Canada Post -

Introduction
FAQ
Addressed Admail
- Hands-On Presortation Exercises
Publications Mail
- Hands-On Presortation Exercises
Key Support Documents
Glossary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Presortation Schematic (NPS)?
What are the levels of the National Presortation Schematic (NPS)?
How do you obtain the up-to-date version of the National Presortation Schematic (NPS)?
What is the minimum piece requirement for a bundle?
What levels are accessible for grouping/bundling?
What is the maximum thickness of a bundle?
When can you single strap a bundle?
When is it acceptable to not bundle your items?
What is the minimum fill requirement for a container?
What levels of the NPS are accessible for containerization?
What is the minimum fill requirement for a mailbag?
What is the maximum weight of a container or mailbag?
Where can I obtain containers or mailbags?

What is the National Presortation Schematic (NPS)?
The National Presortation Schematic (NPS) is the master document used by all customers to presort their mailings. It contains a set of tables that indicates which FSAs can be grouped and containerized together as well as the information that must be entered on bundle and container labels.
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What are the levels of the National Presortation Schematic (NPS)?
Level 1 – Delivery Facility
Level 2 – City Consolidation
Level 3 – Distribution Centre Facility (DCF)
Level 4 – Forward Consolidation Point (FCP)

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How do you obtain the up-to-date version of the National Presortation Schematic (NPS)?
You can obtain the latest version of the National Presortation Schematic (NPS) by going to the Canada Post web site; www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/business/tools/default.jsf
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What is the minimum piece requirement for a bundle?
The minimum piece requirement for a bundle is six (6) pieces for Publications Mail™ and eight (8) pieces for Addressed Admail™. The last Residue bundle has no minimum piece requirement.
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What levels are accessible for grouping/bundling?
You can access Levels 1, 3 and 4 for grouping mail. If you don’t have the minimum number of items to create a grouping to these levels, the items can then be grouped as Residue.
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What is the maximum thickness of a bundle?
The maximum thickness for a Short and Long (S/L) bundle is 4” or 100 mm and for an Oversize bundle the maximum thickness is 8” or 200 mm.
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When can you single strap a bundle?
All S/L items in hardsided containers can be single strapped and O/S items accessing Level 1 of the NPS.
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When is it acceptable to not bundle your items?
When using hardsided containers accessing Level 1 for NDG presort items.
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What is the minimum fill requirement for a container?
The minimum fill requirement for a container is 70% full when only one container exists for a destination (Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the National Presortation Schematic (NPS)). When more than one container exists for a destination the minimum fill requirement is 95% for all the containers except for the last container, which has no minimum fill. Note: The last Residue container has no minimum fill requirement.
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What levels of the NPS are accessible for containerization?
You can access Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 for containerizing the mail. . If you don’t have the minimum number of groupings to create a container to these levels, the items can then be containerized as Residue.
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What is the minimum fill requirement for a mailbag?
The minimum fill requirement for A-6 mailbags (small bag) is 4 bundles or 3.5 kg.
The minimum fill requirement for A-3 mailbags (large bags) is 6 bundles or 7 kg.
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What is the maximum weight of a container or mailbag?
The maximum weight of a container or mailbag is 22.7 kg (50 lbs).
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Where can I obtain containers or mailbags?
Customers with an agreement number can obtain containers or mailbags by calling the Customer Service Network at 1-866-607-6301.
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