Magnets in the Mail: The Ins and Outs of Transportation and Returns
Magnets in the Mail: The Ins and Outs of Transportation and Returns
We’ve all received wedding invites or Christmas photos with magnetic backings to attach to our refrigerators. While these magnets can be easily mailed in an envelope without much risk involved, more powerful magnets can do a lot of damage if improperly mailed.
Best Practices for Transporting Magnets
In order to reduce the magnetic field, package magnets so the poles alternate. In other words, if you have two bar magnets, arrange them so their north poles face opposite directions. As a bonus, this will cause the magnets to attract each other, which makes them easier to handle. To further reduce the magnetic field, use either a keeper bar or magnetic shielding, which is often a set of metal panels used to “absorb” the field. In many cases, it makes more sense to ship in a heavier package weighed down by proper packing material than it does to send in a larger container with enough size to capture the bulk of the magnetic field.
Shipping Magnets by Air
Regulations regarding the transportation of magnets by air are stringent. The reason: Should all the electronics on an airplane fail, the pilot will need to navigate by traditional compass. Powerful magnets can disrupt the compass reading, creating hazardous conditions for the pilot and crew. Before travelling through the sky, magnets need a magnetic material warning label on the address side of their packaging. In addition, a completed shipper’s declaration for dangerous goods must be finished in triplicate and attached to the outside of the mailpiece. For international mail, non-regulated magnets must have a magnetic field strength weaker than 2 milligauss from 7 feet away. For domestic mail, the standard is slightly different. Non-regulated magnets must have a magnetic field strength weaker than 5.25 milligauss from 15 feet away. Of course, these fields can be blunted with previously mentioned absorption techniques.
Shipping Magnets by Ground
The rules are much more relaxed for shipping magnets on the ground. As a courtesy, you should still practice good packing techniques so as not to disturb surrounding objects and packaging while in transit. In some cases, magnets can become stuck to truck walls, making it difficult for carriers to remove them. If the magnetic field is unconfined during transport, you’ll need to clearly label the package with “Surface Only” or “Surface Mail Only” and “Magnetic – Keep 7 Feet Away From Navigational Equipment.”
Returning Magnets in the Mail
When returning a magnet, it’s essential you pack it into its original packaging as similarly as when it was first sent to you. Many times folks will return magnets in boxes that are too small or pack the magnets in different material than it was sent in. The problem: Without taking the proper precautions, these magnets can do harm by popping out of their boxes or disrupting nearby goods that are also in transit. If the magnet is strong enough, it could even hurt people nearby.There’s even a chance the package could be sent back to you by the post office if it’s caught in a spot check with a gaussmeter.
