USPS Issues Final Rule on Catalog Droop Test

The U.S. Postal Service in late February published a final rule regarding eligibility for commercial flats failing the deflection or “droop” test in the Federal Register.

This final rule provides revised mailing standards and price eligibility for commercial flats of all classes that don’t meet the deflection standard—meaning that the books are too floppy to be processed by the postal equipment.

The USPS had relaxed the deflection standards in 2007 by increasing the permitted deflection to up to 4" for flat-size pieces at least 10" long. The new deflection standards allow 1” less of vertical droop.