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Tabs may be made of paper, translucent paper, vinyl, or plastic. Cellophane tape may serve as a closure when the saw-toothed cut edge is parallel to the edge being sealed. Tabs must not contain perforations. For tab size and placement for folded self-mailers, see DMM 201.3.14. Tab placement is subject to 1/4" variance in either direction. The following standards also apply:
- The Postal Service recommends that translucent paper tabs be made with a minimum basis weight of 40-pound book-grade paper.
- The Postal Service recommends that opaque paper tabs be made with a minimum basis weight of 60-pound book-grade paper with a tear strength of at least 56 gf in either the machine direction or the cross direction.
- When a barcode clear zone is required (see DMM 202.5.1), tabs in the barcode clear zone must have a paper face meeting the standards for background reflectance and, if the mailer does not preprint the barcode, the standards for acceptance of water-based ink.
- Vinyl tabs and cellophane tape closures are not acceptable within the barcode clear zone.
- Tabs must be tight against the edge of the mailpiece. The Postal Service recommends a maximum overhang of 1/16".
- Glue spots may serve in lieu of tabs (as indicated in Exhibit 4-5f) and must be placed within 3/4" of the open edges.
Exhibit 4-5f
Glue Spot Placement
- Continuous glue lines may serve as cover-to-cover seals for specific designs (as indicated in Exhibit 4-5g). When glue serves as a sealing method, it must be placed along the length of the open edge and end no more than 3/4" from the open ends unless standards require use of a continuous 1/8" wide glue line under 4-5h. For folded self-mailers see 2-3.4b.
Exhibit 4-5g
Glue Line Placement
- Continuous 1/8"-wide glue lines must be placed along the length of the open edge and end within 1/4" of the open ends. The selvage along the open edge must not exceed 1/4". The Postal Service prefers glue lines created with a permanent adhesive that is not tacky when dry.
- Die-cut flaps (i.e., those with irregular shapes) must be well sealed to the non-address side panel using tabs, glue spots, or elongated glue lines; however, the Postal Service highly recommends a 1/8" continuous glue line that follows and seals the contour of the shape.
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