Effective August 30, 2007, we are revising the standards for mailability in DMM section 601.1.0. These standards state, in part, that all mailpieces (except keys and identification devices) that are 1/4 inch thick or less must be rectangular, with four square corners. This revision is a modification of the revision published in the July 19, 2007, Postal Bulletin, Issue 22211, that permits rounded corners with a radius that could not exceed 0.125 inch (1/8 inch) on letters, flats, and parcels. This change allows mailers the option to design parcels and Not Flat-Machinable (NFM) pieces with rounded corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.5 inch (1/2 inch).
We will incorporate these changes in our September update of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) part 601 as noted below. Mailers may make related changes to their mailings as soon as possible.
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
1.0 General Standards
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1.2 Minimum Dimensions
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b. All mailpieces (except keys and identification devices) that are 1/4 inch thick or less must be:
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[Revise item b2 as follows:]
2. Rectangular, with four square corners and parallel opposite sides (see Exhibit 1.2b2), or with finished corners and parallel opposite sides under 1.2b3 or 1.2b4, unless prepared as Customized Market Mail under 705.1.0.
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[Revise item b3 as follows.]
3. Letter-size, card-type mailpieces made of cardstock and flat-size mailpieces may have finished corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.125 inch (1/8 inch). See Exhibit 1.2b3.
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[Add new b4 as follows:]
4. Except for machinable parcels described in 401.1.5.2, pieces mailed at parcel rates or Not-Flat Machinable rates may have finished corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.5 inch (1/2 inch). See Exhibit 1.2b4.
Exhibit 1.2b.4 Maximum Corner Radius for Parcels
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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 and Classification, 8-30-07
