How are new 4C mailboxes different?

How wonderful it is to wait with anticipation as to what your postal carrier might deliver in your mail receptacle today. . .a letter from a long lost relative, a fantastic new holiday catalog, an invitation to a party – all of which can bring a glimmer to your eye and a smile to your face. Email is wonderful for immediate interaction, but there simply isn’t anything like receiving your very own piece of mail. And while this excitement hasn’t faded over the years, the type of receptacle you use to collect it in may have changed.

We discussed new postal regulations in last week’s blog posting which have changed the security level and form function of mailboxes; but what exactly does that include?

Put quite simply, it is a much more secure mailbox. The USPS Std-4C specification created a new form factor and increased the minimum size requirement (12”W x 15”D x 3”H); completely eliminating the vertical form factor (5”W x 6”D x 15”H). Std-4C also requires that one parcel locker per every ten tenant compartments be available for larger deliveries. In addition, the security features and lock design requirements are more stringent, which includes mandatory security testing by the USPS.

Some manufacturers, like Florence, have even taken this a step further by beefing up the collection doors to prevent break-ins; giving the master loading doors an interlocking, overlapping seam and utilizing a one piece extruded hinge to prevent prying; and using a double-latching parcel locking mechanism for added door security.

The USPS then rigorously tests each mailbox and once approved, a manufacturer can label the box as USPS Approved. A complete listing of approved manufacturers and their approved mailboxes are reviewed on an annual basis and can be found on the USPS website or in their regularly published Postal Bulletins.

Bet you never thought there was so much to know about mailboxes! Let me know what your favorite thing to receive in the mail is and we’ll put together a Top Ten list! Until then, have a great week!

Why Are New Mailboxes Referred to as 4C?

Trying to determine the right type of mailbox for your situation can often be a confusing task – especially with all the crazy names out there. . .not to mention new USPS regulations related to wall-mounted, clustered type of mailboxes were introduced in 2004. This new regulation was the first change to “apartment style” mailboxes in more than 30 years and was made fully effective in October 2006.

Commonly known as STD-4C, this regulation replaces all previous regulations for mailboxes which were approved under STD-4B or STD-4B+ and requires STD-4C (or simply 4C) compliant mailboxes for all new construction and major renovations.

(I know, regulations can be dry and boring, but I wanted to make sure you knew what to expect!) The STD-4C installation requirements include:

• At least one customer compartment shall be positioned less than 48 inches from the finished floor.
• No parcel locker compartment (interior bottom shelf) shall be positioned less than 15 inches from the finished floor.
• No patron (tenant) lock shall be located more than 67 inches above the finished floor.
• No customer compartment (interior bottom shelf) shall be positioned less than 28 inches from the finished floor.
• The USPS Arrow lock shall be located between 36 and 48 inches above the finished floor.

That being said, if you are remodeling an existing mailbox installation and do not plan to disturb the wall the mailboxes are already mounted in, then replacing old mailboxes with a product similar in style, or adding security kits to existing boxes is typically acceptable. Any adjustment to the rough opening in the wall however, will require the new 4C compliant mailboxes, so be sure to check with your local Postmaster or Postal Growth Coordinator to determine mailbox requirements for your specific renovation/replacement project if there is any question related to compliance.

New 4C mailbox equipment provides a simple, easy-to-use ‘pre-configured’ suite of mailboxes which are all designed to meet or exceed every security requirement of the USPS STD-4C regulation for wall-mounted mail receptacles – making it easy to pick just want you need for your project. Next week, if you are interested, I’ll share with you the details that make up this new equipment and how it differs from the old equipment. Until then, keeping sending me your mailbox photos and stories so we can share with everyone.

Have a great week!

What is a CBU anyway?

Ever notice how if you are not closely involved in a particular industry that the “jargon” can seem like a different language? All to often those closest to the industry, product, or offer forget that they may be speaking to those who have never heard of them before.  That seems to be the case more often than not when it comes to mailboxes.

Take a CBU for instance. . .this often used term may not have much meaning if you are looking for a new neighborhood mailbox – you just know you need a new unit that the USPS (US Postal Service – another well used term!) will approve so you can get your mail. So what is it anyway? Well, a cluster box unit (CBU) is a free-standing, pedestal mounted cluster of mailboxes with a long and varied past.

The first curbside cluster box units were introduced in 1967. Since that time, they have gone through several transitions in material – from plastic to steel to aluminum; design, and feature offers. For instance, the first locking feature didn’t appear until 2001 - known as the NDCBU (Neighborhood Delivery Collection Box Unit), these units are no longer acceptable for new installations. 

The current USPS Approved CBU is often referred to as the “F series”. This cluster unit was originally designed and engineered by Florence Manufacturing and is now the design standard for all commercial CBU’s manufactured in the United States. In 2007, the USPS began to officially license this design and only manufacturers who are approved and licensed may offer the F Series CBU. This design not only includes multiple compartments for residents, but also incorporates a parcel locker and an outgoing mail slot for residents’ convenience.

Today, many communities such as Las Vegas and Denver require that all new neighborhoods install centralized mail delivery equipment such as the CBU. So be sure to check with your local postal officials to ensure you are installing the correct mailbox as you don’t want to disrupt your mail delivery.

Have a great image of a CBU in your neighborhood or a story about getting your mail over the years? Be sure and post your comments and/or pictures so we can share with everyone.

Have a great week!

Welcome to the Florence Blog

Hello! Here at Florence Manufacturing we are excited to foray into the Blogosphere.  We encourage you to check back often as we begin to share customer stories, industry related news, details on postal regulations, and much, MUCH more. We’d love to hear what is on your mind and how you think about mailboxes. . .plus, add your favorite mailbox photo and tell us your stories. Have a great day!