kPa: Thanks for that. When did Otis convert? I remember going over an Otis design spec in Canada back in the early/mid 1980s, but it was all in obviously rounded USC with metric units added in parentheses. I was really referring to the in-car labels. On this project I was a consultant on in Toronto, back in the mid 1980s, I actually complained to the Otis rep who came to pick up his compliance certificate from our offices, and get his installation signed off, that the in-car labels were marked in imperial units, with metric units added on as an apparent afterthought (which the building inspector complained about), even though the metric values exceeded, but did not equate with, the specified elevator capacity (which is a required building code figure). That was when the rep told me that 'we have to add those metric numbers for you goddam Canadians', which I thought was rather rude, considering that we had just bought nearly a half-million dollars' worth of elevators from his company (I had the feeling that this rep was an American transplanted into Canada, and would really rather be back in the US).
But that would explain the label that Bill H saw in Edmonton. No complaints about Otis' current address though! John F-L ----- Original Message ----- From: Kilopascal To: j...@frewston.plus.com ; U.S. Metric Association Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 12:22 AM Subject: [USMA:50753] Re: metric in Canada John, Otis Elevator is a metric company and have been so for some time. They do all new designs and manufacturing in metric. They only use USC where it is critical on repairing older elevators. Just for your information, Otis' address is: Otis Elevator Co 11500 Metric Blvd Ste 285 Austin,TX 78758 http://linktown.kens5.com/biz/otis-elevator-co/austin/tx/78758/11719213 Schindler is Swiss and they are world-wide. I would assume like Otis, they use metric only. They are in the US too (I've seen mostly their escalators) but I don't know for how long. They, like Otis might only use USC when repairing an older unit. I would assume if Schindler is repairing an older Otis elevator in the US that would be where they would encounter USC. It would be their decision as to whether to replace inch with metric parts. http://www.schindler.com/group-index/group-kg-about.htm Founded in Switzerland in 1874, the Schindler Group now employs 43 000 staff worldwide and is one of the leading global manufacturers of elevators, escalators and moving walks, with a network of over 1000 branches spanning every continent. The parent company Schindler Holding Ltd. is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. [USMA:50753] Re: metric in Canada John Frewen-Lord Sun, 26 Jun 2011 13:41:31 -0700 As a British/Canadian, Bill, I would agree with most of what you say. Regarding the elevator, (and I used to work in the construction industry), most likely it was an American-made elevator (Otis? Schindler?), who added the kg figure (and incorrect symbol) as an afterthought to comply with Albertan law (licensing of elevators is a provincial responsibility). Regarding the use of the ˚ symbol but no C - well, isn't that what you see almost universally throughout the USA (only there it applies to F, not C)? When you think about it, omitting the C shows just how universal the use of Celsius has become, to the point that adding the C is considered superfluous. Just yesterday I talked to my daughter in Ontario (I presently am retired in the UK), and she was in her car, telling me that the outside temperature was '22 degrees, and cooler than it should be'. She has absolutely no idea of what a mile is, what a degree F is, or most other imperial measures (she was born after Canada's official switch to metric), which is pretty impressive considering Canada's rather large southern neighbour. The use of kPa to two decimal places is normal, especially when you consider the range involved - extreme low pressure is say 99 kPa, and extreme high pressure is say 102 kPa. With a range of around 3 kPa, two decimal places seems reasonable. The use of feet for ceiling likely did come from the same source as that given to airlines and pilots (likely Environment Canada). It is unusual though not to give a metre equivalent. I have always found Alberta, in spite of its 'untamed wild west image', to be actually more metric than most other parts of Canada. And you were in the Provincial capital, so you would see metric being very prominent. Yes, there are some incorrect usages, but I can live with that as long as, as you say, this is not resistance but simply the fact that the average person does not have a great understanding of what they may consider mere nuances in the use of metric units. Glad you liked the 'eh'! There is a story to that, and it goes back to the mid 1970s. A Canadian company, Red Rose Tea, won an award for its tea at a big international tea conference. It capitalized on this by making a series of TV ads, featuring various variations on the theme of British immigrants going 'home' for a visit and taking some Red Rose tea with them. Their parents would try the tea, and liked it so much that they wondered whether it was available in the UK. "Sorry mum, it's only available in Canada!" "Only in Canada, eh? Pity!" That last phrase has endured, even though the ads have long gone. John F-L ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Hooper To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2011 7:28 PM Subject: [USMA:50752] metric in Canada I just came back from a trip to Canada; Edmonton, Alberta to be exact. I came across a few metric items that some of you may find interesting. I have found, on earlier trips as well as this one, that Canada is very metric and that the people are quite comfortable with it and use it. The following examples are the exception rather than the rule. They show a misunderstanding of some SI details more than to any resistance to metric measures. Weather forecasts on TV were consistently and properly metric, with just a couple exceptions. Air pressure was given in kilopascals using the correct symbol (kPa). The values were given to five digits, however, and I wonder whether that is beyonf the usefulness of the measurement to most people. (Values like 101.56 kPa.) Temperatures were consistently in Celsius although often, when a series or set of temperatures were shown, the unit symbol was omitted in part or in its entirety. When this was the case, there was always at least one main temperature that had the unit correctly shown, then the others were listed as pure numbers with no unit, or with the degrees symbol ( ˚ ) but no "C" for Celsius. Surprisingly, amidst all this nice metric stuff, the so-called "ceiling" was consistently reported in FEET! I know the airline people continue to use feet for the ceiling, but it seems to be that, for the general public the TV stations could omit it entirely, or, if given, could give it in units with which the general public is quite comfortable. Meat was sold by the kilogram but I often saw signs that gave the price as "... per Kg", rather than the correct "kg". Official highway signs seemed to be consistently proper metric, especially the permanent ones. However, some temporary signs (e.g. road construction signs) use the wrong symbol for metres, "500 M" instead of "500 m". One of the most curious examples, I thought, was in an elevator of a high rise building. The capacity was listed as "2500 LBS or 1134 KG". Clearly, the kilogram symbol should have been "kg", not "KG". In this case they could not use the lame (but nevertheless incorrect) excuse that "our equipment could only print capital letters" because the word "or" between the two values was clearly in lower case. On top of that, the kilogram value of 1134 was clearly a misapplication of the conversion from 2500 pounds. Surely the capacity of an elevator need not be stated precisely to four digits. The 2500 lb figure was probably just a round number, perhaps just stated to the nearest 100 lbs, so the value could probably have been reasonably rounded to 1200 kg. (of course local laws need to be considered and they might require rounding to a different value, but nonetheless one with only two significant digits would be more reasonable.) Generally, I think Canada gets an A, eh? Regards, Bill Hooper Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA ========================== Make It Simple; Make It Metric! ==========================
