Effective December 6, 2010, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 601.7.2, which applies to packaging books and printed matter for mail processed at Network Distribution Centers. Books and similarly produced printed matter (such as catalogs) must be packaged to withstand normal transit and processing.
This revision makes use of the term “similarly produced printed matter” when referring to books. Other sections of the DMM refer to books and printed matter as similar items regarding parcel machinability. This revision helps clarify that books and similar printed matter must be packaged to avoid being damaged in processing.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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600 Basic Standards for all Mailing Services
601 Mailability
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7.0 Packaging Standards for Mail Processed at Network Distribution Centers
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7.2 Books
[Revise the first and last sentences of the introductory text of 7.2 as follows, deleting obsolete text “with 24 pages or more” and incorporating similarly produced printed matter:]
Books and similarly produced printed matter (such as catalogs) fastened together along one edge between hardback, paperback, or self-covers, that are more than 1 inch thick or 1 pound must not be accepted in letter-style nonreinforced flat envelopes or without packaging.*** Shipments of books and similarly produced printed matter are packaged according to these weight categories:
[Revise item 7.2a as follows:]
a. Up to 5 pounds, sealing must be by multiple friction closures, completely clinched staples, heat-sealing, adhesives, tape, or nonmetallic banding. Although shrinkwrap is not acceptable as the only packaging for hardback books and similarly produced printed matter exceeding 1 pound or 1 inch thick, it may be used on the exterior of otherwise acceptable containers. Shrinkwrap (under 3.6) may be used as the only method of packaging for paperback books and similarly produced printed matter up to 3 pounds.
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[Revise items 7.2d and e as follows:]
d. From 25 to 50 pounds, hardbound books and similarly produced printed matter must be packaged in 275-pound test fiberboard boxes, and paperback books and similarly produced printed matter must be packaged in 200-pound test fiberboard boxes.
e. From 50 to 70 pounds, hardbound books and similarly produced printed matter must be packaged in 350-pound test fiberboard boxes, and paperback books and similarly produced printed matter must be packaged in 275-pound test fiberboard boxes.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the DMM and into the next update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing, 12-2-10
