Effective September 7, 2010, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 301.1 to update commercial flats text with minor editorial updates and to rearrange the DMM reference text for better flow.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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300 Commercial Flats
301 Physical Standards
1.0 Physical Standards for Flats
1.1 General Definition of Flat-Size Mail
[Revise introductory text of 1.1 and items a through c as follows:]
Flat-size mail other than that in 3.0, Physical Standards for Automation Flats, must have the following characteristics:
a. Be more than 11-1/2 inches long, or more than or 6-1/8 inches high, or more than 1/4 inch thick.
b. Be not more than 15 inches long, or more than 12 inches high, or more than 3/4 inch thick, except for:
1. Periodicals flats mailed under 707.26.0.
2. Polywrapped flats, with selvage that extends beyond the contents, up to a maximum length of 15-3/4 inches. The enclosed contents must not be longer than 15 inches. Also see 1.5.3.
c. Be rectangular with four square corners, or with finished corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.125 inch (1/8 inch). See Exhibit 1.1c.
[Reletter current item d as new item e and add new item d as follows:]
d. Be categorized as a catalog, if meeting the standards in 1.9.
[Revise redesignated item e as follows:]
e. Other size or weight standards may apply to mail addressed to certain APOs and FPOs and mail sent by the Department of State to U.S. government personnel abroad.
1.2 Length and Height of Flats
[Revise 1.2 by adding a new sentence at the end as follows:]
***Also see 1.5.3.
1.3 Minimum Flexibility for Flat-Size Pieces
[Revise the introductory text of 1.3 to read as follows:]
Flat-size pieces must be flexible. Boxes — with or without hinges, gaps, or breaks that allow the piece to bend — are not flats. Tight envelopes or wrappers that contain one or more boxes are not flats. At the customer’s option, customers may perform the following test on their own mailpieces. When a postal employee observes a customer demonstrating that a flat-size piece is flexible according to these standards, the employee should not perform the test. Test flats as follows:
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[Renumber current 1.4 as new 1.9.]
[Renumber current 1.5 through 1.9 as new 1.4 through 1.8.]
1.4 Uniform Thickness
[Revise renumbered 1.4 to read as follows:]
Flat-size mailpieces must be uniformly thick so that any bumps, protrusions, or other irregularities do not cause more than 1/4-inch variance in thickness. When determining thickness, exclude the outside edges (1 inch from each edge) when the contents do not extend into those edges. Also, exclude the selvage of any polywrap covering (see 1.5) from this determination. Mailers must secure nonpaper contents to prevent shifting of more than 2 inches within the mailpiece if shifting would cause the piece to be nonuniformly thick or result in the contents bursting out of the mailpiece (see 601.2.3).
1.5 Polywrap Coverings
1.5.1 Polywrap Films and Similar Coverings
[Revise the introductory text of 1.51 as follows:]
Mailers using polywrap film or similar material on flat-size mailpieces, except pieces mailed at high density or saturation prices, must use a product meeting the standards in 1.5. Film approved for use under 1.5.4 must meet the specifications in Exhibit 1.5.1 as follows:
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Exhibit 1.5.1 Polywrap Specifications
[Revise the introductory text to Exhibit 1.5.1 as follows:]
Mailers who polywrap flats, except for saturation and high density pieces, must use polywrap that meets all of the properties in this exhibit, except under 1.5.1b.
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1.5.2 Wrap Direction and Seam Placement
Wrap direction, seam direction, and seam placement must follow these standards:
[Revise items 1.5.2 a and b to read as follows:]
a. The wrap direction must be around the longer axis (parallel to the length) of the mailpiece, with the seam parallel to that axis.
b. The polywrap over the address area must be a smooth surface to avoid interference with address and barcode readability. The preferred seam placement is on the nonaddressed side of the mailpiece. If the seam is placed on the addressed side, the seam must not cover any part of the address and barcode, postage area, or any required markings or endorsements.
1.5.3 Overhang
[Revise the introductory text of 1.5.3 to read as follows:]
For purposes of the polywrap standards for overhang (selvage) only, the top edge of the mailpiece is one of the two longer edges of the piece. Any polywrap selvage must meet these standards:
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1.5.4 Polywrap Certification Process for Manufacturers
[Revise 1.5.4 as follows:]
Specification USPS-T-3204, Test Procedures for Polywrap Films describes exact test procedures and acceptable values for polywrap film characteristics. Independent testing laboratories may certify products for manufacturers who do not have the facilities or experience to conduct each of the test procedures. The specification includes a list of laboratories experienced in conducting these tests. Customers may obtain the test procedures by contacting USPS Engineering (see 608.8.1 for address) or on the USPS RIBBS Web site (http://ribbs.usps.gov). Manufacturers must submit a letter, on their letterhead, indicating the value for each of the specifications in 1.5.1 for each polywrap film, to USPS Mailing Standards (see 608.8.1 for address). When the USPS receives the letter or certificate of conformance from an approved lab, films that meet the standards will be listed on http://ribbs.usps.gov. Manufacturers should follow this process before submitting the certification letter:
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[Revise item 1.5.4b as follows:]
b. Test each surface treatment separately. Manufacturers or approved labs may test the thinnest film of one product with identical surface treatment and characteristics. If the thinnest film meets the characteristics after being tested, the USPS will list the product as approved for all gauges of that product that also meet the gauge test.
1.6 Maximum Deflection for Flat-Size Mailpieces
[Revise the introductory text of 1.6 as follows:]
Flat-size mailpieces must meet maximum deflection standards. Flat-size pieces mailed at high density or saturation prices, and flats mailed at basic carrier route prices entered by the mailer at destination delivery units (DDUs), are not required to meet these deflection standards. Test deflection as follows:
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1.7 Flat-Size Pieces Not Eligible for Flat-Size Prices
[Revise the introductory text in 1.7 as follows:]
Effective October 3, 2010, flat-size mailpieces that do not meet the standards in 1.3 through 1.6 must pay applicable higher prices as noted in either 1.7a or 1.7b below.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the DMM and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing, 8-12-10
