Direct answer
For a resealable stand-up pouch, approve the tear notch as part of an opening sequence: the consumer removes the factory-sealed strip, reaches the zipper without cutting it, then closes the pouch again. Mark the actual top seal, notch, zipper and any hang hole on one project dieline, and test the sequence on representative filled samples. No universal spacing approves every film, pouch size or filling line.
Start with the opening sequence, not a notch measurement
A tear notch is an initiation point; the final tear depends on the film, seals and how the filled bag is held. A brand should define what the first tear removes and what remains available for reclosure. On a pouch with a zipper, the tear path generally needs to clear the zipper and leave enough material for a user to grip. This is a design decision for the actual bag, not a dimension copied from another supplier's catalogue.
P&M offers technically appropriate tear features and zippers for custom stand-up pouches. The ePac tear-notch guide describes common placement relative to the final heat seal and zipper; its suggested distances are ePac examples, not P&M specifications.
Put four physical zones on the same proof
Ask for a marked-up dieline and an assembled sample showing the factory top seal, notch, zipper track and any hang hole or header. Add the customer's required opening instruction and front-panel artwork only after the functional zones are clear. A flat proof can show coordinates; it cannot prove that the filled bag tears where intended.
For premade pouches, confirm how the filler grips and opens the mouth, where the product travels during filling, and where the final top seal is made. Product trapped at the zipper or seal can undermine a good tear layout. The filling and sealing equipment guide addresses line fit; this article addresses the user's first-opening path.
| Approval zone | Question to answer on the filled bag | Failure to record |
|---|---|---|
| Top seal | Which strip is removed at first opening? | Tear crosses the usable mouth |
| Notch and tear path | Can a person begin and finish the tear without tools? | Tear veers into art or zipper |
| Zipper | Can the user open and reclose it after the first tear? | Track is cut, buried or contaminated |
| Header or hang hole | Does it remain clear of the tear and retailer display? | Header tears unpredictably |
Run a filled opening and reclosure check
Use the intended product, fill weight, film candidate and filling route. Record the opened edge, any spill, zipper access and reclosure after handling. P&M's governed zipper review includes repeated open-and-close cycles followed by reclosure, powder-loss and zipper-weld checks; the customer-approved sample defines acceptance rather than a universal opening-force number. If the laminate or zipper model changes, recheck the tear rather than assuming the original notch still works.
The CarePac tear-notch explanation also places notch, closure and optional hang hole in one layout. It is useful context for the design question, not evidence that a different supplier's standard geometry fits the P&M pouch.
Send an RFQ that can be converted into an approval
Provide product form, target fill, pouch dimensions or sample, film and barrier target, zipper type, notch and hang-hole requirements, filling machine or co-packer, artwork count and order quantity per SKU. Request a marked dieline and representative filled sample. Ask who will sign off first opening, reclosure and final top-seal integrity before production.
General educational information only. Materials, performance, compliance, claims, quantities, and timing require confirmation for the exact packaging project.