Postcode Address File

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The Postcode Address File (PAF) is a data file available from Royal Mail.

Every house and business in the United Kingdom has been given a postal address by Royal Mail. This address is used as a routing instruction by Royal Mail staff to sort and deliver mail quickly and accurately. However, it is not always a geographically accurate description of where a property is located. [1]

The PAF is a complete collection of over 28 million Royal Mail postal addresses and UK postcodes. It is available in a variety of formats including Digital Audio Tape and compact disc. A charge is made for lookup services or wholesale supply of PAF data.

1 Structure of the file
2 Application
3 Alias data
4 Errors
5 External links

[edit] Structure of the file

Element	Field name	Max length
Organisation	Organisation Name	60
Organisation	Department Name	60
Premise	Sub Building Name	30
	Building Name	50
	Building Number	4
Thoroughfare	Dependent Thoroughfare Name	60
	Dependent Thoroughfare Descriptor	20
	Thoroughfare Name	60
	Thoroughfare Descriptor	20
Locality	Double Dependent Locality	35
	Dependent Locality	35
	Post Town	30
Postcode	Postcode	7
PO Box	PO Box	6

[edit] Application

[edit] Alias data

The Alias File is a supplementary file containing additional data, including details that have changed over time, or have been slightly amended by the public, and then used. This file is used to identify these elements and cross-reference with the official postal address.

The Alias File holds four types of record: Locality, Thoroughfare, Delivery Point Alias, and County Alias:

The Locality record - holds short forms, local names, and 'postally-not-required' (PNRL) details.
The Thoroughfare record - contains replacement street and road names for a given locality, thoroughfare or dependent thoroughfare combination.
The Delivery Point Alias record - holds additional information at given addresses, such as trading names and building names.
The County record - holds traditional, administrative and postal county information.

Royal Mail, in their guide to the data products (PAF Digest, p12) imply that the county alias information was provided when Royal Mail removed the former postal county from the main file.

[edit] Errors

Royal Mail acknowledges that the PAF contains errors, and publishes forms for submitting error reports. A very small number of addresses are not listed correctly, and others (especially new developments) may not be listed at all for a period of time.

[edit] External links

PAF from Royal Mail
Why, What and How. The guide to using the PAF file - A document that explains the PAF file in some detail.
Alias File from Royal Mail

v • d • e Postal system of the United Kingdom

UK postcodes and postal units	Postal county · Post town · List of post towns · London postal district · List of postcode areas · List of postcode districts · Postcode Address File · Mailsort

Organisations and philately	Royal Mail · Post Office · British Forces Post Office · Parcelforce · Postage stamps and postal history

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