John Gelder

The mail must go through a lot before it actually gets through - first the postal system, and then the letter box! Fortunately there are British Standards to help both things happen without a hitch.

First, BS 7666-3:2000 Spatial data-sets for geographical referencing - Specification for addresses helps to get the mail to your door. It supersedes the 1994 edition.

Addresses comprise addressable objects (secondary e.g. flat number, then primary e.g. premises street number), street (of main access point), locality, town, administrative area (e.g. county) and postcode (determined using the Royal Mail's proprietary system - a rare example of a proprietary citation in a BS), in that order. They are also supposed to comprise an address, according to clause 4.2, but that doesn't make sense - we'd end up with infinite recursion!

Addresses must be recorded with single spacing within fields, no abbreviations (unless in the official name), and no punctuation (unless in the official name). Official names must be used where they exist. 'Aliases' are permitted e.g. Welsh and English versions.

In case all this isn't clear, several examples are given, one of which is for the public toilets at Green Park Station. I wonder how many letters get sent there?

As an aside, the Standard is illustrated using the SSADM modelling language for entities and relationships (specified in BS 7738-1). Though not the modelling language used by the IAI (International Alliance for Interoperability) and other construction-sector initiatives such as NBS Scheduler, it is interesting nonetheless (though it doesn't appear to have anything to do with the Iraqi leader).

Our second Standard, BS EN 13724:2002 Postal services - Apertures of private letter boxes and letter plates - requirements and test methods, helps to get the mail through your door. It supersedes the near-antique BS 2911.

Apertures are rated for type (4 types e.g. outdoor boxes), size (2 sizes), corrosion resistance (3 grades) and security (2 grades). Gauge mail (ISO C4 envelope, 24 mm thick, filled with A4 80 g/m² papers) must be able to go through the aperture and be removed from a private letter box without folding or damage.

Installation heights are specified with ergonomics in mind. Sharp edges are not permitted, the flap must be easily opened and self-closing, and sight windows are generally not permitted (for confidentiality).

To satisfy water penetration criteria, a note suggests that delivery personnel insert all items completely through the aperture - someone should tell them!

Security criteria are extensive, comprising prevention of theft of mail via letter boxes and letterplates, the strength of private letter boxes, the number of key differs for letter box door locks and, for letterplates, minimum distances from door or window locks and use of secure fixings.

The Standard includes relevant test methods - those for security are quite elaborate. Compliance marking and labelling is specified, but it is noted that the Standard does not fall under any EC directives, and so is voluntary. If you want it to apply, it must be specified (for both products and execution).

Unfortunately there isn't a Standard for postmen and women (in Standards-speak, delivery personnel). For that we might do worse than the 1860 newspaper ad for Pony Express riders: "WANTED: YOUNG SKINNY WIRY FELLOWS. Not over eighteen. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. WAGES $25 per week." They also had to swear off profane language, intoxicating liquors, and quarrelling or fighting with employees of the firm (but not with anybody else).

Most of our postmen and women probably don't meet these exacting standards, so maybe, in spite of the best efforts of BSI, the mail won't get through after all. In which case you could complain using BS EN 13850!

As you can see, there's a Standard for (almost) everything.

John Gelder RIBA RAIA CSI is an architect and author, working for NBS as Special projects manager. In that capacity he is running the development of the new Performance and Services master specification systems, edits the NBS Journal, and is responsible for the content of the NBS Educator website. He also runs the Certificate in Architectural Practice course at the University of Newcastle, where is undertaking a PhD.

John worked as chief editor at NATSPEC, in Australia, wrote the book Specifying architecture, and consults to the International Construction Information Society. He has taught specifying at Sydney University and the University of Technology, Sydney, and has written and spoken extensively on the subject internationally. He has written numerous articles on Standards, including those in the Daily Standards and StandardsWatch series in NATSPEC’s SPECnews, and he contributed to Standards Australia’s authoring guidelines.

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