ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
Introduction
The following acceptance criteria shall be employed to evaluate the
paper's conformance to specification.
Paper that does not meet all specification values shall be accepted
with no discount providing that the minimum acceptable Product Quality
Index (PQI) of 70 is met.
The PQI for a specific paper is determined by assigning demerits to
each deficient quality characteristic based on test results. The
demerits assigned will vary with the category of deficiency. A minor
defect shall be assigned 4 demerits, a major defect 12 demerits, and a
critical defect 36 demerits.
Definitions
Minor Defect. Any deficiency from specified values which does not
materially reduce the usability of the paper for its intended purpose;
or require special procedures for printing or processing.
Major Defect. Any deficiency from specified values, other than
critical, that could result in failure, or materially reduce the
usability of the paper for its intended purpose; or may require special
procedures for printing or processing, or is a significant deviation
from specifications, established standards, or average process
capability, or may materially affect the appearance of the product.
Critical Defect. Any deficiency from specified requirement that
judgment and experience indicate would result in the paper being
unusable for its intended purpose; or is a serious departure from
specifications, established standards, or average process capability.
The equation for the calculaton of the Product Quality Index is as
follows:
Product Quality Index is equal to 100 minus the sum of the assessed
demerits for each paper characteristic or property.
i=N
Expressed mathematically, PQI=100- Ci
i=1
where C=characteristics or properties
Paper having a PQI of 70 or better shall be accepted at the
contracted price as meeting the intent and requirement of the
specification. That having a PQI below 70 shall be considered as
critically defective, subject to outright rejection.
Criteria for establishing the category of defect and demerits are as
follows unless otherwise stated in the specification standard:
1. Acidity (pH Value):
a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 0.20 pH unit.......... Minor.................... 4
0.20-0.40 pH unit............... Major.................... 12
More than 0.40 pH unit.......... Critical................. 36
Example: Spec (4.5)-0.3=4.2; Over 4.2 pH but less than 4.5=Minor
defect or 4 demerits.
b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stocks except those with minimum pH
requirements of 7.0 or 7.5 or if no designation in solicitation.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 0.40 pH unit.......... Minor.................... 4
0.40-0.60 pH unit............... Major.................... 12
More than 0.60 pH unit.......... Critical................. 36
c. Papers with minimum requirements of 7.0 or 7.5 pH value.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Not as specified................ Critical................. 36
2. Alpha Cellulose:
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 5 percentage points... Minor.................... 4
5-10 percentage points.......... Major.................... 12
More than 10 percentage points.. Critical................. 36
3. Basis Weight/Grammage:
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Not as specified................ Critical................. 36
4. Brightness:
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 0.5 percentage point.. Minor.................... 4
0.5-1.0 percentage point........ Major.................... 12
More than 1.0 percentage point.. Critical................. 36
Or
More than 2.0 percentage points
below target value............
5. Bursting Strength:
a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 5 pct................. Minor.................... 4
5-10 pct........................ Major.................... 12
More than 10 pct................ Critical................. 36
b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no
designation in solicitation.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 10 pct................ Minor.................... 4
10-25 pct....................... Major.................... 12
More than 25 pct................ Critical................. 36
Example: Spec (400) x 25 pct=100; 400-100=300; Less than 300
Bursting Strength=critical defect or 36 demerits.
6. Calcium Carbonate--Same as 3 above.
7. Cleanliness--Same as 3 above.
8. Color Deviation (from Standard):
a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 0.5 DE unit over
specified..................... Minor.................... 4
0.5 to 1.5 DE unit over
specified..................... Major.................... 12
More than 1.5 DE unit over
specified..................... Critical................. 36
b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no
designation in solicitation.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 1.0 DE unit over
specified..................... Minor.................... 4
1.0 to 2.0 DE unit(s) over
specified..................... Major.................... 12
More than 2.0 DE units over
specified. Critical................. 36
Or
If standard states another DE
value as being critically
defective.....................
9. Color Variation (Does not include 2-Sidedness):
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Within a shipment or between
shipments in an order, more
than 0.5 DE unit over
specified..................... Critical................. 36
10. Copper Number (excess copper number):
a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 10 pct................ Minor.................... 4
10-25 pct....................... Major.................... 12
More than 25 pct................ Critical................. 36
b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no
designation in solicitation.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 25 pct................ Minor.................... 4
25-50 pct....................... Major.................... 12
More than 50 pct................ Critical................. 36
11. Equilibrium Relative Humidity:
a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 1
percentage point.............. Minor.................... 4
1 to 2
percentage points............. Major.................... 12
More than 2
percentage points............. Critical................. 36
Example: Spec (45 pct 5 pct) 2; Maximum 45
pct +5+2=52 pct; Minimum 45 pct -5-2=38 pct: Over 52 pct RH or
under 38 pct RH=Critical defect or 36 demerits.
b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no
designation in solicitation.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 3
percentage points............. Minor.................... 4
3 to 5
percentage points............. Major.................... 12
More than 5
percentage points............. Critical................. 36
12. Filler--See calcium carbonate.
13. Flap Adhesive Thickness:
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 10 pct................ Minor.................... 4
10-25 pct....................... Major.................... 12
More than 25 pct................ Critical................. 36
Or
Flap sticks prematurely to body
of envelope or fails to seal
under conditions described in
the specifications............
Example: Spec (0.015 mm) x 25 pct=0.00375; 0.015 -
0.0038=0.0112; Less than 0.0112 mm=Critical defect or 36
demerits.
14. Fluorescence--See optical brightener.
15. Folding Endurance--Same as 5 above.
16. Formaldehyde (melamine-formaldehyde)--Same as 3 above.
17. Gloss--Same as 5 above.
18. Grammage--See basis weight.
19. Oil Holdout (of Coating)--Same as 3 above
20. Oil Penetration--Same as 10 above.
21. Opacity:
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 1.0 percentage point.. Minor.................... 4
1.0-2.0 percentage points....... Major.................... 12
More than 2.0 percentage points. Critical................. 36
Or
Individual specimen averaging
more than 0.5 percentage point
below minimum stated in
specification.................
22. Optical Brighteners (fluorescence):
a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 0.5 percentage point.. Minor.................... 4
0.5-1.0 percentage point........ Major.................... 12
More than 1 percentage point.... Critical................. 36
Example: Spec (2 pct) +1=3 pct; Over 3 pct Optical
Brighteners=Critical defect or 36 demerits.
b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no
designation in solicitation.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 1 percentage point.... Minor.................... 4
1-2 percentage points........... Major.................... 12
More than 2 percentage points... Critical................. 36
23. Pick Resistance (Wax Pick):
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 1 below No. specified. Minor.................... 4
1.0-2.0 below No. specified..... Major.................... 12
More than 2.0 below No.
specified..................... Critical................. 36
Or
Individual specimen averaging 1
No. below minimum stated in
specification.................
24. Porosity--Same as 5 above.
25. Rosin (excess)--Same as 5 above.
26. Size--Same as 3 above.
27. Smoothness--Same as 5 above.
Example: Spec (50-125) x 25 pct; 50 x 25 pct=12.5; 125 x 25
pct=31.25; 50-12.5=37.5; 125+31.25=156.25. Less than 37.5 or
more than 156.25=Critical defect or 36 demerits.
28. Stiffness--Same as 5 above.
29. Stock (fiber analysis):
a. Papers required to contain 25 pct, 50 pct, 100 pct cotton/linen
fibers or 100 pct of specified fiber, other than cotton/linen.
Deficiency in specified fiber: Category Demerits
Less than 3 percentage points... Minor.................... 4
3-5 percentage points........... Major.................... 12
More than 5 percentage points... Critical................. 36
Example: Spec (100 pct)-3=97 pct; Over 97 pct up to 100 pct
cotton/linen fibers=Minor defect or 4 demerits.
Presence of unbleached and/or
groundwood (other than Kraft): Catgory Demerits
Less than 3 percentage points... Minor.................... 4
3-5 percentage points........... Major.................... 12
More than 5 percentage points... Critical................. 36
Or
More than 2 pct lignin content.
Example: Spec (100 pct)-3=97 pct; Over 97 pct up to 100 pct
cotton/linen fibers=Minor defect, and spec (100 pct)-3 pct
unbleached or groundwood=97 pct; Over 97 pct up to 100 pct
cotton/linen fibers=Minor defect, 4 demerits.
b. Other stocks required to be free from unbleached or groundwood
pulp.
Presence of unbleached and/or
groundwood: Category Demerits
Less than 3 percentage points... Minor.................... 4
3-5 percentage points........... Major.................... 12
More than 5 percentage points... Critical................. 36
Or
More than 2 pct lignin content.
c. Stocks required to have not more than specified percentages of
lignin and/or groundwood.
Excess pct lignin and/or
groundwood: Catgory Demerits
More than 1 percentage point
from specified................ Critical................. 36
30. Tearing Strength--Same as 5 above.
31. Tensile Strength--Same as 5 above.
32. Thickness:
a. Postal Card and 100 pct Cream-White Index Paper.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Not as specified................ Critical................. 36
b. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated except
``a'' above.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 2 pct................. Minor.................... 4
2-4 pct......................... Major.................... 12
More than 4 pct................. Critical................. 36
Example: Spec (0.1200.013) x 4 pct; 0.120 x 4
pct=0.0048; Maximum 0.120+ 0.013+ 0.0048= 0.1378; Minimum 0.120-
0.013- 0.0048= 0.1022; Over 0.1378 or less than 0.1022=Critical
defect or 36 demerits.
c. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no
designation in solicitation except ``a'' above.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 4 pct................. Minor.................... 4
4-8 pct......................... Major.................... 12
More than 8 pct................. Critical................. 36
d. Variation on individual sheets from one edge to the other.
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Less than 10 pct................ Minor.................... 4
10-25 pct....................... Major.................... 12
More than 25 pct................ Critical................. 36
Example: Spec (0.011) x 25 pct; 0.011 x 25 pct=0.00275;
0.011+0.00275=0.014; Variation over 0.014=Critical defect or 36
demerits.
33. Water Resistance--Same as 5 above.
34. All Other Measurable Characteristics (such as density, light
transmission, reflectance drop, etc.):
Deficiency: Category Demerits
Not as specified................ Critical................. 36
35. Judgment Characteristics (such as evaluation of construction,
erasing/writing qualities, watermark, finish, formation etc.):
Assessment: Category Demerits
Fair or rating ``2''............ Minor.................... 4
Fair minus or rating ``3''...... Major.................... 12
Unacceptable or rating ``4''.... Critical................. 36