Effective April 5, 2010, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 201.3.15.4 and add new 201.3.15.6 through 201.3.15.8 to provide new design options for letter-size booklets. The new designs include nine simple spine designs and one oblong booklet design that will qualify for automation and machinable letter prices.
We will also revise the language in DMM 201.3.11g, and introduce one new gluing standard in 201.3.11h that applies to the new designs. While the new gluing standard is required for booklets prepared under the new design, we recommend this gluing method for all letter-size booklets that are able to be sealed with glue lines.
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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201.3 Physical Standards for Machinable and Automation Letters and Cards
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201.3.11 Tabs, Tape, and Glue
***The following standards also apply:
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[Revise item 201.3.11g and add new item 3.11h as follows:]
g. Continuous glue lines may be used as cover-to-cover seals for specific designs. When using glue as a sealing method, it must be placed along the entire length of the open edge and end no more than 3/4-inch from the open ends (see Exhibit 3.11g) unless standards require use of a continuous 1/2-inch wide glue line under 3.11h.
h. Continuous, 1/2-inch wide glue lines must be placed along the entire length of the open edge and end within 1/16-inch of the open ends. The selvage along the open edge must not exceed 1/16 inch. Glue lines must be created with a permanent adhesive that is not tacky when dry.
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3.15 Booklets
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[Revise the heading and text of 3.15.4 as follows:]
3.15.4 General Booklet Design and Sealing
The position of the final fold and intermediate fold (or spine) for letter-sized booklets varies according to the specific design of the mailpiece. Open edges can be sealed with tabs, glue lines, or glue spots. Except for the simple spine wallet-style design with a height of 4 inches and a maximum length of 8 inches, tabs used as seals on the leading edge of small booklets less than 5 inches high may be placed closer to the top and bottom edges than shown in Exhibits 3.15.5 through 3.15.8 and may overlap in some cases. See Exhibits 3.15.5 through 3.15.8 for design and sealing standards by type of design.
[Delete current exhibit 3.15.4 in its entirety. Add new items 3.15.5 through 3.15.8, with exhibits, as follows:]
3.15.5 Simple Spine
The spine forms the bottom edge of the mailpiece. The length or method used to seal the booklet determines the weight of the paper forming the cover. Unless otherwise noted, the cover must be at least 70-pound paper.
Exhibit 3.15.5
[Note: New items in this exhibit compared to previous Exhibit 3.15.4 are the items described under light-weight, medium-weight, and heavy-weight sections.]
3.15.6 Wallet Style Booklets
A spine forms the bottom edge. Wallet-style booklets must be from 5.2 inches to 8 inches long, 4 inches high; can weigh up to 2.5 ounces; and must be sealed with nonperforated tabs. Tab size and placement are dictated by the weight of the booklet.
Exhibit 3.15.6
3.15.7 Oblong Booklets
Oblong booklets have a spine on the leading (shorter) edge.
Exhibit 3.15.7
3.15.8 Folded Booklets
Folded booklets are large mailpieces that are bound and then folded to letter-size. The final fold must be the bottom (longer) edge. The folded spine should be the leading edge; however, if necessary, the spine may be prepared as the trailing edge. The spine on the trailing edge configuration is not recommended. The cover is at least 40-pound paper. Folded booklets must be sealed with nonperforated 1.5" tabs.
Exhibit 3.15.8
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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, 3-25-10
