What does the phrase "Imperial fasteners" mean? Whitworth thread? The scariest part is the word "some" ahead of that phrase. For service reasons, it would be reasonable to insist on either all metric or all unified thread. Similarly, all parts which are expected to be service parts. A mix of those creates risk over the life of the reactor. If I were the regulator, I would be EXTREMELY skeptical of that (and a complete PITA towards Westinghouse). It just seems silly to import rebar from the US because the designers don't know how to work in metric. Perhaps they should have allowed the French or the Canadians to quote. I would offer the regulator a quote from the auto industry: "You WILL or my NEXT supplier will." No copyright fee.
--- On Wed, 3/9/11, Pat Naughtin <[email protected]> wrote: From: Pat Naughtin <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:49980] Nuclear mismatch To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2011, 4:27 AM Dear All, I have to say that building a nuclear reactor partly in metric system units and partly using one or other collections of old pre-metric measuring words (UK, USC, and several others) does not fill me with confidence for the future of the reactor. See http://www.neimagazine.com/story.asp?sectioncode=132&storyCode=2059059 where they say: Also, Westinghouse and the regulator have not agreed fully on metrication. The AP1000 was designed in imperial units. Westinghouse proposes to make the reactor substantially metric, with certain defined exceptions, the regulator said. "This means that large parts of the design are metric, but some fixed elements and large components will remain in imperial units, including use of some imperial fasteners (nuts and bolts)." For this reason, and to deal with the difference between US and UK construction materials, Westinghouse has proposed to "import a significant amount of US materials, rebar, steel sections and bolts." The regulator responds: "We are not currently convinced with Westinghouse’s proposals." You will have noticed that they mention "Imperial units" as if "Imperial units" is the only collection of old measuring words available. They treat USC (United States Customary) and all the other possibilities as if they don't exist Pat Naughtin LCAMS Author of the ebook, Metrication Leaders Guide, see http://metricationmatters.com/MetricationLeadersGuideInfo.html Hear Pat speak at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lshRAPvPZY PO Box 305 Belmont 3216, Geelong, Australia Phone: 61 3 5241 2008 Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com for more metrication information, contact Pat at [email protected] or to get the free 'Metrication matters' newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter to subscribe.
