[USMA:24878] RE: Definitions of US non-metric units FW: U.S. Customary Units

[Matthew Zotter]

2003 FEB 17 MON   I had asked NIST if there was a standard like FS 376B for non-metric, and the following is what they said:   -----Original Message----- From: NIST Laws and Metric Group [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 10:02 AM To: Matthew Zotter (by way of Inquiries <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>) (by way of OWM <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>) Cc: Bruce Barrow - NIST; Tom Coleman - NIST; Linda Crown - NIST Subject: Re: U.S. Customary Units   There is no Federal Standard for customary units because the use of those units reflect the measurements used in the marketplace.  There are some specific methods of sale for customary units in NIST Handbook 130 under the Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation and Methods of Sale of Commodities Regulations.   You will find them at http://www.nist.gov/owm   It is my understanding that Federal Standard 376-B was developed as a reference to assist the agencies in converting inch-pound declarations to metric units to comply with the Metric Conversion Act of 1975.  Typically the standards for use of measurement units in the Federal Government came from the different Federal Specifications and Contracts for the tens of thousands of different items of the government purchases.   From there I would think that the use of inch-pound units in those specifications were based on the units of measurement found in use by business and industry in the marketplace.   Typically state and federal laws require goods to be sold on the basis of the customary practice in the marketplace so most of what you see is based on the custom and usage regarding weights and measures.     If the methods of sale in NIST Handbook 130 are not any help give me some specific examples of what your working with we will try to help you.    Kenneth Butcher Group Leader Laws and Metric Group National Institute of Standards and Technology Weights and Measures Division 100 Bureau Drive Stop 2000 Gaithersburg, Maryland  20899-2000   [EMAIL PROTECTED]   PH: 301-975-4859 (Direct)   PH: 301-975-3690 (Group)   FAX:  301-948-1416   Internet:  http://www.nist.gov/metric ----- Original Message ----- From: Matthew Zotter (by way of Inquiries <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>) (by way of OWM <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>) To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 7:33 AM Subject: U.S. Customary Units   2003 JAN 30 THU   Dear Sir or Ma'am,   I understand that Federal Standard 376-B gives "Preferred Metric Units for General Use by the Federal Government", but what Federal Standard is there for the symbols and usage of U.S. Customary Units by the Federal Government (specifically for use in the U.S. Navy)?   Sincerely, Matthew Zotter SC, USA     -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Terry Simpson Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 5:45 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:24869] Definitions of US non-metric units   Can anybody give me an online reference that defines the non-metric units in the US?   There are many unofficial references online but I want the definitive US government source. I have seen some units defined in Federal Standard 376B but many are missing. Perhaps there is a root document that the standard is quoting.   -- Terry Simpson Human Factors Consultant [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.connected-systems.com Phone: +44 7850 511794