Effective December 6, 2010, the Postal Service™ will revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 201.3.13 to authorize the use of perforated pocket(s) as attachments on letter-size mail when postage is paid at automation letter prices.
This revision provides the physical characteristics and preparation methods for perforated pockets with edges that are permanently affixed to a letter-size mailpiece. A pocket is formed within a two-ply unit. Sales offers, coupons, and similar printed advertising may be placed within or underneath the pocket. The perforated panel must be lifted to reveal the material inside.
Perforated pockets may be applied to Standard Mail® and Periodicals letter-sized mail. However, such pockets may not be used to conceal or contain matter bearing personal information except as provided in DMM 243.2.2. No portion of a permit imprint indicia may be printed on the perforated panel or on the perforations used to create the panel.
Perforated pockets are not considered sealed against postal inspection.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Letters and Cards
201 Physical Standards
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3.0 Physical Standards for Machinable and Automation Letters and Cards
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[Revise the heading of 3.13 as follows:]
3.13 Labels, Stickers, Release Cards, and Perforated Pockets Affixed to the Outside of Letter-Size Mailpieces
3.13.1 Use
[Revise the introductory text of item 3.13.1 by adding the inclusion of perforated pockets, to read as follows:]
A label, sticker, perforated pocket (under 3.13.6 and 3.13.7), or release card may be placed on a letter-sized mailpiece that is eligible for automation letter prices, including barcoded carrier route letters meeting automation standards. Release cards and perforated pockets may not be affixed to pieces mailed at First-Class Mail card prices; see 1.2 for other restrictions on attachments to cards. A Standard Mail or Periodicals letter with a label, sticker, release card, or perforated pocket must meet additional standards in 243.2.5. These attachments may be:
[Revise item 3.13.1a and 3.13.1a1 to add perforated stickers as follows:]
a. A label, or sticker less than 0.007 inch thick, and a perforated pocket other than repositionable notes affixed under 705.21.0, as follows:
1. A permanent label, sticker, or perforated pockets under 3.13.7d2 (designed not to be removed or relocated), affixed directly to the outside of the mailpiece with permanent adhesive.
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[Add new items 3.13.6 and 3.13.7 as follows:]
3.13.6 Letter-Size Pieces With Perforated Pockets
Perforated pockets are permanent attachments to letter-sized mailpieces that may be opened to reveal a small printed insert. Advertising may be printed on the components used to create a perforated pocket and on the printed insert within. Perforated pockets may not be used to conceal or contain matter bearing personal information except as provided in 243.2.2. Perforated pockets may be used on letter-size Standard Mail and Periodicals and are not considered sealed against postal inspection. When affixed to Periodicals mail, advertising printed on the perforated pocket and any inserted matter is counted as part of the total advertising content of the host publication. Pockets may be used in lieu of labels to bear a permit imprint indicia showing that postage is paid if indicia information does not appear on the perforated panel or on the perforations used to create the perforated panel. A maximum of two perforated pockets are permitted on eligible letter-size mailpieces that have the following characteristics:
a. Be between 8 inches and 9-1/2 inches long (inclusive).
b. Be between 4 inches and 5-1/2 inches high (inclusive)
c. Be prepared of book-grade paper or equivalent with a minimum weight of:
1. Envelopes — 60 pounds.
2. Booklets — 70 pounds.
3. Folded self-mailers — 100 pounds.
4. Oversized card-type letters paid at letter prices must be at least .012 inch thickness.
d. Perforated pockets may be affixed to the nonaddressed side of envelopes with one closed panel address window. Perforated pockets must be placed 1 inch closer to the trailing edge than the window.
e. If tabs are used to seal a folded self-mailer prepared with perforated pockets, the folded self-mailer must be sealed with 1-1/2 inch nonperforated tabs placed 1 inch from the top on the leading and trailing edges.
3.13.7 Standards for Perforated Pockets
Perforated pockets may be attached to a letter-size mailpiece when the following conditions are met:
a. The perimeter of the pocket is affixed with permanent glue with a minimum adhesive strength of 2 lbs./inch to stainless steel with 20 minute dwell time at 300" minute at 90 degrees per ASTM Test D3330F.
b. The attached material has a minimum tear strength of 100gf (MD) and (CD) per TAPPI T414.
c. The cut/tie ratio for perforation is 1:1 with a minimum tie size of 1 mm. One double cut may be made at the lower trailing edge corner of the perforated panel of the pocket.
d. The pocket:
1. Is between 1-1/2 inches and 2-3/4 inches in both height and length.
2. Has an affixed area no more than 0.012 inch thick and a perforated panel no more than 0.03 inch thick. Perforated pockets may not exceed the thickness of the host mailpiece. They may not cause the host to have an uneven surface and must not interfere with readability of the address, barcode, or postage information.
e. The length of each pocket is parallel to the length of the host mailpiece.
f. Pockets attached to the address side of a mailpiece are:
1. At least 1 inch from the bottom and leading edge.
2. At least 1/2 inch from the top and trailing edge.
g. Pockets attached to the nonaddressed side of the mailpiece are:
1. At least 1 inch from the bottom edge.
2. At least 1/2 inch from the top.
3. At least 5 inches from the left edge but no closer than 1/2 inch from the right edge.
h. Two perforated pockets are affixed on the same side of the mailpiece under these conditions:
1. Perforated pockets are stacked vertically, one above than the other. Do not affix the pockets side by side across the mailpiece length.
2. A space up to 1/2 inch is allowed between pockets.
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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, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing, 11-18-10
