Shape – Mailing items are required to be rectangular or square within the permitted dimensions and can be laid out in landscape or portrait format. We do require you to ensure that the four sides are all straight lines and intersected by a 90º angled corner.
Rigidity / Stiffness – The acceptable rigidity / stiffness are recommended to be ≥ 8N.mm. There is no upper limit on Mailing Item stiffness. This can be measured as follows (see figure 18): • a single large letter should be placed on a flat surface with the shortest edge of the large letter overhanging a straight edge of a flat surface by a horizontal distance of 100mm; • the leading edge of the large letter is then released and allowed to bend down under its own weight; and • if the leading edge drops to 40mm or more, then the stiffness is less than 8N.mm and the large letter on machine-readable.
13.5.4 Polywrap outer
• the film is required to be intact, undamaged and must not be punctured or torn apart from perforations (although perforations are not recommended)?; • the film must be > 15 μ m (15 microns) thick when measured at any point on the large letter other than the seal; • it is recommended that any Mailmark barcode printed on the film must adhere to the film and must not break up or wear during processing; • it is recommended that any text printed on the film adheres to the film and must not break up or wear during processing; • only be a single layer of film must cover the Delivery Address Block and Mailmark barcode ; and • it is recommended that the film is sufficiently strong enough to tolerate handling without tearing or splitting at the seals. • Print Contrast Ratio for addresses printed on envelopes should be ≥ 50 %; • Print Contrast Ratio for addresses printed on window inserts should be ≥ 55 %; • Minimum Reflective Difference should be ≥ 30 %; and • Minimum Background Reflectance should be ≥ 35 %. 13.5.6 Print contrast recommendations Inverse printing i.e. negative contrast is not permitted (i.e. Address Block lighter than background). 13.6 Flaps and sealing This section is divided into paper and polymer/ polywrap recommendations and requirements as they are different. 13.5.5 Print contrast recommendations • it is recommended that the paper envelopes are sealed securely on the back, front and edges; • a tolerance of 35mm x 25mm is permitted on the opening flap. Regardless of whether the opening flap is placed on the front or reverse of the Mailing Item (the front being where the Delivery Address Block and the Indicium are located) it is recommended to be sealed to within 35mm from the fold of the envelope and 25mm from the envelope side. Paper envelopes
Figure 17 Rigidity
Separation – The Mailing Items must not be stuck together and it is recommended that they are capable of separating to allow them to be effectively processed. When placed on a slope of 65º to the horizontal, the Mailing Items are recommended to be capable of separating, by sliding one from another, under the force of gravity (see figure 19); and
Figure 18 Separation
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