Effective November 8, 2007, the Postal Service™ is announcing new OneCode™ Technology design options and services for mailers participating in Business Reply Mail (BRM) services. In addition, we are providing greater flexibility for the placement of Intelligent Mail® barcodes on mailpieces.
These changes will be incorporated into the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 202.5, 302.4 and 507.8 in our November update as noted below. We encourage mailers to make the 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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200 Discount Letters and Cards
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202 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece
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5.0 Barcode Placement
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5.6 Barcode in Address Block
When the barcode is included as part of the address block:
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[Revise items c, d, and e of 5.6 to add new clearance standards for Intelligent Mail barcodes as follows:]
c. The minimum clearance between the barcode and any information line above or below it within the address block must be at least 0.040 (1/25) inch for POSTNET barcodes or 0.028 inch for Intelligent Mail barcodes. The separation between the barcode and top line or bottom line of the address block must not exceed 0.625 (5/8) inch. The clearance between the leftmost and rightmost bars and any adjacent printing must be at least 0.125 (1/8) inch.
d. If a window envelope is used, the clearance between the leftmost and rightmost bars and any printing or window edge must be at least 0.125 (1/8) inch. The clearance between the barcode and the top and bottom window edges must be at least 0.040 (1/25) inch for POSTNET barcodes or 0.028 inch for Intelligent Mail barcodes. These clearances must be maintained during the insert’s range of movement in the envelope. Address block windows on heavy letter mail (as defined in 5.2, General Barcode Placement for Letters) must be covered; such windows may be covered on other mail. Covers for address block windows are subject to section 5.10.
e. If an address label is used, a clear space of at least 0.125 (1/8) inch must be left between the barcode and the left and right edges of the address label. The clearance between the barcode and the top and bottom edges of the address label must be at least 0.040 inch for POSTNET barcodes or 0.028 inch for Intelligent Mail barcodes.
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5.7 Barcode on Insert
If the barcode is printed on an insert to appear through a window in the lower right corner of an envelope:
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[Revise item c of 5.7 to add new clearance standards for Intelligent Mail barcodes as follows:]
c. When the insert showing through the window is moved to any of its limits inside the envelope, the entire barcode must remain within the barcode clear zone. In addition, a clear space must be maintained that is at least 0.125 (1/8) inch between the barcode and the left and right edges of the window, at least 0.1875 (3/16) inch between the barcode and the bottom edge of the mailpiece, and at least 0.040 (1/25) inch between the barcode and the top edge of the window for POSTNET barcodes or 0.028 inch for Intelligent Mail barcodes.
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300 Discount Flats
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302 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece
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4.0 Barcode Placement
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4.6 Barcode in Address Block
When the barcode is included as part of the address block:
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[Revise items c, d, and e of 4.6 to add new clearance standards for Intelligent Mail barcodes as follows:]
c. The minimum clearance between the barcode and any information line above or below it within the address block must be at least 0.040 (1/25) inch for POSTNET barcodes or 0.028 inch for Intelligent Mail barcodes, and the separation between the barcode and top line or bottom line of the address block must not exceed 0.625 (5/8) inch. The clearance between the leftmost and rightmost bars and any adjacent printing must be at least 0.125 (1/8) inch.
d. If a window envelope is used, the clearance between the leftmost and rightmost bars and any printing or window edge must be at least 0.125 (1/8) inch, and the clearance between the barcode and the top and bottom window edges must be at least 0.040 (1/25) inch for POSTNET barcodes or 0.028 inch for Intelligent Mail barcodes. These clearances must be maintained during the insert’s range of movement in the envelope. Covers for address block windows are subject to 4.7.
e. If an address label is used, a clear space of at least 0.125 (1/8) inch must be left between the barcode and the left and right edges of the address label, and the clearance between the barcode and the top and bottom edges of the address label must be at least 0.040 (1/25) inch for POSTNET barcodes or 0.028 inch for Intelligent Mail barcodes.
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500 Additional Mailing Services
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507 Mailer Services
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8.0 Business Reply Mail (BRM)
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8.3 Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) Basic Standards
8.3.1 Description
Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) is First-Class Mail that:
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[Revise items d through f of 8.3.1 to reflect the optional use of Intelligent Mail barcodes in QBRM:]
d. Is authorized to mail at QBRM rates and fees under 8.3.2. During the authorization process, the mailer is assigned a unique ZIP+4 code for each rate category of QBRM to be returned under the system (one for card-rate pieces, one for letter-size pieces weighing 1 ounce or less, and one for letter-size pieces weighing over 1 ounce up to and including 2 ounces) and has the option of using either an Intelligent Mail barcode or POSTNET barcode to encode the assigned ZIP+4 code.
e. Bears the proper ZIP+4 code, assigned by USPS for the appropriate rate category, in the address of each piece. The ZIP+4 codes assigned for this program must be used only on the organization’s appropriate QBRM pieces.
f. Bears the correct Intelligent Mail barcode or POSTNET barcode that corresponds to the unique ZIP+4 code in the address on each piece distributed. The barcode must be correctly prepared under 8.9 and 708.4.0.
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8.8 Format Elements
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8.8.6 Delivery Address
The complete address (including the permit holder’s name, delivery address, city, state, and BRM ZIP Code) must be printed directly on the piece, subject to these conditions:
[Revise item a of 8.8.6 to reflect optional Intelligent Mail barcode use as follows:]
a. Preprinted labels with only delivery address information (including an Intelligent Mail barcode or POSTNET ZIP+4 barcode under 8.9) are permitted, but the permit holder’s name and other required elements must be printed directly on the BRM piece.
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8.9 Additional Standards for Letter-Size Barcoded BRM
[Revise introductory paragraph and item a of 8.9 to reflect optional Intelligent Mail barcode use as follows:]
In addition to the format standards in 8.8, letter-size BRM enclosed in automation rate mailings and all QBRM must be ZIP+4 barcoded with an Intelligent Mail barcode or POSTNET barcode. Other BRM may be barcoded at the permit holder’s option. Barcoded BRM must meet the barcode standards in 708.4.0, the envelope basis weight standards in 8.7.1, all other mailpiece design standards in 201.3.0 (including thickness), and these standards:
a. Permit holders must use the ZIP+4 codes and equivalent Intelligent Mail barcode or POSTNET barcodes assigned by the USPS. Delivery point barcodes are not permitted on BRM.
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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, 11-8-07
