Effective January 26, 2020, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), sections 201.4.1 and 201.4.5, to clarify the characteristics of flat-size pieces with polywrap coverings.
The Postal Service is revising section 201.4.1, “General Definition of Flat-Size Mail,” to clarify the current two exceptions to flat-size piece characteristics and to add a reference to an additional exception that is provided through Customer Support Ruling (CSR) PS-346, Co-Mailing Polywrap Specifications. The Postal Service is also revising and reorganizing section 201.4.5, “Polywrap Coverings,” to clarify the use of polywrap coverings on flat-size pieces.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until January 26, 2020, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
201 Physical Standards
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4.0 Physical Standards for Flats
4.1 General Definition of Flat-Size Mail
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[Revise the text of bullets 1 and 2, and add new bullet 3 under item b. to read as follows:]
1. Periodicals nonmachinable flat-size pieces mailed as specified in 207.26.0. They must not be more than 1–1/4 inches thick.
2. Polywrapped flats, with selvage that extends beyond the contents, up to a maximum length of 15-3/4 inches or a maximum height of 12-1/2 inches (see 4.5.4). The enclosed contents must not be longer than 15 inches or higher than 12 inches.
3. Co-mailed polywrapped flats mailed as specified in Customer Support Ruling PS-346, with selvage that extends beyond the contents, up to a maximum height of 12-7/8 inches (see 4.5.4). The enclosed contents must not be higher than 12 inches.
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4.5 Polywrap Coverings
4.5.1 Polywrap Films and Similar Coverings
[Revise the text of 4.5.1 to read as follows:]
Polywrap film, or similar coverings on flat-size mailpieces, except for pieces mailed at saturation, high-density plus, or high-density prices, must meet the standards in 4.5. Film approved for use as specified in 4.5.2 must meet the specifications in Exhibit 4.5.1. Exception: The haze property (property 2) does not apply if address labels will be affixed to the outside of the polywrap. Only polywrap listed as approved on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com may be used on flat-size mailpieces.
Exhibit 4.5.1 Polywrap Specifications
[Revise the introductory text of Exhibit 4.5.1 to read as follows:]
Except for haze property (property 2) listed under 4.5.1 and pieces mailed at saturation, high-density plus, and high-density prices, mailers must use polywrap that meets all of the properties in this exhibit as follows:
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[Reorder sections 4.5.2 through 4.5.4 as follows: (1) Renumber current 4.5.2 and 4.5.3 as 4.5.3 and 4.5.4, and (2) Reorder current 4.5.4 as 4.5.2.]
4.5.2 Polywrap Certification Process for Manufacturers
[Revise the first sentence in the introductory text of renumbered 4.5.2 to read as follows:]
Specification USPS-T-3204, Test Procedures for Polywrap Films, describes exact test procedures and acceptable values for polywrap film characteristics.***
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4.5.4 Overhang
[Revise the introductory text and items a. and b. of renumbered 4.5.4 to read as follows:]
For purposes of the polywrap standards for overhang (selvage) only, the top edge of the mailpiece is one of the two longer edges of the piece (piece is orientated horizontally/landscape). Any polywrap selvage must meet these standards:
a. With the piece held horizontally and the contents totally positioned at the bottom of the polywrap, except as provided in Customer Support Ruling PS-346, the overhang must not exceed 1/2 inch at the top of the mailpiece (see 4.1b2 and 4.1b3).
b. With the piece held horizontally and the contents totally positioned to the left or to the right side of the polywrap, the overhang may be up to 1.5 inches on the opposite side as long as the mailpiece (contents and selvage) does not extend beyond the maximum length of 15-3/4 inches (see 4.1b2).***
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 12-19-19
