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Packaging
Books, Bound Printed Matter, and Similar Printed Material
January 2008
PS-329 (601.3)
This
Customer Support Ruling (CSR) clarifies that packaging standards apply to
all mailpieces that contain books, Bound Printed Matter (BPM), heavy
journals or magazines, and similar items.
The Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM) sets
a general standard that all mailpieces must be able to withstand normal
transit and handling without damage or breakage. Pieces with items such as books or BPM require adequate packaging to meet this requirement,
whether they are mailed as machinable parcels, irregular parcels, or Not
Flat-Machinable pieces. A common
packaging method is a sturdy box. However, other packaging methods such as
plastic bags or shrinkwrap may be used under certain conditions.
Our packaging standards describe three types of
mailpiece loads — easy, average, and difficult — based on
content, degree of protection, and strength of the mailing container. We consider a single book or book-like
piece or a single BPM item to be an “easy” or an
“average” load. A
multicomponent piece containing printed material is considered to be an
average load when it is packaged to minimize shifting of the contents. Mailers may use plastic bags for easy
loads up to 5 pounds when the plastic is at least 2 mil thick, and for easy
loads up to 10 pounds when the plastic is at least 4 mil thick.
Parcels processed in bulk
mail centers (BMCs) include Package Services machinable parcels, Standard
Mail machinable parcels, and NFMs weighing 6 ounces and over, except pieces
prepared on 5-digit or finer level pallets. For pieces processed in BMCs, shrinkwrap
or heat-shrinkable plastic film may be used as the only method of
packaging for paperback books and similar items weighing up to
3 pounds.
As an
option for pieces not processed in (BMCs), mailers may use heat-shrinkable
plastic film for pieces weighing more than 3 pounds. The film must be at least 3/4 (.75) mil
thick for easy loads up to 5 pounds and at least 1-1/4 mil thick for
average loads up to 5 pounds. Average
load pieces weighing up to 10 pounds and prepared on 5-digit pallets may be
packaged with film at least 1-1/2 mil thick.
In summary, all books,
Bound Printed Matter, and similar printed material are subject to packaging
standards in the DMM. Pieces that are processed in BMCs are subject to
additional restrictions.
Sharon
Daniel
Manager
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