shrinkage as items cannot be removed from goods in transit without it being obvious.

Absolutely.
We hold volume stock of every type, size and variation of standard LabelLock® tamper evident security labels and tape, but also produce large volume custom orders and standard design orders for customers around the world.