Public Services and Procurement Canada
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3. The Finished Product
- 3.1 Sewn Binding
- 3.2 Saddle Glued
- 3.3. Saddle Wired (Saddle Stitched) or Side Wired (Side Stitched)
- 3.4 Ring or Post Binding
- 3.5 Gathering and Collating
- 3.6 Tip-in
- 3.7 Oversewing
- 3.8 Side Sewing
- 3.9 Sewing Through-the-Fold
- 3.10 Saddle Sewing
- 3.11Trimming
- 3.12 Adhesive Bound Books
- 3.13 Roughening
- 3.14 Punch Perforated Slot Binding
- 3.15 Smashing
- 3.16 Rounding
- 3.17 Backing
- 3.18 Lining Up
- 3.19 Inlay
- 3.20 Binder's Board (Cover Boards)
- 3.21 Cover Material
- 3.22 Lettering for Titles
- 3.23 Edge Stain
- 3.24 Saddle Wired and Side Wired
- 3.25 Ring, Post and Spiral Binding
- 3.26 Casing-in Hard Covers
- 3.27 Drawn-on Adhesive Binding
3.1 Sewn Binding
The signatures of a sewn book shall not exceed 16 pages (8 leaves) each. If the papers used are 100 M (Basis 25 in. x 38 in.), 75 g/m², or less, 32-page signatures may be used.
3.2 Saddle Glued
The signature of a saddle-glued booklet shall not exceed 32 pages. If the papers used are 80 M (Basis 25 in. x 38 in.). 60 g/m², or less, a 64-page signature may be used, dependent on the supplier’s equipment capability.
3.3 Saddle Wired (Saddle Stitched) or Side Wired (Side Stitched)
The thickness of a saddle wired book should not exceed a 6.4 mm (1/4 in.). Any volume larger than 6.4 mm (1/4 in.) shall be bound by other methods.
3.4 Rings or Post Binding
The number of leaves for ring or post binding is limited by the height of the ring or post. The size, number and position of holes shall correspond to the manufactured covers, rings and post supports.
3.5 Gathering and Collating
When gathering and collating, the supplier shall conduct an examination to ensure completeness and proper sequence.
3.6 Tip-in
The line of adhesive for any tipped-in insert shall be 3 mm (1/8 in.) wide and the tip-in shall be secure along the entire bonded surface.
The tipped-in insert shall not extend beyond the specified trim size of the book block.
All tip-in inserts shall be square and parallel to the edges of the book block.
Folded tip-in inserts shall fall within the trimmed size of the book block. Allowance must be made to ensure the fold is not trimmed with the book block. Unless otherwise specified, the fold of a gatefold insert shall be within 3 to 8 mm (1/8in. – 11/32 in.) of the edge of the completed book.
3.7 Oversewing
The sections of an oversewn book shall not exceed 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) thick; the thickness is variable depending on the nature and condition of the paper.
For all oversewn volumes a minimum-binding margin of 15 mm (5/8 in.) after milling is desirable. In no case shall the sewing stitches be closer to the text than 3 mm (1/8 in.).
Oversewing shall be no closer than 6 mm (1/4 in.) and no farther than 2.5 cm (1in.) from the head and tail after trimming.
3.8 Side Sewing
Stitches shall be approximately 1.25 cm (1/2 in.) long. The sewing shall be no farther from the head and tail than 5 mm (3/16 in.) Staples in side sewn volumes shall be removed.
3.9 Sewing Through-the-fold
Sewing through the fold shall come on no closer than 6 mm (1/4 in.) and no farther than 2.5 cm (1 in.) from the head and tail after trimming. This does not apply to saddle sewn books.
3.10 Saddle Sewing
Saddle sewn books shall have sufficient clearance at the head and tail to ensure thread is not cut while trimming. In some instances, passports for example, the saddle sewing must extend from head to tail without a gap.
3.11 Trimming
Unless otherwise specified, all the book blocks shall be cleanly and evenly trimmed and squared on three sides. In no case shall trimming cause rupture, tears or other damage to the spine or the cover.
3.11.1 Case Hard Cover
The trimmed book block of a case hard cover book shall be between 3 mm and 6 mm (1/8 in. – ¼ in.) smaller than the cover.
3.11.2 Soft Flexible Cover
The trimmed book block of a soft flexible cover adhesive bound book shall be the size specified, with no overlap between the cover and the inside pages.
3.11.3 Saddle Glued
The saddle-glued book shall be trimmed as specified, within the tolerance levels for trim as specified in Quality Levels for Printing.
3.11.4 Saddle Wired
The trimmed saddle wired book shall be the size specified, with no overlap between the cover and the inside pages.
3.11.5 Ring or Post Binding
Trimming shall adhere to the specification and shall be within the tolerance levels for trim as a specified in Quality Levels for Printing.
3.12 Adhesive Bound Books
The strength of the adhesive binding edge is evaluated according to test procedures outlined in Section 7.
NOTE: Lumbacking or double fan gluing is fully acceptable provided it meets the requirements outlined in Section 7.
3.13 Roughening
The binding edge shall be sufficiently roughened to ensure the adhesive has a suitable surface to which to adhere.
Roughening shall not interfere with the margins of the pages and shall not be apparent when an adhesive bound book is opened.
All loose fibres, dust and foreign material shall be removed from the roughened spine.
3.14 Punch Perforated Slot Binding
The spine of the book does not need roughening as the slots are channels for glue.
Slots shall cut through each signature and shall not be noticeable when a book is opened. Slots shall not interfere with the printed margin of the book block. Punched perforations shall not be noticeable when a book is opened. Notches shall begin and end within 3 mm (1/8 in.) of the head and tail of the bound volume.
All loose fibres, dust and particles shall be removed from the notched binding edge. All notches shall be completely filled with adhesive. The strength oh this type of binding is evaluated according to test procedures outlined in Section 5.
3.15 Smashing
The book block shall be uniformly smashed to tighten the folded signatures.
3.16 Rounding
The spines of all case hard cover books, 6 mm (1/4 in.) thick and greater, shall be rounded so the fore-edge is drawn inward in an even arc to a sufficient degree that it is protected within the hard cover. A suitable adhesive shall be used which will allow the rounding process.
Rounding shall be accomplished without splitting sections. Both the inside and outside curves shall be smooth and uniform. The top and bottom edges shall be flat and uniform.
3.17 Backing
After rounding, a symmetrical ridge or shoulder shall be shaped on the front and back of the book block, parallel to the binding edge and uniform from head to tail.
The dimension of the shoulders shall be determined by the thickness of the boards to be used which, in turn, is determined by the size and build of the block book.
3.18 Lining up
A strip of backlining material (mull) [See section IV: Material] shall be glued to the spine of the book block. It shall extend to within 1.25 cm (½ in.) of the head and tail and within 2 cm (3/4 in.) and 2.5 (1 in.) squarely onto the endpapers on either side of the spine.
Where book blocks are more than 6.4 cm (2 ½ in.) in bulk, of excessive weight or if specified in the contract, they shall be reinforced with a strip of lining paper or material glued over the first layer of backlining material. When a reinforced spine is specified in the contract, the reinforcing material shall cover the length and width of the spine and shall be positioned directly over the spine. Reinforcing material may consist of an additional layer of backlining material or of kraft paper.
The backlining material and lining paper shall adhere smoothly and completely along the spine, joints and endpaper surfaces.
3.19 Inlay
The inlay shall be the width and length of the spine and shall be of a size, which allows for the correct swing of the covers, which places the least strain on the spine. The inlay shall be squared and cleanly cut.
The inlay shall be glued securely to the cover material between the two cover boards.
The grain of the inlay paper shall run parallel to the binding edge.
The inlay shall meet material requirements outlined in Section 4 herein.
3.20 Binder’s Board (Cover Boards)
The cover boards shall be between 3 mm and 6 mm (1/8 in. – ¼ in.) larger than the inside pages of the book block. They shall be square, even and cleanly cut.
Cover boards shall meet material requirements outlined in Section 4.
3.21 Cover Material
The cover material shall be square, even and cleanly cut.
The cover material shall be completely glued to the cover boards and the inlay with no noticeable marks, creases, dog-ears, bubbles or defects.
The cover material shall be uniformly turned in over the inside edges of the binders’ board by at least 1.5 cm (5/8 in.).
The cover material shall meet material requirements outlined in Section 4 herein.
3.22 Lettering for Titles
Lettering on the cover material of all case bound books, whether embossed or printed, shall be clean, sharp, legible and sufficiently impressed or embossed to ensure legibility for the expected life of the book.
3.23 Edge Stain
The edges colour shall be consistent in colour and application. There shall be no run-in (feathering) of edge stain. Edge colour shall be consistent from volume to volume, within the run.
3.24 Saddle Wired and Side Wired
Unless otherwise specified, all saddle wired and side wired books shall be bound with two or more staples. Books with a binding edge longer than 30.5 cm (12 in.) shall be bound with three staples.
Staples shall be 12.7 mm (1/2 in.) in length with no greater variance in length than 1.6 mm (1/16 in.).
The distance between staples, on average throughout the shipment, shall not vary more than 12.7 mm (1/2 in.).
After stitching, the points of the folded staple shall lie flat, even and straight. The distance between the points of the folded staple shall not exceed 3 mm (1/8 in.), with a variance allowance of 0.80 mm (1/32 in.).
When two or more staples are used, each shall be positioned an equal distance from the head and tail of the spine, unless otherwise specified in the contract.
The staples shall be uniformly centred lengthwise along the fold of the spine with no positional variance greater than 1.6 mm (1/16 in.).
The cover shall be squarely applied and properly centred. There shall be no overlap between the cover and the pages.
For saddle-stitched books, there shall be no evidence of folds, creases or irregularities along the folded spine of the cover. For side wired books, staples shall be lined up along the binding edge. They shall be placed within 3 mm (1/8 in.) and 12,5 mm (1/2 in.) of the binding edge, and parallel to that edge.
Side wire staples shall not be placed nearer than 6 mm (1/4 in.) of the printed margin.
The maximum angular displacement, horizontal or vertical, of the cover to the book block shall not exceed the following quality level tolerances:
| Prestige | Library | Informational | Office | Utility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.80 mm | 0.80 mm | 1,50 mm | 3.20 mm | 6.40 mm |
| (1/32 in.) | (1/32 in.) | (1/16 in.) | (1/8 in.) | (1/4 in.) |
3.25 Ring, Post and Spiral Binding
Holes or slots, either drilled or punched for binding by rings, posts or spiral type binding materials shall be of the size and placement specified in the contract.
The centre of each hole or slot shall not differ from the specified placement by more than 0.4 mm (1/64 in.).
The size of the drilled or punched holes shall not vary from the specified size by more than 1.6 mm (1/16 in.).
All drilled or punched holes shall be even and shall not damage or obliterate any image. There shall be no extraneous material attached to the book.
3.26 Casing-in Hard Covers
The grain direction of all text papers, inlay papers, endpapers and boards shall be parallel to the spine of the book, unless otherwise specified.
Each endpaper shall have one leaf glued flat against the case cover and one secured to the first or last signature or to the reinforcing fabric attached to the adjoining signature.
The endpapers shall be secured to the first and last signature with 3 mm (1/8 in.) of adhesive along the inside gutter edge.
Each endpaper glued to an inside cover shall be square, centred, reinforced and evenly positioned.
Endpapers shall meet material requirements outlined in Section 4 herein.
The backlining material shall be secured and glued uniformly to the spine and the endpaper, unless otherwise specified.
3.27 Drawn-on Adhesive Binding
The grain of the cover stock shall be parallel to the spine of the book. The grain direction of the sheets in the book block shall be parallel to the spine.
The cover shall be scored four times, parallel to the spine of the book from head to tail. The two inner scores shall be positioned so they fall on the outside corners of the spine.
The two outer scores shall be formed 6 mm (1/4 in.) from the inner scores. The two outer scores shall enable the cover to open readily.
The pages of the two outside signatures shall be lap glued to the covers with a strip of adhesive at least 6 mm (1/4 in.) wide and shall not extend beyond the score mark on the cover.
The glue holding the book block to the soft cover shall form a complete bond over the entire area of the spine and the lapped edge as far as the score line. The glue shall be evenly applied with no gaps, bubbles, excessive glue or areas where the glue is missing.
The maximum angular displacement, horizontal or vertical, of the cover to the book block shall not exceed the following quality level tolerances:
| Prestige | Library | Informational | Office | Utility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 0.80 mm | 1,50 mm | 3.20 mm | 6.40 mm |
| N/A | (1/32 in.) | (1/16 in.) | (1/8 in.) | (1/4 in.) |