4C vs. Cluster Mailboxes: What’s the Difference?
Whether you own an apartment building, business complex, or similar arrangement with multiple renters, you’ll need to provide tenants with a way to receive mail. With so many people under one roof, it’s cost-prohibitive to provide individual freestanding or wall-mounted mailboxes. Fortunately, you can provide a central mailbox location for everyone, including the postal carrier! The two main devices are 4C and cluster mailboxes. What’s the difference between them?
What Are 4C Mailboxes?
The United States Postal Service has a lot to say about mailbox design. Case in point: STD-4C horizontal mailboxes. The STD refers to Standard, meaning the design follows the rules and regulations set by the USPS. It dictates that landlords and other property owners who rent multi-tenanted properties provide a means for tenants to receive mail. Since 2006, the USPS has required the use of STD-4C mailboxes in all new construction of such properties. They are sturdier and more convenient than vertical mailboxes in older apartment buildings, allowing mail to lay flat and be reached from either side. A benefit of 4C mailboxes is they can be installed in a cabinet or wall.
What Are Cluster Mailboxes?
The name gives you a hint. Cluster mailboxes, also known as collection box units (CBUs), are a collection of individual mailboxes as well as freestanding units, usually on a pedestal. They can be stationed outside, where mail carriers can drop off the mail and tenants can retrieve it.
Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other
What are the differences between 4C and cluster mailboxes? Cluster mailboxes aren’t suitable for indoor installation or mounting. On the other hand, decorative cluster mailboxes allow for greater modification and customization. When you buy them from an established merchant, you’ll get mailboxes that meet United States Postal Service requirements. That’s the most important thing of all because your carrier won’t deliver to a mailbox that fails to meet USPS standards. Call your local post office for more information if you plan to install either or want advice on the best choice for your property.