Put Authorized Florence Dealers to Work for You 1 Nov 2024, 3:31 pm

Florence Corporation has been the innovator in centralized mail delivery equipment since 1934 and since that time we have relied on our network of Authorized Dealers to provide you with personalized, local service in all 50 states.

From the beginning, we wanted to ensure that our customers received unparalleled, service right in their own backyard. So, we set about building strong relationships with small businesses throughout the country that specialize in Section 10 Postal Specialties. This nationwide network of friendly professionals stands ready to assist you every step of the way and provides you with a trusted resource even after the sale.

Navigate New Construction with Ease

When you work with an Authorized Florence Dealer, you have access to knowledgeable industry experts who can help you navigate local codes and accessibility requirements as well as postal regulations for your new construction project. Not only do we as the manufacturer ensure they have the latest information, but these professionals have cultivated relationships with local resources and Postal Officials. This extensive knowledge and contact network helps them ensure you receive proper product selection and placement of your centralized mailbox installation, as well as assistance in getting your mailboxes put into service.

These seasoned professionals have been around the block a few times and have born witness to the evolution of centralized mailbox solutions and changing regulations. To ensure your project goes smoothly from conception to construction, our nationwide network of Authorized Florence Dealers is ready to help you navigate the entire centralized mail delivery process.

Local Product Experts

Authorized Florence Dealers can also assist with replacement and refurbishment of your current centralized mailbox installation. These product specialists can help you identify your existing equipment and then based on current Postal Regulations, propose updates or any necessary replacements. Once you are ready, they can help you select the right products for your project, provide drawings of the installation, submit quote information, offer technical assistance, and even in some cases install everything for you.

Whether your project requires the latest mailbox equipment, you want to add more capacity for packages, or you just need to replace a single compartment door in your older mailbox installation, these product experts can help find the right solution or individual part to fit your needs.

Our Authorized Dealers cover all 50 states and are often ready to travel within that state to assist you. To find an Authorized Florence Dealer in your neighborhood, visit our Dealer Locator and seek out the Dealer Profile that best suits your needs.

Authorized Dealers are the Florence Difference

Unlike other manufacturers who just sell online, we have hand selected and worked with these dedicated professionals for decades and in several cases, generations. This close-knit relationship is the foundation of our customer support and is what we call, “The Florence Difference”.

See for yourself what this talented group of Authorized Florence Dealers can do by putting them to the test with your next centralized mail delivery equipment project.

The post Put Authorized Florence Dealers to Work for You first appeared on Florence Corporation.

Florence Corporation Has Been Making it Better Since 1934 29 Oct 2024, 5:55 pm

Florence Corporation and the US Postal Service’s history of centralized mail delivery are integrally linked. Working together over the years, our dedicated team is continually seeking ways to make centralized mail delivery equipment better.

From the very beginning, designing a centralized mailbox that fits with the needs of both the letter carrier and the resident has been a priority for Florence Corporation. After working for a mailbox manufacturer that closed during the depression, Saulia O. Florence and Herbert Dix took their idea for a new centralized mailbox and in 1934 established Florence Manufacturing Company in a downtown Chicago garage. Three years and one patent filing later, the business was incorporated and became Florence Corporation.

Their patent, for the carrier to deliver mail through the top portion of the mailbox, while the resident retrieved their items in the bottom portion of the box, was approved in 1939 and the vertical mailbox was born.

Saulia was a die maker and operated the shop, while Herbert handled the office and sales of their now popular vertical mailbox. Their centralized design allowed letter carriers to deliver mail quickly and efficiently to multiple residents in one location, while providing a new level of security for residents previously unheard of in mailboxes. These types of mailboxes were generally used for small and medium sized apartment buildings, being placed in the main lobby for easy access by both the residents and the carriers.

Florence Corporation Expands Its Operations

As the mail delivery system and types of mail have evolved, so has the equipment Florence has designed to receive it. In 1958, Saulia sold all of his company stock to Herbert, who relocated the business to 24^th and LaSalle Street and expanded the product offering to include horizontal mailboxes; a centralized mailbox that contained square compartments which were ideal for high rise apartment and office buildings as well as dormitories. Designed to achieve a maximum number of units for a given wall space, these mailboxes were commonly referred to as ‘apartment mailboxes’.

As the demand for more centralized vertical and horizontal mailboxes increased due to the continued specification by the US Postal Office Department, Florence Corporation moved locations once again to Larrabee Street. This move provided the flexibility to meet the increase in production and in 1963, Herbert’s son-in-law, Lloyd Schooley, joined the company to help assist his father-in-law.

Meeting Changing Postal Standards

In 1975, to ensure these types of centralized mailboxes conformed to certain specifications, the US Postal Service established the “4B Standard” for both vertical and horizontal mailboxes. This standard “established the minimum acceptable manufacturing requirements and procedures for testing and accepting apartment house mail receptacles” and remains the standard for today’s vertical and horizontal mailbox products. Later that same year, when Herbert suffered a severe stroke, Lloyd was named President and took over running the business, ensuring all mailboxes manufactured by Florence met this new standard and successfully passed all US Postal Service testing.

The company moved locations in 1977 to increase its production capacity of the horizontal apartment mailboxes once again. But, by this time, the growth in US population in urban areas was slowing and suburban growth was on the rise. The US Postal Service developed the Neighborhood Delivery Cluster Box Unit or NDCBU, to replicate the centralized delivery success in multifamily settings for the single-family neighborhood. These free-standing, pedestal-mounted units were popular with letter carriers, because they could deliver the mail into the back of the units without ever leaving their trucks.  In 1983, Florence won its very first contract to provide mailboxes directly to the US Postal Service and significantly expanded its operating location once again to accommodate the addition of the NDCBU product line.

Acquisitions and New Postal Standards Drive Further Company Growth

The mid-1990s and early-2000s included a flurry of company acquisitions to fuel Florence Corporation’s growth and mailbox offerings, including Cutler Manufacturing, famous for their chute mailboxes, and Auth Company – for which Florence changed their doing business as name to Auth-Florence Manufacturing Company. But the most significant work of the decade was partnering with the US Postal Service to develop the next generation cluster box unit.

Residents were growing tired of having their mail being rolled or folded to fit in the apartment mailboxes, and the growth of mailed catalogs spurred the need for larger mail compartments. Together, Florence and the US Postal service collaborated to develop a compartment where the mail could be placed flat when it was delivered. This work spurred the next generation NDCBU and the “E” Series Cluster Box Unit or CBU was introduced to the market.

Florence moved its facilities to yet another location in Glendale Heights, IL to accommodate the manufacturing of this new product line under its second supplier contract with the US Postal Service.

More Postal Contracts

While the E Series CBU introduced more stringent security measures than its NDCBU predecessor, the US Postal Inspection Service was looking to take that even further so as to provide residents with the safest mailbox possible. Florence won an R & D contract with the US Postal Service and developed the High Security Cluster Box Unit or HSCBU, which significantly reduced vandalism and break-ins for high crime areas. Recognizing the work done on this new mailbox, the US Postal Service in 2003 awarded Florence with its first Quality Supplier Award.

Working closely with the US Postal Service, Florence took the learnings from the HSCBU and together they designed and engineered the next generation CBU. Winning the supplier contract to the US Postal Service for outdoor delivery equipment – including this new F Series CBU, Florence moved its entire operation to Manhattan, KS. Building a brand new 197,000 square foot facility from the ground up behind the Manhattan, KS Airport, Florence ensured its future growth by also purchasing 25 acres of surrounding land and having one wall that could easily be removed for expansion.

The building was completed in the Summer of 2003 and the organization began moving equipment and personnel from Chicago that Fall. This move ensured the significantly larger facility was also located near a major US Postal Service distribution center. Florence was once again honored to win a Quality Supplier Award from the US Postal Service.

Florence Helps Drive New Postal Standard

A few short years later, the US Postal Service established a Postal Service Apartment Mailbox Consensus Committee, which included representatives of mailbox manufacturers – including Florence, mailbox distributors, Postal Service customers, multi-unit residential and commercial property builders, owners and managers, and the US Postal Service. This committee developed the new centralized mailbox standard and introduced the 4C Standard in 2006 to replace the old 4B standard.

Changing the mailbox from a square compartment to a flat compartment enabled it to hold several days’ worth of mail. The standard also established a new parcel locker requirement of one locker for every ten mailboxes due to the significant increase in online shopping shipments. Florence was proud to have been a part of this process and to be one of the primary manufacturers of what is now the premier standard in centralized mailbox equipment.

Florence’s Success Leads to Acquisition by Gibraltar and Additional Product Offerings

In 2007, the Schooley family made the decision to sell Florence Manufacturing to Gibraltar Industries, a publicly held company (NASDAQ: ROCK). After securing a contract with Canada Post and adding dozens of patents, Florence returned to its roots and rebranded as Florence Corporation. Subsequent contracts for Post Office mail sorting equipment and other mailboxes continued to follow, securing Florence as a market leader.

Serving once again as an R&D partner to the USPS, the Florence team created a new electronic package locker that was piloted under GoPost®. As online purchasing grew, so too did the need for package management. Most average Apartment Communities receive 100+ packages a day, delivered by many different carriers – UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, etc. To help reduce the growing package problem, Florence introduced a carrier agnostic electronic package locker to the market and caught the eye of a brand-new software company, Package Concierge®.

Combining forces, these two brands were first to the US market with smart package lockers for apartment communities in 2012. The company’s success grew the product lines to now include three different types of smart package locker systems and a package room solution. Shipping centralized mailboxes and smart package lockers around the World, Florence provides a solution that is touched by users every day.

Florence Continues to Make It Better

Today, over 90 years later, Florence, along with our sister companies, Package Concierge®, who sells smart package lockers, and Architectural Mailboxes®, who manufacturers curbside mailboxes, the Mail and Package Business of Gibraltar is going strong.

We know that most people take our products for granted, but we take that as a compliment, because we know they have been a strong part of everyday life for generations. So we will continue to work with design and construction professional, residents, and postal officials alike to determine what the mailbox must become to serve the ever changing mail and package delivery needs for generations to come. Because at Florence Corporation, we are proud to be Making It Better!

The post Florence Corporation Has Been Making it Better Since 1934 first appeared on Florence Corporation.

Give Residents a Great Mail Experience 29 Oct 2024, 9:24 am

When designing and building new housing, it’s easy to get lost in all the details. At first glance, mailbox installations might seem low on the priority list; however, a well-planned mail and package solution is integral to community design and keeping residents happy with a great mail experience.

Because mailboxes are something a resident interacts with nearly every day, here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin planning for your centralized mailbox solution.

1. Location, Location, Location

Determining the location of your mailbox solution is an important first step in planning. Whether you are establishing a new single-family development, multifamily apartments, student housing, or condos, the US Postal Service (USPS) requires centralized mailbox equipment be used. Adding clustered mailboxes improve delivery speed while reducing the environmental impact of multiple vehicle stops. By planning early, you can easily incorporate your centralized solution into other common space elements of the development.

Having mail and package delivery located in a central or common space ensures easy access to the equipment by both the Postal Carriers and residents. A central location also helps deter criminal actions such as theft and vandalism, as they are most often located in proximity to other higher-traffic amenities, like lobbies or clubhouses.

When selecting the ideal location for your centralized mailbox installation, also keep in mind how many different points of entry the Carriers and residents will have to cross to get to the mailboxes. Passing through more than one main gate or door places too many obstacles to their efficient delivery and could cause headaches for onsite staff that need to help gain access every day.

2. Plenty of Space for Mail and Packages

In the age of one-day shipping, people are receiving more packages than ever before. In response, in the early 2000’s the USPS changed their mailbox design specifications to accommodate small packages and larger volumes of mail. As a result, more space is required in your common area to accommodate these cluster mailboxes.

As the USPS requires there to be one parcel locker for every five mailboxes installed, this will need to also be factored in when determining the overall space your centralized mailbox installation will take. While many centralized mailbox modules contain built-in parcel lockers, you can also add parcel locker only modules to expand your capacity for USPS package delivery.

(And don’t forget, that if you are also planning for other major carrier package deliveries by FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc., that you will need additional space for a separate package equipment solution since only the USPS is allowed to deliver to the centralized mailboxes.)

When evaluating how many parcel lockers you may need, keep in mind that while one mailbox may be assigned per address, that multiple package-purchasing people may live at that address. It is therefore essential that you are not conservative when determining the amount of parcel lockers by only installing the minimum required, but to think about the Holiday package volume and instead consider one parcel locker to every three mailboxes. By thinking about the type of residents living in your community, family, retiree, or students, and their purchase patterns, you can ensure you have planned sufficient space for your centralized mailbox installation.

3. Meet All Necessary Regulations to Remain Compliant

When planning for centralized mailbox solutions, USPS regulations are not the only codes that need to be taken into consideration. It is also important to include the various state and local codes, as well as federal accessibility regulations for mailboxes and the Fair Housing Act.

For property owners, the importance of providing centralized mailboxes installed in a manner that complies with both USPS specifications, accessibility requirements and all the various other regulations cannot be minimized. Ensuring compliance will avoid mail stoppage or occupancy permit denials.

Following regulations set forth in legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the standards set by the USPS, can seem a daunting task. Consulting with an expert mailbox provider, one who knows code requirements in detail, prior to construction will help ensure your centralized mailbox project is compliant with all requisite regulations.

4. Customize Mailboxes to Fit Your Design Aesthetic

Just because your centralized mailbox installation serves a utility purpose doesn’t mean it has to be boring! Your community’s mailbox solution should be a direct reflection of your architectural design as well as the resident population it serves.

To help with the planning process, give our DIY online configurator a try where you can put together different mailbox modules and add customizations to make it your own. Think about how the mailboxes you select don’t just fit in but stand out as well!

Because centralized mailboxes can be wonderful accents in any community, thoughtful planning is important to ensure these common use spaces are functional, convenient, compliant, and attractive places for residents. Need some inspiration? Visit our image gallery or Pinterest boards to see how other communities have added a little spice to their mail and package centers.

There are numerous reasons a construction project can fall behind schedule, don’t let planning and selecting multi-unit mailboxes slow down your project. At Florence Corporation, we’ve been in the business of designing and supply USPS-Approved centralized mailboxes for over 90 years. We also have Authorized Dealers nationwide that stand ready to assist you in planning your mailbox installation every step of the way, freeing you up to focus on other aspects of your project.

For more information about planning a great resident mail experience, check out our Planning Guide.

The post Give Residents a Great Mail Experience first appeared on Florence Corporation.

Meeting Regulations for Centralized Mailbox Solutions 28 Oct 2024, 10:06 am

When planning for multifamily mailbox solutions, USPS regulations are not the only codes that need to be taken into consideration. It is also important to include the various state and local codes, as well as federal accessibility regulations for mailboxes and the Fair Housing Act.

For property owners, the importance of providing centralized mailboxes installed in a manner that complies with both USPS, accessibility requirements and all the various other regulations cannot be minimized. Ensuring compliance will avoid mail stoppage or occupancy permit denials. Luckily, Florence mailbox product lines provide you with all the USPS approved mailboxes and parcel locker options necessary to ensure you can design a mail center for your project that is compliant with all USPS and accessibility regulations.  

USPS Regulations for Multifamily Mailboxes

Since October 5, 2006, all new construction and renovation designs in buildings require U.S. Postal Service STD-4C compliant mailbox systems. The USPS regulates the types, styles, and locations of centralized mailboxes to provide consistency in form factor. This consistency ensures not only operational efficiency, but safety for postal carriers who deliver millions of packages and mail pieces to the 150+ million delivery points six days a week.

To address the growing package delivery volumes while reducing the number of re-delivery attempts, USPS has specified built-in package lockers for all of their approved centralized mail delivery equipment. These parcel lockers, which can handle 95% of USPS Priority Mail package sizes, were an important regulatory addition as they reduced the number of times residents had to visit their local Post Office to retrieve packages. These built in parcel lockers are also extremely convenient for residents s they can retrieve their USPS delivered mail and packages in one secure location 24/7.

Over the years, the USPS has continued to evaluate their requirements, updating when necessary to keep pace with the continue onslaught of package delivery. Today’s standard now requires a minimum of one 15” package locker for every five individual mailboxes installed (1:5 ratio). This ratio can be easily met by adding parcel locker only modules to any centralized mail delivery installation.

ADA Regulations for Multifamily Mailboxes and Multi Unit Properties

For interior mailrooms, the ADA specifies that at least 5% of the mailboxes must meet accessibility guidelines. However, some local regulations may override this percentage and require 100% compliance, so be sure to check with your local jurisdiction codes office and inspector to confirm requirements in your area.

When lining up mailboxes with your residents, the current practice is to use sequential numbering on the mailboxes rather than matching identification to the apartment numbers. This both improves security and privacy along with allowing for greater flexibility in providing accessible mailbox compartments that meet the 5% specification.

According to Section 309 of the ADA, mailboxes must comply with specs on clear floor space, equipment height, and operation. An accessible mailbox must be no lower than 15” and no higher than 48” from the finished floor as measured from a clearance of 10” from the installation wall whether you are forward or side facing.

Fair Housing Act

Under Requirement 2 of the Fair Housing Act (FHA), your multifamily living unit must have an accessible and usable public and common use area. This includes building-wide fire alarms, parking lots, storage areas, indoor and outdoor recreational areas, lobbies, laundry areas, mailrooms, and mailboxes.

For mailboxes to be FHA compliant, they must be installed no lower than 15” and no higher than 48” from a forward-facing approach. This matches with USPS installation requirements for parcel lockers which can be installed as low as 15” from finished floor as well as with ADA lower reach range regulations.

Additionally, the FHA also disallows any protruding objects, including mailboxes, located along walks, corridors, and other passageways because a cane or wheelchair could bump against it. FHA notes that any wall-hung objects must not protrude more than 4” when located between 27” and 80” from the ground. Objects mounted lower than 27” above the finished floor may protrude any amount as long as the minimum clear width of an accessible route is maintained.

Many STD-4C modules may be USPS approved and yet still not be appropriate for installation in some circumstances to fully comply with ADA and/or FHA requirements. To ensure that the centralized mailbox installation if entirely compliant, be sure to review the type of facility, location and space availability when making your selection of USPS approved 4C mailboxes and parcel lockers.

Common Pitfalls of not Following Regulations

Before your centralized mailbox installation can be put into service, a USPS Delivery Planning Manager will most likely inspect the installation before adding the Postal Lock. And, if your installation is in new construction, the local code inspector my look it over as well. By following the Postal, ADA and FHA regulations you are less likely to be required to modify your installation as replacing non-compliant mailboxes can be a hassle.

Avoid these top three common planning mistakes to reduce headache and hassle later:

• Ensure mailrooms are big enough for mailbox accessibility and turnaround requirements for both wheelchairs and package delivery carts.
• Confirm early in the process whether 5% or 100% of mailboxes must be ADA-compliant based on the type of property involved.
• Avoid assigning resident mailboxes sequentially which can create issues for the USPS in cases where flexibility is needed to allocate more accessible mailboxes.

Get Started with Florence Today

We know that architects and builders have a lot of codes to juggle and perhaps are not as familiar with U.S. Postal Service mailbox requirements and their intersection with ADA regulations and the FHA. At Florence Corporation, our team would be happy to assist with information and local experts starting with your initial planning clear through to your finished project. 

We also offer a robust line of 135 different pre-configured STD-4C mailbox modules that meet or exceed all security requirements of the USPS STD-4C regulation for front-loading wall-mounted mail receptacles. Our durable versatile 4C mailbox line was developed with a simple-to-use modular platform and contains a full ADA compliant suite of mailboxes to easily ensure your project remains fully compliant.

Check Florence’s centralized mail equipment product offerings or get in touch with your local Florence dealer to get started today.

The post Meeting Regulations for Centralized Mailbox Solutions first appeared on Florence Corporation.