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USPS Tabbing Requirement Changes
BOOKLETS
The Postal Service has established new standards to improve processing and handling of automation compatible letter-size booklets.
There are changes to tab size and location, paper weight and dimensions. Booklets are mail pieces with a bound edge and include sheets fastened with at least two staples in the manufacturing fold (saddle-stitched), perfect bound, pressed-glued, or joined together by another binding method that is automation-compatible and produces an end where pages are attached. In general, booklets are open on three sides before sealing, like a book, and must be uniformly thick.
To improve the productivity of processing booklets and to decrease damage to mail pieces, the new standards require that booklets have three, 1 1/2-inch tabs placed on the sides of the mail piece. For larger or heavier booklets, the USPS recommends 2-inch paper tabs. Glue spots or a continuous glue line may be used to seal booklets designed with pages that are shorter than the cover.
There are a very limited number of booklets that we mail each year and to meet this tabbing requirement would require the purchase of new tabbing equipment. The booklet volumes do not justify the purchase of the new equipment.
If a department wishes to mail out booklet, they have two choices:
- Provide envelopes along with the booklets for the booklet to be inserted into the envelopes for mailing.
- Have the printer meet all the requirements shown below to include tabbing of the piece prior to sending it to University Mail Services to be mailed.
- We believe the best option to be the first one, as our concern is the final appearance to the customer with the number of tabs that will be on the piece and what it will look like when it is opened. Tabs can no longer be perforated leading to increased tearing of the actual mail piece when opening it.
SELF-MAILERS
The Postal Service is also reviewing tabbing requirements for self-mailers and we expect a decision on this requirement in December 2009 with a proposed implementation date of March 2010. Once we know what the new requirements are, we will determine the best course of action to be taken.
