Dear Chris,
In the light of your remarks on pages 39 and 40 (Clauses 6.18 to 6.20) of
your report, 'A very British mess', you might find these observations
interesting.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
Geelong, Australia
In Australia, the building industry chose millimetres as their small unit.
The actual statement in the pamphlet, �Metric Information � for Building and
Construction Workers� (October 1973), said:
�(1) Distances for transport will be measured in kilometres (km)
1�km = 1�000 m = about 5/8 mile
�(2) The centimetre will be used in the clothing industry. It is only 10
times 1�mm and to avoid confusion it will not be used in building.
�N.B. DON�T use a tape or rule marked in both millimetres and feet and
inches and never use one marked in centimetres�.
The words, 'will not be used in building', were printed in bold letters in
the original document.
With this one decision, the Metric Conversion Board removed the need for all
vulgar fractions (and all calculations involving vulgar fractions) and all
decimal fractions (and all calculations involving decimal fractions) on any
building site. I believe that this single decision was largely instrumental
in allowing the Australian building industry to make a smooth and relatively
rapid transition to metrication. In my own personal experience, for most
builders metrication was largely completed by 1976.
In the book, �Metrication in Australia�, Kevin Wilks says that (by 1982):
�Building regulations in all States had been metric for many years. All
plans and specifications, development applications, building materials and
promotional literature for project homes were metric, although a few project
builders, selling principally to retired people, saw some advantage in
giving imperial equivalents�.
In comparison, the clothing industry, which chose to use centimetres, is
still struggling with their metrication transition, even after more than 30
years.
I have worked extensively in both the Australian building and textile
industries and I have personally seen the dramatic differences between the
two metric conversion processes.
My conclusion is that the use of millimetres leads to a more rapid and
smooth conversion than does the use of centimetres.
**
Occupations and millimetres
In a recent study that I did on occupations in Australia, I noted that for
most job descriptions, millimetres were used as the basic small measure.
Here is my analysis of a list of occupations that I obtained from the
Australian Bureau of Statistics:
90 occupations � millimetre users
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics), Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
(Mechanical), Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures), Automotive
Electrician, Binder and Finisher, Blacksmith, Boat Builder and Repairer,
Bricklayer, Broadcast Transmitter Operator, Business Machine Mechanic,
Cabinetmaker, Cable Jointer, Carpenter, Carpenter and Joiner, Communications
Linesperson, Computing Support Technician, Dental Technician, Drainer,
Electrical Engineering Technician, Electrical Powerline Tradesperson,
Electrician (Special Class), Electronic Engineering Technician, Electronic
Equipment Tradesperson, Electronic Instrument Tradesperson (Special Class),
Electroplater, Engraver, Farrier, Fibrous Plasterer, Fitter, Flat Glass
Tradesperson, Floor Finisher, Furniture Finisher, Furniture Upholsterer,
Gasfitter, Gem Cuter and Polisher, General Communications Tradesperson,
General Electrician, General Electronic Instrument Tradesperson, General
Fabrication Engineering Tradesperson, General Mechanical Engineering
Tradesperson, General Plumber, Glass Blower, Graphic Pre-Press Tradesperson,
Greenkeeper, Gunsmith, Jeweller, Joiner, Leather Goods Maker, Lift Mechanic,
Locksmith, Mechanical Engineering Technician, Mechanical Services and
Airconditioning Plumber, Medical Grade Shoemaker, Metal Casting
Tradesperson, Metal Fabricator (Boilermaker), Metal Machinist (First Class),
Metal Polisher, Motor Mechanic, Optical Mechanic, Painter and Decorator,
Panel Beater, Patternmaker-Grader (Clothing), Piano maker, Piano Tune,
Precision Instrument Maker and Repairer, Pressure Welder, Printing
Machinist, Refrigeration and Airconditioning Mechanic, Roof Plumber, Roof
Slater and Tiler, Saw Maker and Repairer, Screen Printer, Small Offset
Printer, Sheetmetal Worker (First Class), Shipwright, Shoemaker, Signwriter,
Small Offset Printer, Solid Plasterer, Stonemason, Textile, Clothing or
Footwear Mechanic, Toolmaker, Upholsterers and Bedding Tradespersons,
Vehicle Body Maker, Vehicle Painter, Vehicle Trimmer, Wall and Floor Tiler,
Watch and Clock Maker and Repairer, Welder (First Class), Wood Tradesperson,
and Wood Turner.
10 occupations � centimetre and inches users
Apparel Cutter, Baker, Chef, Chef � Head Chef, Cook, Dressmaker, General
Clothing Tradesperson, Pastry Cook, Picture Framer, and Tailor.
7 occupations � centimetre, feet and inches users
Canvas Goods Maker, General Gardener, Head Gardener, Landscape Gardener,
Nurseryperson, Sail Maker, Tree Surgeon
7 occupations where length measures are relatively unimportant
Butcher, Buttermaker or Cheesemaker, Confectioner, Hairdresser, Smallgoods
Maker Supervisor, Hairdressers Supervisor, and Meat Tradespersons.
In summary
millimetres 90 occupations = 78.9 %
centimetres and inches 10 occupations = 8.8 %
centimetres, feet, and inches 7 occupations = 6.1 %
Few length measures 7 occupations = 6.1 %
Total 114 occupations = 100 %
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin LCAMS
Geelong, Australia
Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online newsletter, 'Metrication
matters'. You can subscribe by sending an email containing the words
subscribe Metrication matters to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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