Postal Explorer > Publication 28 - Postal Addressing Standards > 1 Introduction

1 Introduction

11 Background

111 Purpose

Jointly developed by the Postal Service and mailing industry, standardized address information enhances the processing and delivery of mail, reduces undeliverable-as-addressed mail, and provides mutual cost reduction opportunities through improved efficiency. The standards include the uniform methods for matching addresses with the information in AIS products and formats for outputting addresses on mailpieces. This document describes both standardized address formats and content. It outlines the guidelines that govern how address information appears in the Address Information System (AIS) products. Format describes how the various elements appear on a mailpiece or in an address record. Content describes the characters that constitute the various address elements.

Our objectives in compiling a universal format for maintaining information in the Address Management System (source for the AIS products) and an output format are twofold:

• To facilitate customer use of AIS products, in particular, the ZIP+4 and City State files, thereby maximizing matching potential.

• To optimize the processing capability of automated equipment through improved address quality.

A standardized address is one that is fully spelled out, abbreviated by using the Postal Service standard abbreviations (shown in this publication or as shown in the current Postal Service ZIP+4 file), and uses the proper format for the address style (shown in this publication).

112 Scope

Postal units are adopting these standards, which are required by all internal processing systems and our licensees. This includes the National Change of Address (NCOA) System and Address Change Service (ACS). Mailers are encouraged to incorporate the standards as a means to improve service and deliverability.

113 Additional Benefits

There are additional benefits achieved through improved address quality and a standardized address format, such as increasing the potential deliverability of mail once processed and consistency in address information stored in customer files and directories. Our emphasis is to clarify addressing techniques and unusual addressing conventions to provide a uniform approach to matching these addresses through customer products and automated equipment.