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Thick or over-sized files
files between 4 and 5 cm thick

If a file is between 4 and 5 cm thick,

it will need to be split
if the contents will make the file unwieldy or unstable.

Check the file to see what additions have been used or are needed.

If the file has a large number of polyester enclosures,

this makes the file bulky and very slippery, so it is unstable.

If the file has a large number of acid-free envelopes,

this makes the file very bulky and unwieldy.

In either of these cases,

the file should be split into 2 similar thickness files.

To split the file,

find a sensible place at which you can split the file
into 2 similar thickness files.

A sensible place is between 2 documents,

rather than in the middle of a document.

Remove the contents from the second half of the file,

and put these into a new 4-flap folder.

More details are given in the later section on 'Labelling split files'.

If there are very few or no enclosures or envelopes,

and the file is in good condition,

the file can be left as a single file,

but a 15cm tag must be used, as shown in this table.

The image indicates the excess tag length needed

to ensure the file can be opened, and pages can be turned easily,

without damaging either the file or the records.

More details are given on tagging in a later video.