Masonry Magazine December 1992 Page. 16
Preparing for Metric
It's time to give serious consideration to your firm's conversion to metric measurement. There is a cost to conversion-both in time and money-but advance planning can make it easier.
Management and Training
HOW SHOULD construction and design firms, product manufacturers, code officials, and others in the construction industry prepare for metric? The American National Metric Council and the U.S. Metric Association recommend the following management and training measures, which apply to organizations large and small.
Provide top level commitment
Top level management must provide a firm commitment to metric. This includes: announcing a formal metric policy, forming a metric committee, and appointing a metric coordinator to chair the committee and act as the organization's metric representative.
Set milestones Establish a realistic, organization-wide metrication schedule with milestones and a completion date.
Collect information-Begin a metric reference library. Refer to a complete list of metric construction references in the Metric Guide to Federal Construction.
Develop training objectives-Write carefully worded, measurable training objectives with the goal of "enabling employees to perform their jobs with the same or greater degree of efficiency using metric."
Define the learner population-Determine who needs to know metric and to what extent they need to know it. Some employees may require an in-depth working knowledge of metric whereas others may never need to know it all. Most probably will need to know only a few metric units.
Determine training needs-There are three kinds or levels of training: metric awareness training to help all employees overcome fear and resistance to change, management training to educate the people responsible for the transition to metric, and implementation training to teach specific metric skills to specific employees.
Train at the right time-Training should take place just prior to when an employee will use the new knowledge on the job; earlier training is ineffective.
Train only as needed-Train only as necessary to meet the goal of "enabling employees to perform their jobs with the same or greater degree of efficiency using metric." Training is not a panacea, and massive training programs are wasteful. Often, training can be performed completely on-the-job.
Train people to "think" metric-Link metric measurements to familiar objects. Avoid converting to inch-pound units as much as possible. For linear measurements use dual unit tape measures.
Monitor the metrication program-Make sure training matches the organization's metric transition schedule. If something changes, adjust either the training or the schedule.
Don't hide costs There is a cost to metric conversion, both in time and money. Plan for it in advance, and monitor costs as transition takes place.
Metric Resources
Dual unit tape measures-The use of dual unit tape measures is considered one of the best ways to learn metric on the job because they provide a quick and easy means of "visualizing" linear dimensions in metric. Stanley Tools, Lufkin, U.S. Tape, Starrett Tools, and others make dual unit tape measures. Check larger hardware stores or call Stanley Tools at 1-800-262-2161, Lufkin at 912-362-7511, or U.S. tape at 703-256-1500.
Metric drawing scales Metric architect and engineer scales are available from graphic arts supply stores. Popular models are the Staedtler-Mars 987-18-1, Alvin 117 PM, and Charvoz 30-1261.
Metric guides-Two metric guides are available from the Publications Department, National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), 1201 L. St., N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005; phone 202-289-7800 (bulk orders are available at a discount): Metric Guide for Federal Construction (34 pg. $15). Written specifically for the construction industry and reviewed by metric experts throughout the country. Includes a background on the federal metric laws, facts on metric in construction, an introduction to metric units, a primer on metric usage for architects, engineers, and the trades, requirements for metric drawings and specifications, guidance on metric management and training, and a listing of current metric construction references.
GSA Metric Design Guide, second draft edition (78 pg loose-leaf, $8, $5
Drawing Scales
METRIC SCALES are true ratios and are the same for both architectural and engineering drawings. Preferred scales are:
1:1 Same as full size
1:5 Close to 3"1-0"
1:10 Between 1"1-0" and 132" -1-0
1:20 Between "1-0" and 4- 1'-0"
1:50 Close to 14" 1'-0"
1:100 Close to "1-0"
1:200 Close to Vis" 1-0"
1:500 Close to 1" 40′-0"
1:1000 Close to 1"80-0"
16 MASONRY-NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, 1992