Policies, Procedures, and Forms Updates

Manuals

DMM Notice: Mailing Letters or Flats with Magnets

The following is an update to our policy on mailing let­ters or flats that contain thin flexible magnets, such as those designed to be placed on refrigerators or similar sur­faces. The original policy notice appeared in Postal Bulletin 22083 (8-22-02, page 16). The guidelines below are spe­cific to thin flexible magnets for automation-rate letter-size mailpieces and all flat-size mailpieces. All enclosed or attached magnets should have a minimum of 10 poles per linear inch.

For automation-rate letter-size pieces:

• Magnets may not exceed 1/32 inch in thickness.
• The magnetic surface may not exceed 26 square inches (length times height).
• The magnetic surface may face either the address or the nonaddress side.
• Enclosed magnets must be affixed to the contents, wrapped within the contents to prevent excess shift­ing, or fill the mailpiece with no more than 1/2 inch clearance between the left and right edges of the magnet and the mailpiece edges.
• Magnets permanently attached to, or prepared as, an integral part of unfolded cardstock pieces should be located on the leading edge of the mailpiece.
• Automation-rate letters must meet other relevant standards in DMM 201.

For flat-size pieces:

• Magnets may not exceed 1/32 inch in thickness.
• The magnetic surface may face either the address or the nonaddress side.
• Magnets must be enclosed in the flat-size mailpiece and either must be affixed to the contents, wrapped within the contents to prevent excess shifting, or fill the envelope with no more than 1/2 inch clearance between the left and right edges of the magnet and the mailpiece edges.
• Mailpieces must meet the DMM standards for flat-size pieces in DMM 301.

Prior Postal Service™ approval granted for mail­pieces with enclosed or attached magnets is still valid, if the mailpiece design has not changed since approval. Cus­tomers may seek approval for automation rates for mail­pieces with designs that differ from the above guidelines by contacting their local manager, business mail entry. Man­agers, business mail entry receiving such requests should coordinate analysis and testing with the Pricing and Clas­sification Service Center. Mailpieces that may be trans­ported by air, such as those mailed at First-Class Mail^® rates or at Standard Mail^® rates with either Express Mail^® or Priority Mail^® Open and Distribute also must meet the standards for magnetic materials in DMM 601.10.21.

— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 12-6-07