New Tabbing Requirements for Self Mailers

The Post Office has released the final standards for folded self-mailers ( FSM ) this afternoon in a federal register posting.  The Post Office has spent two years working with the mailing community to develop these new standards and there are not to many surprises.  I will summarize the key changes:


1. New size and weight standards
2. New definition of what is a FSM, for example items containing a disk is treated differently
3. Can no longer use tabs with perforations
4. Can no longer use tabs on the bottom panel
5. All FSM's now require a minimum of two tabs
6. There is now a limit to the number of panels in a FSM
7. Postal customers will be encouraged to comply with the new standards right away with final deadline 
    Jan 5, 2013. For Std mail customers, failure to comply will mean having to pay full fare FCM rates.


If you have any concerns how this new change may effect your operation, and if your business is within San Diego or Imperial Counties, please give us a call at 800.545.0437, otherwise please contact your local Neopost or Hasler Dealer for an addressing specialist to assist you.


Here are some of the critical items in the Federal Register Posting: (All of this will be available in the DMM and Quick Service Guide, including pictures detailing tab placement guidelines.)

Physical Characteristics

    The maximum height for all automation and machinable FSMs is 6 
inches and the maximum length is 10\1/2\ inches, with a maximum 
thickness of \1/4\ inch. The maximum weight of three ounces is 
applicable to all mailpieces prepared without envelopes.
    The paper basis weight for folded self-mailers is based on book-
grade paper unless otherwise specified and varies depending on the 
total weight of the mailpiece and/or optional elements that are 
incorporated in the design. The final fold must be at the bottom for 
all designs except oblong style pieces. For oblong-style FSMs the final 
fold is on the leading edge. Tabs cannot be placed on the bottom open 
edge of an oblong-style FSM.
    A minimum of two tabs will be required to seal all FSMs when tabs 
are used as the sealing method. Tabs used as seals may not have 
perforations. Glue may be used as an alternate sealing

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method when applied according to the standards for FSMs.
    After January 5, 2013, folded self-mailers that do not meet these 
requirements will be assessed postage as follows: First-Class 
Mail[supreg] and Standard Mail[supreg] customers will pay nonmachinable 
prices; Periodicals mailers will pay nonbarcoded prices.

Note: They refer to "Book Weight" Paper.  If you consult paper weight comparison charts you will likely not see "Book Weight" listed.  Book Weight is a form of "Offset"  Most of us are used to "Bond" weights.  Here is the basic conversion:

Bond weight = Offset weight

20 = 50

24 = 60

28 = 70

h. Quarter-folded self-mailers made of a minimum of 100 pound book 
grade paper may have as few as 4 panels. Quarter-folded self-mailers 
made of 55 pound or greater newsprint must have at least 8 panels and 
may contain up to 24 panels.

3.14.3 Panels

    Panels are created when a sheet of paper is folded. Each two-sided 
section (front and back) created by the fold is considered one panel. 
When a folded self-mailer is made of multiple sheets, multiply the 
number of sheets by the number of panels created when folding a single 
sheet to determine the total number of panels. The following conditions 
apply:
    a. External panels created by folding must be equal or nearly equal 
in size.
    b. The final folded panel creates the back (non-address) side of 
the mailpiece. The open edge of the back panel must be at the top or 
within 1 inch of the top or trailing edge of the mailpiece.
    c. The final folded edge must be the bottom of a folded self-mailer 
unless prepared as an oblong. The final folded edge of an oblong folded 
self-mailer must be the leading (right) edge.
    d. Internal shorter panels must be covered by a full-size panel, 
and count toward the maximum number of panels.
    e. Folding methods and the subsequent number of panels created when 
folding a single sheet of paper are:
    1. Bi-fold: Folded once forming two panels.
    2. Tri-fold: Folded twice forming three panels.
    3. Oblong: Paper folded once to form two rectangular panels with 
one elongated dimension and parallel opposite sides. The final folded 
edge is on the leading (shorter) edge.
    4. Quarter-fold: Folded twice with each fold at a right angle 
(perpendicular) to the preceding fold. One sheet of paper quarter-
folded creates four panels.