Top 6 Things to Know About Community Mailboxes

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By Gina Stuelke, CEO of Kenton Brothers

Kenton Brothers has a long standing partnership with another Midwestern company in Manhattan, Kansas: Florence Corporation. Florence Corporation makes commercial postal boxes of all shapes and sizes. Selecting the right centralized mailbox model might feel like a drain when you’re trying to get a project done on time. Postal mailbox applications can be a process (and headache) for busy professionals. But a centralized mailbox system is a necessity that will be used by residents every day, so it’s important that design and construction professionals give it appropriate consideration to find the right solution for their customers.

Here are some guidelines to help you decide what type of centralized mailbox solution is needed for your project.

1. You’ll need to meet United States Postal Service (USPS) standards for mail delivery.

The USPS Sets Standards for Mail DeliveryThe USPS is responsible for establishing a method of delivery for all new residential developments. So it’s imperative to choose a USPS compliant mailbox system. The USPS has provided extensive guidelines for builders and developers when it comes to requirements for centralized mailbox selection and installation — it covers everything from safety codes to mail carrier accessibility.

Centralized mail delivery is required for any new residential and commercial development. While some residential communities still use curbside mailboxes, “centralized delivery is our preferred method of mail delivery,” according to the USPS. “Centralized delivery equipment improves delivery efficiency and provides space for large mail items, including packages, which is a great benefit for the customer.”

2. Think about how the model will fit into your design.

Centralized mailbox systems can be mounted on pedestals, in free-standing kiosks or installed in (or on) a wall. The different mailbox models offer developers design solution alternatives.

Residential developments have their own design standards and style. The mailbox system you choose should help to enhance that design aesthetic and keep that style consistent throughout the property.

3. Plan your mailbox installation before you choose equipment.

Florence Corporation MailboxesDetails can sometimes get overlooked, so plan the design and installation of your centralized mailbox system in a way that fits in with the community layout to provide convenient “flow” for residents, mail carriers and property management staff.

Mailboxes might not be the biggest priority on a developer’s checklist, but pre-construction planning for your centralized mailbox is a crucial step. If the mailbox units and installation plan don’t meet local requirements for mail delivery and safety or accessibility codes, this will create project delays and potential costs down the line.

NOTE: The USPS approves both STD-4C mailboxes and cluster box units (CBU) for multifamily communities and single-family neighborhoods using outdoor installations. The 4C mailbox systems offer more custom configuration and parcel locker options for developers and property owners if standard CBU mailboxes aren’t sufficient.

4. Is the space accessible to both mail carriers and residents?

Make sure there is a clear path for mail carriers and residents, and provide a walkway if necessary.  There should also be a five-foot diameter turn-around space in front of the mailboxes to meet accessibility requirements.

It is important to contact the local USPS office early in your project to discuss the location for the centralized mailbox systems for your new development. “Cluster boxes must be safely located so that customers are not required to travel an unreasonable distance to obtain their mail and so there is sufficient access to mailbox locations with adequate space for carriers to deliver and customers to retrieve the mail,” recommends the USPS. A centralized mailbox unit is usually within one block of residences.

5. Think about safety measures for resident packages.

Florence Corporation MailboxesKeeping all mail and packages secure (and protected from weather damage) is key.

The designer and developer will need to ensure that a mailbox system provides enough space for packages to be delivered for all residents. Alternate configurations using STD 4C mailboxes allow add-ons like parcel lockers that give designers more solutions for package delivery in a common mailroom when more package space is needed.

If an outdoor community mailroom is in the design, stand-alone Outdoor Parcel Lockers (OPL) matching the Cluster Box Units are an easy alternative to add more shared, secure package delivery space.

6. Think through how the mailbox units will be identified.

It’s highly recommended to use sequential numbering identification, as opposed to mailbox IDs that match residents’ apartment or house numbers. This gives property managers more flexibility for assigning mailbox compartments and gives residents more security and privacy.

Let Kenton Brothers’ mailbox specialists answer your questions and assist you in the process!

Call or email Kristal at 816-888- 5868 or email her at kristalb@kentonbrothers.com.

COVID Fighter – Opening Office Doors Without Using Your Hands

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By Ryan Kaullen, Field Services Manager at Kenton Brothers

You can’t turn on the TV, read a news article, or go anywhere without hearing about COVID. And rightfully so. COVID is causing uncertainty in our world, but one thing is certain… Kenton Brothers is working at the forefront to help our customers stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Wrist Pulls, Push Plates and Foot Pulls

COVID Fighter: Foot PullsRecently, we’ve been getting requests and calls for help related to door hardware. Our customers are asking, “How can we add safety features to keep our employees safe while keeping our doors/openings functional?” In response, we’ve been installing wrist pulls, push plates, and foot pulls at our customer sites to meet this growing need.

Wrist pulls, push plates, and foot pulls allow employees to go in and out of doors without using their hands. A perfect example of this type of project was the recent installation of 38 restroom doors on a multi-floor office building. We can keep the functionality of commercial doors intact, maintaining a clean and professional appearance, while increasing the health safety for the staff.

Want to know more about COVID Fighter solutions?

Is your company looking for ways to offer hands free solutions to openings at your facility? We would love the opportunity to show you our full line of COVID Fighter offerings. These include hands-free mechanical locking hardware, touchless Commercial Access Control, and Commercial Video Temperature Monitoring solutions. Give us a call!

COVID Fighter: Hands Free Mechanical Locking Hardware COVID Fighter: Hands Free Mechanical Locking Hardware

COVID-19 Technology Update: Kenton Brother’s Thermal Imaging All-in-One Mobile Cart

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To help you meet the increasing demand for thermal-sensing technology, Kenton Brothers is proud to introduce the Thermal Imaging All-in-One Mobile Cart Kit.

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COVID-19 Fighter Security Solutions – Avigilon Mask Detection

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Avigilon’s face mask detection technology can determine if a person appears on camera without face protection… and alert your team.

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Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication are no joke.

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By Neal Bellamy, IT Director at Kenton Brothers

If you’ve been following us for any length of time, you know that Kenton Brothers is all about your physical security. Today, I’d like to talk a little about a different kind of security… your digital security.

Strong Passwords

Over the past decade you should have got the message to use strong passwords. (Probably too many reminders… but are you still using the same, easy to remember password for all your accounts?)

Passwords like “JackAndJill” and “123456” are fairly easy to hack with brute force methods. Also, as more and more data breaches occur, hackers gets access to lists of usernames and passwords. So even if you did come up with the “un-hackable” password and it got leaked, it’s now compromised.

Is your password on a list somewhere?

Kenton Brothers: Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor AuthenticationDid you know there is a website that can show you how many times your password has been recorded in data breaches? The website is haveibeenpwned.com. You can go there to see if your email or password has shown up on hacked lists. By the way, there is no such thing as an unhackable password. Given enough time, with enough resources, any password can be cracked. It seems pretty dire, doesn’t it? However, there are even better ways to protect yourself.

Passphrases

One way to help protect yourself is to use stronger passwords. Better yet, use passphrases. A passphrase is generally longer than a password, which makes it harder to guess, but easier for you to remember. Think of phrases that you use around your family and work-family and use those phrases as passwords.

For example, my family is pretty sarcastic. So when talking to my daughters about getting asked out on a date, my suggested response for them is “HaHaHaYouInsignificantFool”. Throw in a couple of numbers and special characters and you’ve got an easy to remember, secure password. Just remember… not only is it important to have strong passwords, but you’ve got to change them somewhat frequently.

Password Managers: A Unique Password for Every Website

Another way to protect yourself is to use a unique password for each system or website that you use. Unfortunately, this strategy is harder to implement than it seems. I probably have 100+ unique systems and websites that I would need to remember the unique password for. My brain just doesn’t have that kind of storage. That’s where password managers come into play.

A password manager can remember the passwords for you. You just have to remember the master password for the password manager software. There are lots of options out there. Just Google “password manager” to get started. Some of the most common are LastPass, Roboform and Dashlane.

Password managers can be a little cumbersome, like when I’m browsing from my phone rather than my laptop. However, for important accounts with stored credit cards or other personal information, it’s worth the minor inconvenience.

So far, we have just been talking about passwords. An inherent weakness of a password, besides a weak password, is that they’re a single “key” you need to know to gain access to an account. Even better than a strong, unique password is to pair that password with another form of authentication.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Kenton Brothers: Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor AuthenticationA lot of websites, including Facebook, Google, and Office365, allow Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Multi-Factor Authentication makes sure you are who you say you are by asking for an additional “key” in tandem with your password. MFA can be PIN texted to your phone, an app on your phone that has a PIN that changes every 30 seconds, or a notification on your phone that verifies asks you to confirm you’re trying to log into your account. MFA is easier to use, easier to set up, and more secure than a solitary password.

MFA can be required every time you log in, or only when you’re logging in from a new device. When you log into a site or service, you’re asked for your username and password, but then you’re asked for your second form of authentication. After your MFA is confirmed, you can use the site or service as normal. Since your phone is often the method that your MFA uses, a hacker would need to have your password and your phone to gain access to your account.

Next time you’re given the chance to provide your cell phone number for Multi-Factor Authentication, I recommend you do so! It’s easy to set up and easier to use than a password manager. It’s also more secure than using just a password. For a website that has personal information, but doesn’t have MFA, please make sure your password is unique and strong! This will go a long way towards avoiding the pain of identity theft or other challenging situations if someone were to get into your account.