System and method for processing mail

A mail processing system comprising:

• an environmentally isolated mail processing facility;
• at least three separate rooms located in the facility, each room comprising a negative pressure zones which is negative with respect to a positive pressure zone located external to the facility;
• a dedicated global ventilation system coupled to the plurality of separate rooms;
• an in-bound mail room located in the facility comprising an in-bound mail room pressure zone, the in-bound mail room provided to receive mail from outside the facility, wherein the in-bound mail room pressure zone is negative with respect to the positive pressure zone external to the facility;
• a mail sorting room connected to the in-bound mail room and comprising a mail sorting room pressure zone, the mail sorting room provided to sort and inspect mail, wherein the mail sorting room pressure zone is negative with respect to the in-bound room pressure zone;
• a clean mail room connected to the mail sorting room and comprising a clean mail room pressure zone, the clean mail room provided to temporarily store mail that has been inspected and is ready to leave the facility, wherein the clean mail room pressure zone is positive with respect to the mail sorting room pressure zone whereby the in-bound mail room pressure zone, the mail sorting room pressure zone, and the clean mail room pressure zone result in air within the facility or entering the facility to flow into the mail sorting room;
• and
• a mail threat response system capable of physically isolating the facility in response to a mail threat being detected.

A mail processing system comprising:

• an environmentally isolated mail processing facility;
• at least three separate rooms located in the facility, each room comprising a negative pressure zones which is negative with respect to a positive pressure zone existing external to the facility;
• a dedicated global ventilation system coupled to the plurality of separate rooms:
• an in-bound mail room located in the facility comprising an in-bound mail room pressure zone, the in-bound mail room provided to receive mail from outside the facility, wherein the in-bound mail room pressure zone is negative with respect to the positive pressure zone external to the facility;
• a mail sorting room connected to the in-bound mail room and comprising a mail sorting room pressure zone, the mail sorting comprising a plurality of mail sorting and inspection equipment for sorting and inspecting the mail, wherein the mail sorting room pressure zone is negative with respect to the in-bound room pressure zone;
• a localized ventilation system coupled to the mail sorting and inspection equipment, the localized ventilation system comprising a mail threat detection module used to detect mail threats in the mail being sorted and inspected;
• a clean mail room connected to the mail sorting room and comprising a clean mail room pressure zone, the clean mail area provided to temporarily store mail that has been inspected and is ready to leave the facility, wherein the clean mail room pressure zone is positive with respect to the mail sorting room pressure zone, whereby the in-bound mail room pressure zone, the mail sorting room pressure zone, and the clean mail room pressure zone result in air within the facility or entering the facility to flow into the mail sorting room;
• and
• a mail threat response system capable of physically isolating the facility in response to a mail threat being detected.

A method for processing mail comprising:

• providing an environmentally isolated mail processing facility comprising at least three separate rooms each comprising a negative pressure zone which is negative with respect to a positive pressure zone located external to the facility;
• receiving mail at an inbound mail room of the facility that comprises an inbound mail room pressure zone;
• inspecting and sorting the mail in a mail sorting room of the facility that is connected to the inbound mail room, comprises a mail sorting room pressure zone, and comprises a plurality of mail inspection equipment and mail sorting equipment, wherein the mail sorting room pressure zone is negative with respect to the inbound mail room pressure zone;
• ventilating and monitoring the mail inspection equipment and the mail sorting equipment to detect mail threats;
• storing mail in a clean mail room of the facility that is connected to the mail sorting room and comprises a clean mail room pressure zone that is positive with respect to the mail sorting room pressure zone;
• causing air within the facility or air that enters the facility to flow to the mail sorting room due to the pressure differentials in the inbound mail room pressure zone, the mail sorting room pressure zone, and the clean mail room pressure zone;
• and
• responding to a detected mail threat by physically isolating the facility.