Sec.

PART 11-PACKAGES

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 11 issued under R.S. 161, as amended, sec. 1, 62 Stat. 781, as amended; 5 U.S.C. 22, 18 U.S.C. 1716, 39 U.S.C. 501, 4058.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 11 appear at 30 F.R. 12841, Oct. 8, 1965, unless otherwise noted.

§ 11.1 Adequacy of packaging standards.

(a) Explanation. This part contains standards and methods for packaging, wrapping, marking, and labeling articles for mailing. Part 15 of this chapter contains special packaging regulations for certain types of items that are excluded from the mail unless packaged so as to assure safe transit. Part 17 of this chapter contains special conditions governing parcels sent to military post offices overseas.

(b) Inadequate preparation. Articles which are not prepared in accordance with the general guides in this Part may be refused acceptance in the mail. § 11.2 Containers for mailing.

(a) Types of containers. Containers must be strong enough to retain and protect their contents during the course of normal mail handling. Boxes or cartons of the following materials are commonly used: Corrugated or solid fiber

board, kraftboard, chipboard (for small items), fiber mailing tubes with metal ends, metal, and wood. Heavy wrapping paper or burlap or similar cloth may be used for parcels containing unbreakable goods which would not be damaged by the weight of other mail. The strength of carton required will depend on the weight, size, and nature of the article shipped.

(b) Size of container. The outer shipping container should be the proper size to hold the goods shipped plus enough space for cushioning material inside. If the container is too large, the contents are apt to shift while in transit. If it is too small, or if too much is put into it, there will not be enough room for protective internal cushioning. An overstuffed carton may burst in transit.

(c) Chipboard boxes. Small rigid telescoping chipboard boxes are usually used for small articles such as watches, jewelry, pens, etc. Those boxes equipped with metal clasps which hold the two parts together ordinarily need no further reinforcement to effect a proper closure.

(d) Used containers. A used container as described in paragraph (a) of this section in good rigid condition with all flaps intact is acceptable. If a box of the desired size cannot be found, a larger one may be cut down as shown in Illustration 1. Bend the four sides over the articles which have been cushioned in the box. Illustration 1A shows a method of making an acceptable container by using two boxes of the same general dimensions from which the flaps have been removed.

(e) Bulk mailings. Envelopes should not ordinarily be used as containers for large numbers of items of merchandise mailed at the bulk third-class rates or at the single piece first-, third-, or fourthclass rates. Such items of merchandise should be placed in suitable containers which can be uniformly stacked and tied in bundles, and they should otherwise be properly packaged, labeled, and marked in accordance with the provisions of §§ 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, and Part 15 of this chapter, just as though they were single pieces.

(a) Purpose of cushioning. (1) If a single item is shipped, sufficient cushioning material should surround the item so that it will be protected from outside impact against the carton in which it is shipped.

(2) If two or more items are shipped in the same carton or box, the cushioning should protect the items from damaging one another, in addition to protecting against outside impact. Each item should be separately wrapped so that no damage will result regardless of the position of the package inside a mail sack.

(3) In the absence of a specially engineered package with built-in interior padding, moulds or suspension, it is desirable that the container should always be full.

(b) Cushioning materials and positioning. (1) Excelsior, flexible corrugated fiberboard, or felt are commonly used to cushion heavy articles. Cellulose materials, cotton, clothing, shredded paper, or tissue paper are used for lighter items. Expanded foam plastics may also be used for cushioning or suspension of the items within the parcel. The amount and kind of cushioning needed will depend on size and nature of items mailed.

(2) Heavy and lightweight items should not be packed together in the same compartment. Heavy items should be packed so that they will remain in a fixed position.

(3) Heavy items such as machine parts, motors, castings, hardware and the like, particularly those in the long or bar category, require extraordinarily good exterior packaging and closure and should be securely positioned within the container. Positive measures should be

taken to prevent punching out the ends of the containers. When items of the general type mentioned move in their containers, they will not be accepted for mailing. Strapping around the container and extra strengthening of the ends of long cartons are recommended.

(c) Fragile articles. (1) The pieces must be individually cushioned.

(2) If shredded paper or loose excelsior is used, at least 2 inches of either should be placed on all four sides of the box and on top and bottom. Each piece must be properly spaced and cushioned to avoid strain or damage to other pieces. About one-half of an inch cushioning between flat pieces will be adequate.

(3) Breakage of one item when packed with soft cushioning material may result in general loosening of other articles in the carton with further damage. If corrugated interior packing, such as trays, pads, partitions, compartments, etc., are used, they must be arranged so

ILLUSTRATION 2

PACK CUSHIONING MATERIAL IN
BOTTOM OF CARTON-WRAP EACH
ITEM SEPARATELY.

that individual items do not touch the wall of the shipping carton or each other. Flexible packing pads between each item of the same size may be used in nesting.

(4) The weight of upper compartments should be borne by corrugated packing and not by articles in lower compartments.

(5) Illustration 2 shows the manner of cushioning several odd shaped items in a parcel.

(d) Glassware, chinaware, ceramics, radios, and other similar articles. These articles are very fragile and require both a strong container and adequate interior cushioning between the pieces and the container. Proper packing is shown in Illustration 3.

ILLUSTRATION 3

PLACE PACKING MATERIAL IN BOTTOM OF CARTON. PLACE

2

WRAP EACH ITEM SEPARATELY.

(3)

PLACE IN INSERT
AND COVER WITH

PACKING MATERIAL.

2

PACK WRAPPED
ITEMS IN CENTER
OF CARTON AND
PACK MATERIAL
AROUND AND OVER.

(e) Framed pictures.

These items

should be cushioned on both sides and packed in a strong shipping carton. Illustration 4 shows one way of packing a framed picture. The newspaper is folded to form rolls which are placed around the picture.