The Gazette 1972

International Paper Sizes now available

to Irish Solicitors

It is true to say that the legal procession is more involved

with paper in many of its forms than most others, and

yet is confronted with the most complex array of paper

shapes and sizes. A solicitor will have in his office

anything up to ten different paper sizes and will be

forced to have supplies of not less than eight individual

envelope sizes.

This requires a large part of his valuable office space

for storage, and the tying up of a fair amount of capital

in stationery stock. Even still he may find himself unable

to find an suitable envelope in his stock to accommodate

documents sent to him by another office.

This state of affairs is the result of many years of

usage of unplanned and unrelated basic paper sizes,

which have grown more numerous and confusing as the

years went by. While the "imperial" sizes are founded

in ancient and honourable practice, they were devised

in a more leisurely and less time-conscious age, and

must now give way to modern thinking.

Rationalisation

It is proposed to apply the new

International Paper

Sizes

to the papers used in the legal profession. Ration-

alisation is the key word behind "I.P.S." This means

simply, the use of a new range of paper sizes, from small

to large, each based on a metric size, and related in

logical proportion to the rest of the range. This means

in practical terms that each size is exactly half the

next larger size, and double the next smaller size.

In effect the change in the size of a large letterhead

will be so little as to be hardly noticeable, and the

most popular size of deed paper now known as quarto

will remain almost unchanged. The old sizes of quarto,

foolscap, demy, small brief and brief will disappear

from use. What will be noticeable however will be that

as all deeds, wills, letters, and court forms will be the

same size, or can be folded to the same size, the un-

wieldy bundles of documents which now cause such

accommodation problems in many offices will be

capable of being placed in a normal filing system, and

so enable storage and retrieval to be carried out in the

shortest time, Eventually, in years to come, the title to a

holding will be in a file bookwise in chronological order

instead of a bundle tied with green or red tape. The

only problem area is that of maps or plans attached to

deeds but normally there should be no difficulty in

keeping them within the required dimensions by ap-

propriate instructions to the architect or surveyor.

Internationally used

If and when we join the rest of Europe, we will re-

ceive a great deal of paper work from the Continent,

and of course send a great deal in return, and as I.P.S.

is already in general use there, we must be ready to

work in the size. The following countries now use

I.P.S.: Germany, Belgium, Holland, Finland, Spain,

Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Denmark

and Portugal. Documents in ill-assorted sizes, going

to countries where I.P.S. is the accepted standard, would

not be very welcome, and indeed would stand the great-

est risk of being ignored or mislaid.

The Sizes

Do you look at an invoice which you have received

from your stationery and wonder what on earth a ream

of "Large Post 8v." really means? Probably. I.P.S. are

simple to understand because they are standard and

follow a logical sequence. It is therefore possible to

order exactly what you want, and be sure you are going

to get it.

The basic size in the system as it applies to the legal

profession is called 'A4". This sheet measures 210 mm.

by 297 mm. (8£ ins. by l l f ins.), and is the size used

for large letter headings, deed paper, and judicature.

All court forms will eventually be printed in A4 size,

and carbon paper, copy paper, etc., will also be this size.

To obtain a smaller size the sheet of A4 is simply

halved (the two short edges being brought together),

thus forming A5, measuring 210 mm. by 148 mm. (4£

ins by

ins.).

Envelopes

To match the A4 or A5 paper size there is a choice of

five envelope sizes,

any one of which will take A4 or

A5 paper.

The envelopes are as follows:

Size

—229 mm. by 324 mm. to take A4 unfolded;

Size C5—162 mm. by 229 mm. to take A4 folded

once or A5.

Size C6—114 mm. by 162 mm. to take A4 folded in

four or A5 folded once;

Size C5/6 (known as DL), to take A4 folded in three

or A5 folded once.

Gradual Introduction

The introduction of I.P.S. will of course be a gradual

process. Forms for example will be printed on the A4

size when they come up for reprinting. Deed paper and

judicature are available right now from law stationers.

The traditional sizes will remain available for

some time, for those who wish to use them but will be

withdrawn as time goes on.

New Format for Deep Paper

In conjunction with the new sizes a new style of

deed paper has been devised. Instead of the

traditional double inner sheet there is now available

single sheet inners, ruled on both sides, which fit into

the double outside sheets and are stitched in the usual

way. The new deed in A4 only is available in standard

goatskin quality, as well as a light weight for copies,

the light weight quality is also very suitable for putting

through photocopy machines.

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