Effective June 6, 2016, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), section 201.3.2, to provide the minimum paper basis weight for envelopes or letter-size mailpieces sealed along all four sides.
On April 15, 2009, the Postal Service published a Federal Register final rule (74 FR 17399–17403) to revise section 201.3.0. In this revision, the minimum paper basis weight for envelopes or letter-size mailpieces sealed along all four sides was omitted. For clarification, the Postal Service is adding the 50-pound minimum paper basis weight or equivalent standard to section 201.3.2. We will also revise section 201.3 for consistency.
Additionally, we will revise sections 505.1.4.1 for consistency and 505.1.6.1a to correct a DMM reference error.
Although this clarification will not be published in the DMM until June 6, 2016, this revision is effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
201 Physical Standards
* * * * *
3.0 Physical Standards for Machinable and Automation Letters and Cards
* * * * *
3.2 Paper Weight
[Revise the text of 3.2 to read as follows:]
Mailpieces should be constructed from high tear strength paper stock. All references in 3.0 to paper basis weight are for book-grade paper (500 25-inch by 38-inch sheets) unless otherwise stated. Except as required under 3.0, envelopes or letter-size mailpieces sealed along all four sides must be made of paper with a minimum 50 pounds paper basis weight or equivalent. The conversion table in Exhibit 3.2 provides a paper basis weight cross-reference.
* * * * *
3.4 Standards for Letter-Size Pieces Containing One Disc (CD or DVD)
* * * * *
3.4.3 Dimensions and Other Physical Standards for Automation-Compatible Enveloped Letters Containing Discs
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items e. and f. to read as follows:]
e. A piece up to 8 inches long must be made of paper with a minimum 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent.
f. A piece over 8 inches long (up to 9.75 inches long) must be made of paper with a minimum 80-pound paper basis weight or equivalent.
* * * * *
3.4.4 Dimensions and Shape Standards for Automation-Compatible Unenveloped Disc Carriers
* * * * *
[Revise the first sentence of item e. to read as follows:]
e. Be prepared from paper stock meeting the industry standard with a minimum 75-pound paper basis weight or equivalent, with none less than 71.25 pounds.***
* * * * *
3.11 Tabs, Tape, and Glue
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows:]
a. Translucent paper tabs should be made of paper with a minimum of 40-pound paper basis weight.
b. Opaque paper tabs should be made of paper with a minimum of 60-pound paper basis weight with a tear strength of at least 56 grams of force in the machine direction (MD) and 60 grams of force in the cross direction (CD).
* * * * *
3.13.4 Letter-Size Piece with Attached Release Card
* * * * *
[Revise the first sentence of item d. to read as follows:]
d. Enveloped letters must be made of paper with a minimum 60-pound paper basis weight or equivalent, and have a maximum thickness of 1⁄8 (0.125) inch.***
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items f.2 and f.3 to read as follows:]
2. Booklets must have a minimum cover weight of 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent.
3. Folded self-mailers must have a minimum cover weight of 100-pound paper basis weight or equivalent.
* * * * *
3.13.6 Letter-Size Pieces with Perforated Pockets
* * * * *
[Revise the text of item c. to read as follows:]
c. Mailpieces must be prepared with a minimum paper basis weight or equivalent as follows:
* * * * *
3.14.2 Physical Characteristics
* * * * *
[Revise the first sentence of item h. to read as follows:]
h. Quarter-folded self-mailers made of a minimum 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent may have as few as 4 panels.***
* * * * *
3.14.5 Paper Weight and Sealing Requirements
* * * * *
[Revise items a.1 and a.2 to read as follows:]
1. Up to 1 ounce: 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent sealed with a continuous glue line, three glue spots, or elongated glue lines under 3.14.4b; or two 1-inch tabs under 3.14.4a1 and 3.14.4a3.
2. Over 1 ounce: 80-pound paper basis weight or equivalent sealed with a continuous glue line, four glue spots, or four elongated glue lines under 3.14.4b; or two 1-1⁄2 inch tabs under 3.14.4a1 and 3.14.4a3.
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items b.1, and b.2 to read as follows:]
1. Up to 1 ounce: 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent sealed with two 1-inch tabs.
2. Over 1 ounce: 80-pound paper basis weight or equivalent sealed with two 1-1⁄2-inch tabs.
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items c.1 and c.2 to read as follows:]
1. Up to 1 ounce: 100-pound paper basis weight or equivalent sealed with glue under 3.14.4b, or two 1-1⁄2-inch tabs under 3.14.4a1 and 3.14.4a2.
2. Over 1 ounce: 120-pound paper basis weight or equivalent sealed with glue under 3.14.4b, or two 2-inch tabs under 3.14.4a1 and 3.14.4a2, or three 1-1⁄2-inch tabs under 3.14.4a3.
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items d.1 and d.2 to read as follows:]
1. Up to 1 ounce: 80-pound paper basis weight or equivalent sealed with glue under 3.14.4b or two 1- 1⁄2-inch tabs under 3.14.4a1 and 3.14.4a2.
2. Over 1 ounce: 100-pound paper basis weight or equivalent sealed with glue under 3.14.4b, or two 2-inch tabs under 3.14.4a1 and 3.14.4a2, or three 1-1⁄2-inch tabs under 3.14.4a3.
* * * * *
3.15.2 Letter-Size Mailpieces with Tear-Off Strips
* * * * *
[Revise the text of item a. to read as follows:]
a. Be constructed of a minimum of 60-pound paper basis weight or equivalent.
* * * * *
3.16.5 Simple Spine
* * * * *
Exhibit 3.16.5 Simple Spine Booklets
Simple Spine Booklets
* * * * *
[Revise the Cover paper weight text under Simple Spine Booklets to read as follows:]
Cover paper weight — 80-pound paper basis weight or equivalent unless noted: see Exhibit 3.2.
* * * * *
Lightweight Simple Spine Booklets
* * * * *
[Revise the Cover paper weight text under Lightweight Simple Spine Booklets to read as follows:]
Cover paper weight — 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent unless noted: see Exhibit 3.2.
* * * * *
Mid-Weight Simple Spine Booklets
* * * * *
[Revise the Cover paper weight text under Mid-Weight Simple Spine Booklets to read as follows:]
Cover paper weight — 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent unless noted: see Exhibit 3.2.
* * * * *
Heavy Weight Simple Spine Booklets
* * * * *
[Revise the Cover paper weight text under Heavy Weight Simple Spine Booklets to read as follows:]
Cover paper weight — 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent unless noted: see Exhibit 3.2.
* * * * *
3.16.6 Wallet Style Booklets
* * * * *
Exhibit 3.16.6 Wallet Style Booklets
Wallet Style Booklets
* * * * *
[Revise the Cover paper weight text under Wallet Style Booklets to read as follows:]
Cover paper weight — 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent unless noted: see Exhibit 3.2.
* * * * *
3.16.7 Oblong Booklets
* * * * *
Exhibit 3.16.7 Oblong Booklets
Oblong Booklets
* * * * *
[Revise the Cover paper weight text under Oblong Booklets to read as follows:]
Cover paper weight — 70-pound paper basis weight or equivalent unless noted: see Exhibit 3.2.
* * * * *
3.16.8 Folded Booklets
* * * * *
Exhibit 3.16.8 Folded Booklets
Folded Booklets
* * * * *
[Add the following text as the last line under Folded Booklets to read as follows:]
Cover paper weight — 60-pound paper basis weight or equivalent unless noted: see Exhibit 3.2.
* * * * *
[Revise the text in the table for Horizontal Spine to read as follows:]
Cover paper weight — up to 9\u0022 long 50 pounds;
over 9\u0022 up to 10.5\u0022 60 pounds.
Tabs up to 2oz use 1.5\u0022 nonperforated tabs;
over 2oz use 2\u0022 nonperforated tabs.
Spine at top on address-side panel.
Place one tab on the leading and trailing edge within 1\u0022 from the top; position one tab on the lower leading edge 0.5\u0022 from the bottom.
3.17 Postcard
[Revise the first sentence of 3.17 to read as follows:]
Any postcard must be prepared from paper stock meeting the industry standard with a minimum 75-pound paper basis weight or equivalent, with none less than 71.25 pounds.***
* * * * *
500 Additional Mailing Services
* * * * *
505 Return Services
1.0 Business Reply Mail (BRM)
* * * * *
1.4 Mailpiece Characteristics
1.4.1 Paper Weight
[Revise the first sentence of 1.4.1 to read as follows:]
BRM paper envelopes must have a minimum paper basis weight of 50 pounds or equivalent (500 25-inch by 38-inch sheets).***
* * * * *
1.6 Additional Standards for Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM)
1.6.1 Description
* * * * *
[Revise the text of item a to read as follows:]
a. Is a letter weighing two ounces or less or card that is prepared to meet the automation compatibility requirements in 201.3.0.
* * * * *
We will incorporate this revision into the next update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http:⁄⁄pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Marketing and Sales, 4-28-16
