Some of the most enthusiastic members of this list are determined to use metric dimensions in building. As far as I can make out, they fall into two classes. One group wants to use metric numbers in conctructing an ifp builing. That would involve translating every ifp dimension into a longer metric number witb no change in the resulting building. The other group wants to construct a metric building when no metric-dimensioned components are available. That involves a lot of cutting and adjusting ifp components to fit a metric design. I discussed this analysis with a building constructor who builds only commercial structures. He agreed with my analysis. All his drawings are dimensioned in millimetres. In Canada metric components are avalable in bricks, cement blocks, re-bars, asphalt shingles, and ceramic tiles. Structural steel catalogs are dimensioned in millimtres. A lot of interior finishing is done with ifp components because the house building industry has not converted. Some Canadian metric components are being exported to the United States, presumably for the construction of federal government builings.
