I recently spoke to a Canadian who was a seasonal construction worker. He said that more and more architects in Canada were drawing up the plans in metric, much to the chagrin of the builders who only worked in imperial. Not an efficient way to do things, but a step in the right direction. From what I've seen on a construction site, outside of a few exceptions (drywall sizes, stud spacings) houses could easily be built using metric specifications and metric only measuring tapes.
Metric Today, a few years back, had an article about a foreign-born architect who insisted on doing his design in metric, saying that he was 10-15% more efficient this way, as opposed to doing things in imperial. 10-15% efficiency gains are an easy sell in the corporate world. Remek On Sat, Mar 15, 2008 at 11:12 AM, STANLEY DOORE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Ernie et al: > > Going metric is best achieved within each industry such as your AIA. > The US automotive industry did it beginning in the late 1960s. Now all > autos built in the US and in the world are in metric. > > The media, like writer of the Chicago Tribune's Bob Green, > opposed metric and wrote against it like when he said it would be too costly > to garages since they needed to buy new metric tools. At the time, most > had metric tools to repair the huge number of imported (metric built) > cars. GM began designing it autos in metric late in the 1960s. > > The US fastener standards group reduced the number of bolt/thread > standards from more than 100 to 29. Simplification. 7-UP was the first to > standardize the 2 L soft drink bottle. They did it because it reduced > costs. The 7-UP slogan was "A liter bit more" for the same price as two > quarts. It worked since the public got more for its money. So that's what > industries must to in selling metric to the public - simplification and cost > reduction. Metrication is well under way in the US. > > Metric only labeling legislation is essential. > > The building industry has the problem of supplying English unit > products to repair old buildings and utilities within . Interfaces are > needed between the old and metric parts; this makes repairs confusing and > difficult. Until entire new houses are built to metric standards, the > problem will persist. All metric houses which are marketed as all > metric will be simpler for owners to understand and to maintain because > there won't be a mixture of units. > > Your goal should be to build all metric buildings. > > Stan Doore > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* ernie edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > *To:* U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Saturday, March 15, 2008 6:39 AM > *Subject:* [USMA:40578] Moving SI along - Let's discuss > > As I mentioned before in a previous email (Mar. 11th), I am an architect > who lived overseas in the 80's, where of course, metrics was the norm. > > To me, every single day that metrics is not the US standard is another day > we lose competitiveness and we are doing a disservice to the young people > who continue to learn as their first language... english measure... > > Right now, English is the world language, the US dollar (for a little > while longer) is the world's currency and SI is the world's measurement > tool..... > > To me, to get metrics totally accepted you have to get industry and > political buy in. Who knows if any of the current Presidential candidates > have had much exposure or interest in furthering the conversion? (maybe > Obama because of where he has lived outside the country) I'm not trying to > promote one candidate over another, just trying to point out that, ....why > isn't the US complete conversion to metrics one of the discussion issues for > the current election cycle, especially the economic benefits of > conversion.... > > So, what I am trying to do... > 1. Trying to resurrect the American Institute of Architects (AIA) support > of SI > 2. Trying to build bridges (excuse the pun) with related "building" > professional groups .... NSPE and AGC > 3. Trying to get my federally elected officials to be aware of the > benefits of total conversion (I live in MA) > > So, what I am suggesting and hoping.... > 1. Suggesting we set as a goal of 10 years to complete conversion to SI > 2. Hoping any "building" professional and / or MA residents would be > interested in helping me on items 1-3 above. > 3. Hoping this email generates discussion > > Ernie Edwards, AIA [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >
