Address Accuracy is a program designed to encourage mailers to accurately address mail. An address is deemed accurate when all components are present, correct and match information on Canada Post's address database.
Consistent and accurate addressing eliminates the need for extra handling and/or re-delivery. The savings in efficiency and handling are shared with our customers. For our customers, this translates into a more efficient service and lower costs.
Ask your Sales Representative for the Address Accuracy Program Customer Guide.
Addressed Admail
Mailable items, bearing a uniform message, that:
•
Promote the sale or use of products or services;
•
Report on financial performance primarily for promotional purposes; or
•
Solicit donations or contributions.
Alphanumeric Sequencing DMC
Mail is sequenced by the Delivery Mode Detail (DMD) which is located in positions 66 to 69 of the Delivery Mode Data. The exact Delivery Mode Detail (DMD) is a four-character, left-justified data field that may contain numeric characters or a combination of numeric and alphabetic characters. DMD's that are a combination of alpha and numeric characters will have 1 to 3 alpha characters in the left most space. Those with 1 alpha character are followed by up to 3 numeric characters.
At a minimum, Canada Post requires that groupings be sequenced by the Delivery Mode Detail in alphanumeric order.
Records that have numeric characters only are sorted first in numerical, ascending order. Records that have alphabetical characters in the left most positions are sorted alphabetically, in ascending order and then by any numerical characters in numeric, ascending order.
1.
Numeric Delivery Mode Detail are sequenced first as shown below:
1
2
3
4
5
NOTE:
This field is left-justified with blank spaces in the right-most locations where appropriate.
2.
After sequencing numeric DMD, DMD that are a combination of alpha and numeric in nature are sequenced next as shown below:
CF
DIR
GD
H1
H10
H11
P1
P2
RET
T1
T10
T11
Please note that DMD's that are a combination of numeric and alpha characters have blank spaces to the right where appropriate.
3.
The overall sequencing of DMD may be done in either ascending or descending order: Ascending order is the preferred method of sequencing, however, descending order is acceptable as long as consistency is maintained.
Ascending Order
Descending Order
1
T11
2
T10
3
T1
4
RET
5
P2
6
P1
7
H11
CF
H10
H11
11
GD
GD
H1
DIR
H10
CF
P1
10
P2
5
RET
4
T1
3
T10
2
Alphanumeric Sequencing FSA
FSA Sequencing (alphanumeric)
Examples:
K1A
P1A
T5A
K2B
P1B
T5B
K2C
P2A
T6C
K2E
P3B
T7A
K3A
P3T
T7S
Alphanumeric Sequencing LDU
LDU Sequencing (alphanumeric)
Examples:
1A1
4A9
5C9
1A2
4B1
5H1
1A4
4B3
5J6
1B1
4B8
6L4
1B2
4C2
6L9
Bag
General term for all sacks used for enclosing and transporting Addressed Admail, Catalogue Mail and Publications Mail.
Figure 1
Bag Label (also referred to as a Keeper Tag)
A piece of thin cardboard containing preprinted or handwritten information to be inserted in the label holder on mail bags to show the destination and contents of the bag.
Figure 2
Bundle
A specific number of same-size mail tied or banded together. A bundle is also mail banded together according to mail preparation requirements.
Bundle Label
(see Facing Slip)
Bundling
A bundling describes grouping pieces securely tied together by elastic, string, plastic straps or shrink wrapping.
Figure 3
Catalogue Mail
Catalogue Mail is printed matter of bound or sewn pages which are specifically designed to:
•
Sell or promote products or services and includes but is not limited to:
–
a telephone directory
–
a university calendar
–
a list of products.
•
Inserts are permitted if securely bound to the catalogue.
•
Samples are not permitted.
•
Be mailed in Canada for delivery in Canada.
•
Be prepared for mail processing in accordance with the applicable requirements.
City Consolidation
•
The second level of consolidation as per the NPS (not available for grouping).
Container Label
A piece of thin cardboard containing preprinted or handwritten information to be inserted in the label holder attached to a container. The label details the contents and the container's destination.
Figure 4
Containers
Includes the following:
•
A-3 Mailbag a large bag used for enclosing the mail
•
A-6 Mailbag a small bag used for enclosing the mail
•
Flats Tub a container for the conveyance of Oversize (O/S) mail
•
Lettertainer a container for the conveyance of Short and Long (S/L) mail
•
Monotainer a metal cage for the conveyance of all mail
•
Pallet a wooden/plastic/aluminum platform for the conveyance of containers and/or brick-piled mail items
CPC
Canada Post Corporation
Figure 5
CPG
•
Canada Postal Guide
A manual for use in all postal facilities and by mailers, based on the Canada Post Corporation Act and Regulations, and Product Specifications that provides information relating to rates, Mail Preparation and Presortation requirements, products and services offered by Canada Post, conditions of mailing, etc.
Figure 6
DAI
•
Delivery Address Information
A mailer-specific sortation option that is used rather than the LDU option. DAI sequences the mail items by street name, street type, street direction, civic number and suite number.
DELIVERY ADDRESS INFORMATION (DAI)
1
street name
alphanumeric order
2
street type
alpha order
3
street direction
alpha order
4
civic number
alphanumeric order, with odd numbers before even numbers
5
suite number
alphanumeric order
DCF
•
Distribution Centre Facility
A major postal facility where mail is received, sorted, handled and sent to or received from a group of dependent postal facilities.
This is the third level of consolidation as per the NPS.
Delivery Facility (DF)
The facility from which the mode of delivery emanates (e.g. location of postal box, origination of the rural route or letter carrier route) and can include urban postal stations, letter carrier depots and rural postal facilities.
This is the first level of consolidation as per the NPS.
Delivery Mode
A delivery mode refers to the methods of delivery. Examples of delivery modes are:
•
Letter Carrier Route (LC)
•
Call For (CF)
•
Direct (DIR)
•
General Delivery (GD)
•
Rural Route (RR)
•
Postal Box (PO Box)
•
Suburban Services (SS)
•
Motorized Route (MR)
Delivery Mode Audit Code
The part of the Delivery Mode Code which identifies the version of the Delivery Mode Data Product used. This code changes monthly.
DMC
•
Delivery Mode Code
The Delivery Mode Code (DMC) consists of the Delivery Mode Audit Code and the Delivery Mode Detail.
Delivery Mode Detail
It represents a combination of numerical and/or alphabetical characters representing a particular mail delivery service in an urban area (e.g. H 10).
Delivery Mode Data Technical Specifications
A Canada Post product that provides information that contains postal codes and their related modes of delivery (e.g. a letter carrier walk).
Figure 7
Delivery Mode Type
The alpha character part of the Delivery Mode Detail
Dimensional Addressed Admail
Mailable items, bearing a uniform message, that:
•
Promote the sale or use of products or services;
•
Report on financial performance primarily for promotional purposes; or
•
Solicit donations or contributions.
Dimensional Addressed Admail are items which meet the Addressed Admail definition and that fall within one of the following size specifications:
CATEGORY
LENGTH
WIDTH
THICKNESS
WEIGHT
Small
(max.)
180 mm
130 mm
35 mm
500 g
(min.)
140 mm
90 mm
20 mm
N/A
Medium
(max.)
250 mm
130 mm
35 mm
500 g
(min.)
180 mm
90 mm
20 mm
N/A
Large
(max.)
300 mm
150 mm
35 mm
500 g
(min.)
250 mm
90 mm
20 mm
N/A
Edgemarking
Ink or paint (the color of which must significantly contrast with the color of the envelope) applied to the top edge of an envelope to indicate a break between Delivery Mode groupings and/or Delivery Facilities of presorted mail.
Figure 8
Facing Slip (also known as a bundle label)
A small slip of paper, either preprinted or handwritten, attached to the top of a DCF and Residue bundle to show the destination of the bundle.
Figure 9
FCP
•
Forward Consolidation Point
A major postal facility where mail is received, sorted, handled and sent to or received from a group of dependent postal facilities and/or Distribution Centre Facilities.
The fourth level of consolidation in the National Presortation Schematic.
F/T
•
Flats Tub
A hardsided container used primarily to transport oversize (O/S) mail.
Figure 10
FSA
•
Forward Sortation Area
The first three characters (alpha-numeric-alpha) of the postal code which represent a geographic area (e.g. K1A).
Grouping
The process of combining mail together by a common element.
High Density Presort (HDP)
An incentive Lettermail presortation option which requires a high density of identical items per delivery mode in each mailing.
At least 80% of the deposit must consist of a minimum of 50 pieces per Delivery Mode/Rural Delivery Facility. The remaining mail (up to 20%) must have a minimum of 5 pieces per Delivery Mode/Rural Delivery Facility.
Identical Items (Incentive Lettermail)
Items of Incentive Lettermail having identical design and physical characteristics except that their thickness and colour of their exterior covers may vary. The return address of the items in a complete mailing may vary provided that either the return address or the name of the person to whom they are to be returned is constant.
Incentive Lettermail
Consists of identical items of mail (which include letters, postcards or similar communications: receipts, invoices or similar articles of a financial nature) or any other article the sender chooses to mail in large quantities and which qualify for a discounted price.
Incentive Price
A special rate available under a sales agreement with customers whose mailing meets volume, frequency, preparation and presortation requirements identified by Canada Post.
Keeper Tag
(see Bag Label)
Labelling
Printing relevant data on a label or facing slip or, inserting labels into the label holders of mail bags prior to dispatch.
LC
•
Letter Carrier
Employed by Canada Post to sort and deliver mail to an allocated route.
LCP
•
Letter Carrier Presort
A mail presortation option requiring the Delivery Mode Code for Addressed Admail (including Dimensional Addressed Admail), Book Presort and Publications Mail.
LDU
•
Local Delivery Unit
The last three characters (numeric alpha numeric) of the postal code which represent a specific point or set of points of call located within the area identified by the FSA.
LNPS
•
Lettermail National Presortation Schematic
A publication of Canada Post which sets out mail presortation schematics required to do Lettermail presortation.
Lettermail National Presortation Schematic (LNPS) Levels
The levels of consolidation as per the Lettermail National Presortation Schematic (NPS) as follows:
Level 1 Delivery Facility
Level 2 City Consolidation
Level 3 Distribution Centre Facility (DCF)
Level 4 Forward Consolidation Point (FCP)
Incentive Lettermail cannot access all levels of the Lettermail National Presortation Schematic (NPS) except for pallet and monotainer make up which can access all 4 levels.
Low Density Presort (LDP)
An Incentive Lettermail presort option that requires a minimum of 5 pieces per Delivery Mode/ Rural Delivery Facility
L/T
•
Lettertainer
A hardsided container used primarily to transport Short and Long (S/L) mail.
Figure 11
Machine Readability
A term describing how Canada Post's mechanized equipment translates the physical presence of an address as it is represented on a mail piece into the various components needed to successfully process the mail items through mechanized equipment. See the Canadian Postal Standards for specific information.
Machine Readability ensures that mail can be handled by Canada Post mechanized processing equipment at a reliability level (Read Rate)
•
of at least 90% for Short and Long (S/L) and 80% for Oversize (O/S) for Addressed Admail and Publications Mail and
•
at least 95% for Short and Long (S/L) and 85% for Oversize (O/S) for Incentive Lettermail.
Machineable Mail
Mail which meets the size and physical characteristics outlined in the Canadian Postal Standards, that can be handled during processing by mechanical equipment.
Mail Preparation
Mail Preparation is the process of facing and containerizing the mail and identifying the containers.
Mail Preparation ensures:
•
Machineability of mail
•
Protection of the physical condition of the mail
•
Identification of the type of mail
•
Ease of handling
Mail Presortation
Mail Presortation is the process of sequencing, grouping, containerizing the mail and labelling the containers to allow Canada Post to bypass various processing steps and facilities within its mail distribution network.
Monotainer
A large, collapsible steel frame container that is used to transport mail between postal facilities and large volume mailers, when authorized by Canada Post and when supplies are available.
Figure 12
Monotainer Label
A piece of paper or cardboard with preprinted or handwritten information detailing the contents and destination of the monotainer. It is required that two opposite sides of the monotainer be labelled in case one becomes obscured.
Figure 13
NDG Presort
A mail presortation option for Addressed Admail, Catalogue Mail and Publications Mail.
NPS
•
National Presortation Schematic
A publication of Canada Post which sets out mail presortation schematics required to do mail presortation to direct facilities or consolidation points.
National Presortation Schematic (NPS) Levels
The levels of consolidation as per the National Presortation Schematic (NPS) as follows:
•
Level 1 Delivery Facility
•
Level 2 City Consolidation
•
Level 3 Distribution Centre Facility (DCF)
•
Level 4 Forward Consolidation Point (FCP)
Not all services can access all NPS Levels.
NPS Order
NPS order is the order in which they are placed within the NPS.
Example:
LCD Centretown would come first, LCD Stewart would come second, and Stittsville would come third.
Figure 14
O/S
•
Oversize
Mail that exceeds 245 mm in length, 156 mm in width or 5 mm in thickness but does not exceed 380 mm in length, 270 mm in width or 20 mm in thickness
OCR
•
Optical Character Reader
Office of Deposit
Canada Post Facility where the customer is authorized to deposit mail. Sometimes referred to as the “originating office”.
For Addressed Admail (including Dimensional Addressed Admail), Book Presort, Catalogue Mail and Publications Mail the residue is identified to the Office of Deposit.
In certain areas your Canada Post representative may request that you label the Residue containers/bags to the Office responsible for processing the Residue mail instead of the Office of Deposit.
Pallet (also referred to as a skid)
A wooden/plastic/aluminum platform for the conveyance of containers and/or brick piled mail items. If you elect to use pallets, you must provide them.
Figure 15
Pallet Label
A pallet label is a piece of paper or cardboard with preprinted or handwritten information detailing the contents and destination of the pallet. It is required that two opposite sides of the monotainer be labelled in case one becomes obscured.
Figure 16
Postage Indicia
Is an indicia which shows payment by Deposit Account and must include:
For Incentive Lettermail, Addressed Admail and Catalogue Mail
•
Product Type
•
Permit or Customer Number
For Publications Mails
•
Product Type
•
Agreement Number
•
Registration Number (if applicable)
Postal Code
A six-character alphanumeric combination (ANA NAN) assigned to one or more postal addresses in a specific delivery area. The postal code is:
•
An integral part of every postal address in Canada
Used to identify the various processing/delivery facilities and post offices.
M4B 1G5
Presort Software
A version and release of a computer program, series of computer programs or computer application, designed to presort mailings to meet the specifications outlined in the Presort Technical Specifications.
Presortation Technical Specifications
Presortation Technical Specifications is a document intended specifically to provide developers of presortation software with Canada Post presortation requirements.
Publications Mail
Includes newspapers, magazines and newsletters, which are mailed in Canada and addressed to a subscriber, non-subscriber or news dealer anywhere in Canada. It is provided for the purpose of disseminating news and information to the public.
Residue Mail
Mail that the customer cannot make up in accordance with the NPS, and must be labelled and worked at the office of deposit (not applicable for Incentive Lettermail).
Residue Grouping
A grouping of items which could not be grouped at any level of the NPS. All items must be in NPS order and facing the same way with the address visible on the top side of the grouping. No minimum number of pieces for the last residue grouping.
Rural Delivery Facility
Rural Delivery Facility (as per Level 1 of the NPS)
S/L
•
Short and Long
Mail that is 140 mm in length, 90 mm in width or 0.18 mm in thickness but does not exceed 245 mm in length, 156 mm in width or 5 mm in thickness.
Service Code
Some large Rural Delivery Facilities have additional postal codes referred to as Service Codes. These service codes are constructed by taking the postal code of the installation (e.g. K0A 1T0) and replacing the zero (0) in the last character position with a number from 1 to 9 (e.g. K0A 1T1).
STN
•
Station
A Delivery Facility as per Level 1 of the Lettermail National Presortation Schematic (LNPS) and the National Presortation Schematic (NPS).
Tie-on-Tag
An eyelet tag which may be affixed to a mail bag with string or a plastic cable tie.
Figure 17
Urban Delivery Facility
Urban Delivery Facility (as per level 1 of the Lettermail National Presortation Schematic (LNPS) and the National Presortation Schematic (NPS).
Vinyl Label Holder
A vinyl pouch attached to a mail bag where a piece of thin cardboard containing preprinted or handwritten information is to be inserted to show the destination and contents of the bag.