NATL INST. OF STAND & TECH R.I.C

N!ST

AlllOS Sb37b0 PUBLICATIONS

Nisr United States Department of Commerce

Technology Administration

National Institute of Standards and Technology

NtST Special Publication 814

1998 Edition

Interpretation of the SI

for the United States and

Federal Government

Metric Conversion Policy

Barry N. Taylor, Editor

QC

100

.U57

NO. 811

1998
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^Some elements at Boulder, CO.
NIST Special Publication 814

1998 Edition

Interpretation of the SI

for the United States and

Federal Government

Metric Conversion Policy

Barry N. Taylor, Editor

Physics Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001

(Supersedes NIST Special Publication 814, October 1991)

September 1998

U.S. Department of Commerce

William M. Daley, Secretary

Technology Administration

Gary R. Bachula, Acting Under Secretary for Technology

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Raymond G. Kammer, Director
National Institute of Standards U.S. Government Printing Office

and Technology Washington: 1 998

Special Publication 814

1998 Edition

(Supersedes NIST Special

Publication 814, October 1991)

Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol.

Spec. Publ. 814

1998 Ed.

29 pages (Sept. 1998)

CODEN: NSPUE2

For sale by the Superintendent of

Documents

U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, DC 20402
Introduction

The International System of Units, universally abbreviated SI (from the French Le Systeme International d'Unites), is

the modem metric system of measurement. Long the dominant system of measurement used in science, the SI is rapidly

becoming the dominant system used in international commerce.

The first edition of this National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication, NIST SP814, was

published in 1991 and replaced Letter Circular LCI 132 published in 1982 by NIST's predecessor, the National Bureau

of Standards (NBS). It reprinted the department of Commerce, NTST, Federal Register notice of December 20, 1990

entitled "Metric System of Measurement: Interpretation of the International System of Units for the United States"; the

Department of Commerce, Office of the Secretary, Federal Register notice of January 2, 1991 entitled "Metric

Conversion Policy for Federal agencies"; and Executive Order 12770 issued by the President of the United States on

July 25, 1991 entitled "Metric Usage in Federal Government Programs."

The first Federal Register notice restated the interpretation by the Department of Commerce of the International System

of Units for use in the United States that was last published by the Department in 1982; the second revised the Code

of Federal Regulations (CFR) to remove the voluntary aspect of the conversion to die metric system of measurement

for Federal agencies; and the Executive Order provided Presidential authority and direction for the use of the metric

system of measurement by Federal departments and agencies in their programs. The 1991 edition of NIST SP 814 also

included a diagram with accompanying text that showed graphically how the SI derived units with special names and

symbols were related to the seven SI base units.

Since the publication of NIST SP 814 in 1991, the international bodies that are responsible for the SI made some

changes to it. It therefore became necessary to set forth a new interpretation of the SI for the United States that reflected

those changes. This was done in a Department of Commerce, NIST, Federal Register notice of July 28, 1998, also

entitled "Metric System of Measurement: Interpretation of the International System of Units for the United States." Further, the changes made to the SI by the responsible international bodies altered the number of SI units with special names and symbols. It is therefore deemed appropriate to publish this 1998 edition of NIST SP 814 with the new

Federal Register notice of July 28, 1998 in place of the old notice of December 20, 1990, and a revised diagram and

accompanying text showing how the SI derived units with special names and symbols are related to the seven SI base

units. Further, to make the 1998 edition of NIST SP 814 more complete, the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, as amended in 1988, 1995, and 1996, is included. To reflect this additional information on U.S. Government metric policy,

the title of this Special Publication has been changed from Interpretation of the SI for the United States and Metric

Conversion Policy for Federal Agencies to Interpretation of the SI for the United States and Federal Government

Metric Conversion Policy.

Because of the importance of the SI to science, technology, and commerce, and because (i) NIST coordinates the

Federal Government policy on the conversion to the SI by Federal agencies and on the use of the SI by U.S. industry,

(ii) NIST provides official U.S. representation in the various international bodies established by the Meter Convention

that are now responsible for the SI, and (iii) the Secretary of Commerce has delegated his authority to interpret or modify the SI for use in the United States to the NIST Director, NIST provides for those who use the International

System many other sources of information on the SI in addition to NIST SP 814. These include NIST SP 81 1, Guide

for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), by Barry N. Taylor; and NIST SP 330, The International system

of Units (SI), Barry N. Taylor, Editor. This latter document is the United States version of the English translation of

the definitive international reference on the SI published in French by the International Bureau of Weights and

Measures (BIPM, Bureau International des Poids et Mesures).

NIST SP 81 1, NIST SP 330, the July 28, 1998 Federal Register notice, the "essentials" of the SI together with useful

background information, and links to the Web sites of other organizations involved with the SI (for example, the NIST

Metric Program and the BIPM itself), are all available on the Web site entided "NIST Reference on Constants, Units,

and Uncertainty" at URL http: //physics .nist.gov/cuu. Users of this NIST publication are encouraged to take advantage of these other sources of information on the SI.

[1]
RELATIONSHIPS OF THE SI DERIVED UNITS

WITH SPECIAL NAMES AND SYMBOLS AND THE SI BASE UNITS

SOLID LINES INDICATE MULTIPLICATION, BROKEN LINES INDICATE DIVISION

SI BASE UNITS

SI DERIVED UNITS WITHOUT SPECIAL NAMES AND SYMBOLS

SI DERIVED UNITS WITH SPECIAL NAMES AND SYMBOLS

kilogram

kg

MASS

EQUIVALENT

^ Pf^ESSURE^ STRESS

J

newton^^,,_^(kgm/s

N

FORCE

meter m

LENGTH

second

TIME

ampere

ELECTRIC CURRENT

kelvln K

THERMODYNAMIC TEMPERATURE

mole

mol

AMOUNT OF SUBSTANCE

candela

cd

LUMINOUS INTENSITY

LUMINOUS

FLUX

radian /^'~N(m/m=1)

PLANE ANGLE

steradian

^

SOLID ANGLE

[2]
The diagram at the left shows graphically how the 21 SI derived units with special names and symbols are related to the seven SI base units. In the first column, the symbols of the SI base units are shown in rectangles, with the name

of the unit shown toward the upper left of the rectangle and the name of the associated base quantity shown in italic type below the rectangle. In the third column the symbols of the SI derived units with special names and symbols are shown in solid circles, with the name of the unit shown toward the upper left of the circle, the name of the associated

derived quantity shown in italic type below the circle, and an expression for the derived unit in terms of other units

shown toward the upper right in parentheses. In the second column are shown those derived units without special names

and symbols that are used in the derivation of the derived units with special names and symbols [the cubic meter (m^)

excepted]. In the diagram, the derivation of each derived unit is indicated by arrows that bring in units in the numerator

(solid lines) and units in the denominator (broken lines), as appropriate.

Two SI derived units with special names and symbols, the radian, symbol rad, and the steradian, symbol sr (bottom

of the third column of the diagram), are shown without any connections to SI base units—either direct or through other

SI derived units. The reason is that in the SI, the quantities plane angle and solid angle are defined in such a way that

their dimension is one—they are so-called dimensionless quantities. This means that the coherent SI derived unit for

each of these quantities is the number one, symbol 1 . That is, because plane angle is expressed as the ratio of two

lengths, and solid angle as the ratio of an area and the square of a length, the SI derived unit for plane angle is m/m = 1

,

and the SI derived unit for solid angle is m^/m^ = 1. To aid understanding, the special name radian with symbol rad

is given to the number 1 for use in expressing values of plane angle; and the special name steradian with symbol sr

is given to the number 1 for use in expressing values of solid angle. However, one has the option of using or not using

these names and symbols in expressions for other SI derived units, as is convenient.

The unit "degree Celsius," which is equal in magnitude to the unit "kelvin," is used to express Celsius temperature t. In this case, "degree Celsius" is a special name used in place of "kelvin." This equality is indicated in the diagram by

the symbol K in parentheses toward the upper right of the °C circle. The equation below CELSIUS TEMPERATURE

relates Celsius temperature t to thermodynamic temperature T. An interval or difference of Celsius temperature can, however, be expressed in kelvins as well as in degrees Celsius.

[3]

Tuesday

July 28, 1998

Part II

Department of

Commerce

National Institute of Standards and

Technology

Metric System of Measurement:

Interpretation of the International System

of Units for the United States; Notice

[5]
40334 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 /Notices

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and

Technology

[Docket No. 980430113-8113-01]

Metric System of Measurement:

Interpretation of the International

System of Units for the United States

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards

and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice restates the

interpretation of the International

System of Units (SI) for the United

States by the Department of Commerce.

This interpretation was last published

by the Department of Commerce in the

Federal Register on December 20, 1990

(55 FR 52242-52245). Since the

publication of that notice, the

international bodies that are responsible

for the SI have made some changes to

it. It has therefore become necessary to

set forth a new interpretation of the SI

for the United States that reflects these

changes.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

information regarding the International

System of Units, contact Dr. Barry N.

Taylor, Building 225, Room B161,

National Institute of Standards and

Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-

0001, telephone number (301) 975-

4220. For information regarding the

Federal Government's efforts to coordinate the transition of the United

States to the International System of

Units, contact Mr. James B. McCracken,

Metric Program, Building 820, Room

306, National Institute of Standards and

Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-

0001, telephone number (301) 975-

3690, email: metric prg@nist.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

5164 of Public Law 100-418, the

Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness

Act of 1988, amended Public Law 94-

168, the Metric Conversion Act of 1975.

In particular, section 3 of the Metric

Conversion Act (codified as amended 15

U.S.C. 205b) reads as follows:

"Sec. 3. It is therefore the declared

policy of the United States

"(1) to designate the metric system of

measurement as the preferred system of

weights and measures for United States

trade and commerce;

"(2) to require that each Federal

agency, by a date certain and to the

extent economically feasible by the end

of the fiscal year 1992, use the metric

system of measurement in its procurements, grants, and other

business related activities, except to the

extent that such use is impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to United States firms,

such as when foreign competitors are producing competing products in nonmetric units;

"(3) to seek out ways to increase

understanding of the metric system of

measurement through educational

information and guidance and in

Government publications; and

"(4) to permit the continued use of

traditional systems of weights and

measures in nonbusiness activities." In the Metric Conversion Act of 1975,

the "metric system of measurement" is defined as the International System of

Units as established in 1960 by the

General Conference of Weights and

Measures (abbreviated CGPM after the

French Conference General des Poids et Mesures) and interpreted or modified

for the United States by the Secretary of

Commerce (15 U.S.C. 205c). The

Secretary has delegated this authority to the Director of the National Institute of

Standards and Technology. In implementation of this authority, tables

and associated text were published in

the Federal Register of December 20,

1990 (55 FR 52242-52245), setting forth

the interpretation for the United States

of the International System of Units

(abbreviated SI in all languages after the

French Systeme International d'Unites).

The CGPM is an intergovernmental

organization established by the Meter

Convention [Convention du Metre),

which was signed by the United States

and 16 other countries in Paris in 1875

(nearly 50 countries are now members

of the Convention). One of the

responsibilities of the CGPM is to ensure that the SI reflects the latest advances in science and technology.

Since the publication of the 1990

Federal Register notice, the CGPM has

made two significant changes to the SI. These are (1) the addition of four new

SI prefixes to form decimal multiples

and submultiples of SI units; and (2) the

elimination of the class of

supplementary units (the radian and the

steradian) as a separate class in the SI. Further, the International Committee for

Weights and Measures (abbreviated

CIPM after the French Comite

International des Poids et Mesures),

which comes under the authority of the

CGPM, has made some new

recommendations regarding units not

part of the SI that may be used with the

SI. It is therefore necessary to issue new

tables and associated text that reflect

these changes and which set forth a new

interpretation of the SI for the United

States. Thus this Federal Register notice

supersedes the previous interpretation

published in the Federal Register on December 20, 1990 (55 FR 52242-

52245).

Classes of SI Units

There are now only two classes of

units in the International System of

Units: base units and derived units. The

units of these two classes form a coherent set of units and are designated

by the name "SI units." Here, the term

coherent is used to mean a unit system

where all derived units are obtained

from the base units by the rules of

multiplication and division with no

numerical factor other than the number

1 ever occurring in the expressions for

the derived units in terms of the base

units. The SI also includes prefixes to form decimal multiples and

submultiples of SI units. Because units

formed with SI prefixes are not coherent

with SI units, the units so formed are designated by their complete name

"decimal multiples and submultiples of

SI units" in order to make a distinction

between them and the coherent set of SI

units proper. The SI units and their

decimal multiples and submultiples

together are often called "units of the

SL"

SI Base Units

The SI is founded on seven SI base

units for seven base quantities assumed

to be mutually independent. These units

and quantities are given in Table 1.

[6]
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 /Notices 40335

Table 1. SI base units

SI base unit

Base quantity Name Symbol

length meter m

mass' kilogram kg

time second s

electric current ampere A

thermodynamic temperature kelvin K

amount of substance mole mol

luminous intensity candela cd

'Weight" in common parlance is often used to mean mass.

SI Derived Units

Other quantities, called derived

quantities, are defined in terms of these seven base quantities through a system

of quantity equations. SI derived units

for these derived quantities are obtained

from this system of equations and the seven SI base units in a coherent

manner, which means, in keeping with

the above discussion of the term

coherent, that they are formed as

products of powers (both positive and

negative] of the SI base units

corresponding to the base quantities

concerned without numerical factors.

Table 2 gives some examples of SI

derived units.

Table 2. Examples of SI derived units

SI derived unit

Derived quantity Name Symbol

area square meter m

volume cubic meter m

speed, velocity meter per second m/s

acceleration meter per second squared m/s^ wave number reciprocal meter m-'

mass density (density) kilogram per cubic meter kg/m'

specific volume cubic meter per kilogram mVkg

current density ampere per square meter A/m^

magnetic field strength ampere per meter A/m

amount-of-substance concentration

(concentration) mole per cubic meter mol/m^

luminance candela per square meter cd/m^

mass fraction kilogram per kilogram, which may kg/kg - 1 he represented by the number 1

Quantities of Dimension 1 The last entry of Table 2, mass

fraction, is an example of certain

derived quantities that are defined as the ratio of two mutually comparable

quantities, that is, two quantities of the

same kind. Since the coherent SI derived unit of such a derived quantity

is the ratio of two identical SI units, that

unit may also be expressed by the

number one, symbol 1. Such quantities

are called quantities of dimension 1, or dimensionless quantities, and the SI

unit of all such quantities is the number

1. Examples of other derived quantities

of dimension 1, and thus with a coherent SI derived unit that may be

expressed by the number 1, are relative

permeability, dynamic friction factor,

refractive index, characteristic numbers

such as the Mach number, and numbers

that represent a count, such as a number

of molecules. However, the number 1 is generally not explicitly shown in the

expression for the value of a quantity of

dimension 1. For example, the value of

the refractive index of a given medium

is expressed as n = 1.51 rather than as n = 1.51 X 1. In a few cases a special

name and symbol are given to the

number 1 to aid understanding. The

radian, unit symbol rad, and steradian,

unit symbol sr, which are given in Table

3 and are discussed in connection with

Table 4, are two such examples.

SI Derived Units With Special Names

and Symbols

For ease of understanding and

convenience, 21 SI derived units have

been given special names and symbols.

These are listed in Table 3, where it should be noted that the last three units

of Table 3, the becquerel, unit symbol

Bq, the gray, unit symbol Gy, and the

sievert, unit symbol Sv, were

specifically introduced by the CGPM

with a view to safeguarding human

health.

[7]
40336 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 /Notices

Table 3. SI derived units with special names and symbols

SI derived unit

Derived quantity Special name Special symbol

Expression

in terms

of other

SI units

Expression

in terms of SI base

units

plane angle radian rad m • m"' - 1 solid angle steradian sr m • m — I frequency hertz Hz sforce newton N m • kg • s"^

pressure, stress pascal Pa N/m^ m"' • kg • s"^ energy, woric, quantity

of heat joule J N • m m^ • kg • s"^ power, radiant flux watt W J/s m^ • kg • s"'

electric charge.

quantity of electricity coulomb C s • A

electric potential difference.

electromotive force volt V W/A m* • kg • s"^ • A"'

capacitance farad F C/V m"^ • kg"' • s* • A^

electric resistance ohm ft V/A m • kg • s -A

electric conductance Siemens S A/V m"^ • kg"' • s^ • A^

magnetic flux weber Wb V-s m^ • kg • s"^ • A"'

magnetic flux density tesla T Wb/m^ kg • s"^ • A"'

inductance henry H Wb/A m^ • kg • s"^ • A"^

Celsius temperature' degree Celsius °C K

luminous flux lumen Im cd • sr m • m • cd - cd

illuminance lux Ix m • m • cd - m • cd

activity (of a

radionuclide) becquerel Bq S-' absorbed dose.

specific energy

(imparted), kerma gray Gy J/kg m^-s"^

dose equivalent, ambient

dose equivalent, directional

dose equivalent, personal

dose equivalent.

equivalent dose sievert Sv J/kg m^s-^

Degree Celsius

The derived unit in Table 3 with

special name degree Celsius and special

symbol °C deserves comment. Because

of the way temperature scales used to be

defined, it remains common practice to express a thermodynamic temperature,

symbol T, in terms of its difference from

the reference temperature To = 273.15 K,

the ice point. This temperature

difference is called Celsius temperature,

symbol t, and is defined by the quantity

equation t = T- To. The unit of Celsius

temperature is the degree Celsius,

symbol °C. The nimierical value of a Celsius temperature t expressed in

degrees Celsius is given by

—t T

= 273.15 . °C K

It follows from the definition of t that

the degree Celsius is equal in magnitude

to the kelvin, which in turn implies that

the numerical value of a given

temperature difference or temperature

interval whose value is expressed in the

unit degree Celsius (°C) is equal to the

numerical value of the same difference

or interval when its value is expressed

in the unit kelvin (K). Thus temperature

differences or temperature intervals may

be expressed in either the degree Celsius

or the kelvin using the same numerical

value. For example, the Celsius

temperature difference M and the

thermodynamic temperature difference

AT between the melting point of gallium

and the triple point of water may be

written as At = 29.7546 °C = AT =

29.7546 K. (Note that the centigrade

temperature scale is obsolete; the unit

name degree centigrade should no

longer be used.)

Use of SI Derived Units With Special

Names and Symbols

The special names and symbols of the

21 SI derived imits with special names

and symbols given in Table 3 may

themselves be included in the names

and symbols of other SI derived units.

This use is shown in Table 4. All of the

SI derived units in Table 4, like those

in Table 3, have been obtained from the

SI base units in the same coherent

manner discussed above.

[8]
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 /Notices 40337

Table 4. Examples of SI derived units whose names and symbols include SI derived units with special names and symbols

SI derived unit

Expression

Derived quantity Name Symbol in terms of

SI base units

dynamic viscosity pascal second Pa • s m"' • kg • s"' moment of force newton meter N • m

1 • —1 m • kg • s

surface tension newton per meter N/m kg • S-' angular velocity radian per second rad/s m • m"' • s"' - s"' angular acceleration radian per second squared rad/s^ m • m"' • -

heat flux density, irradiance watt per square meter W/m^ kg • S-'

heat capacity, entropy joule per kelvin J/K m^ • kg • s"^ • K"'

specific heat capacity, joule per kilogram

m' • s"^ • specific entropy kelvin J/(kg • K)

specific energy joule per kilogram J/kg m' • s'^

thermal conductivity watt per meter kelvin W/(m • K) m • kg • s"' • K"'

energy density joule per cubic meter J/m' m"' • kg • s"^

electric field strength volt per meter V/m m • kg • s"^ • A"'

electric charge density coulomb per cubic meter C/m' m"' • s • A

electric flux density coulomb per square meter C/m^ m~^ • s • A

permittivity farad per meter F/m m"'-kg"' -s*- A^

permeability henry per meter H/m m • kg • s"^ • A~^

molar energy joule per mole J/mol m^ • kg • s"^ • mol"'

molar entropy, molar

heat capacity joule per mole kelvin J/(mol • K) m^ • kg • s~^ • K"' • moP'

exposure (x and 7 rays) coulomb per kilogram C/kg kg-' • s • A

absorbed dose rate gray per second Gy/s m * s radiant intensity watt per steradian W/sr m* • m"* • kg • s"' - m^ • kg • s"' radiance watt per square

meter steradian W/(m^ • sr) m^ • m"' kg • s"' -kg-s"'

Radian and Steradian

As indicated in Table 3, the radian,

unit symbol rad, and steradian, unit

symbol sr, are the special names and

symbols for the derived units of plane

angle and solid angle, respectively.

These imits may be used or not in

expressions for derived units as is convenient in order to distinguish

between derived quantities that are not

of the same kind but are of the same

dimension (that is, derived quantities

whose units when expressed in SI base

units are the same). Table 4 includes

some examples of derived units that use

the radian and steradian.

SI Prefixes

Table 5 gives the 20 SI prefixes used

to form decimal multiples and

submultiples of SI units. It is important

to note that the kilogram is the only SI

unit with a prefix as part of its name and

symbol. Because multiple prefixes may

not be used, in the case of the kilogram

the prefix names of Table 5 are used

with the unit name "gram" and the

prefix symbols are used with the unit

symbol "g." With this exception, any SI

prefix may be used with any SI unit,

including the degree Celsius and its symbol °C.

[9]
40338 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 /Notices

Table 5. SI prefixes

Name Symbol Factor Name Svmhol

\ct^* _ /'in''*' Y 10"' u

lU " v'^ / z 10"^ well11 lU " ^lU ) AVCAaQ mil11 m

lu v'** / p micFO

10'^ - (loY tera T 10-' - (10')-' nano n

10' - (loY giga G 10"'^ - (10')"* pico P

10' - (loY mega M 10"" - (10')-' femto f

10' - (10')' kilo k 10"" - (10')"' atto a

10^ hecto h 10"" - (10')-' zepto z

10' deka da 10"" - (10')-' yocto y

Because the SI prefixes strictly

represent powers of 10, it is inappropriate to use them to represent

powers of 2. Thus 1 kbit = 103 bit =

1000 bit and not 2'^° = 1024 bit, where

1 kbit is one kilobit.

Units Outside the SI

Certain units are not part of the

International System of Units, that is, they are outside the SI, but are important and widely used. Consistent

with the recommendations of the CIPM,

the units in this category that are accepted for use in the United States

with the SI are given in Tables 6 and 7.

Table 6. Units outside the SI that are accepted for use with the SI

Name Symbol Value in SI units

minute

| min 1 min - 60s

hour r time h Ih - 60 min - 3600 s day J d Id - 24h-86400s

degree 1

o 1° - ('ir/180)rad

minute r plane angle f r - (l/60)''-('ir/10 800) rad

second J

H 1" - (l/60)'-('ir/648000)rad

liter L IL - Idm'-lO-'m'

metric ton t It - 10' kg

neper Np INp - 1

bel B 1 B - (1/2) In 10 Np'

' Although the neper is coherent with SI units and is accepted by the CIPM, it has not been adopted by the CGPM and is thus not an SI unit

Liter and Metric Ton

The units liter and metric ton in Table

6 deserve comment. The liter and its symbol 1 were adopted by the CIPM in

1879. The alternative symbol for the

liter, L, was adopted by the CGPM in

1979 in order to avoid the risk of

confusion between the letter 1 and the

number 1. Thus, although both 1 and L

are internationally accepted symbols for

the liter, to avoid this risk the preferred

symbol for use in the United States is L. Neither a lowercase script letter 1 nor an

uppercase script letter 1 are approved

symbols for the liter. With regard to the

metric ton, this is the name to be used

in the United States for the unit with

symbol t and defined according to 1 1 =

10^ kg. (The name "metric ton" is also

used in some other English speaking

countries, but the name "tonne" is used

in many countries.)

[10]
Federal Register/ Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 /Notices 40339

Table 7. Units outside the SI that are accepted for use with the SI, but whose values in SI units are obtained experimentall>'

Name Symbol Value in SI units'

electronvolt^ eV 1 eV- 1.602 177 33(49) X 10"" J

unified atomic mass unit"^ u 1 u =• 1.660 540 2(10) X 10"" kg

astronomical unit"* ua 1 ua - 1.495 978 70(30) X 10 " m

' The combined standard uncertainty (that is, estimated standard deviation) of the last two figures is shown in parentheses.

^ The electronvolt is the kinetic energy acquired by an electron in passing through a potential difference of 1 V in vacuum.

^ The unified atomic mass unit is equal to 1/12 of the mass of an unbound atom of the nuclide '^C at rest and in its ground

state.

"* The astronomical unit is a unit of length approximately equal to the mean Earth -Sun distance. Its value is such

that, when used to describe the motion of bodies in the solar system, the heliocentric gravitation constant is

(0.017 207 098 95)^ ua^ • d'^

Other Units Outside the SI

Other units outside the SI that are currently accepted for use with the SI in

the United States are given in Table 8. These units, which are subject to future

review by the NIST Director on behalf

of the Secretary of Commerce, should be

defined in relation to the SI in every

document in which they are used; their

continued use is not encouraged. The

CIPM currently accepts the use of all of

the units given in Table 8 with the SI except for the curie, roentgen, rad, and

rem. Because of the continued wide use

of these units in the United States,

especially in regulatory documents

dealing with health and safety, this

interpretation of the SI for the United

States accepts their use with the SI. Nevertheless, use of the corresponding

SI units is encouraged whenever

possible, with values given in terms of

the older units in parentheses if necessary.

Table 8. Other units outside the SI that are currently accepted for use with the SI, subject to future review

Name Symbol Value in SI units

nautical mile 1 nautical mile - 1852 m

knot 1 nautical mile per hour -

are' a 1 a - 1 dam^ - 10^ m^

hectare' ha 1 ha- 1 hm^- 10*m^

bar bar 1 bar-0.1 MPa-lOOkPa-

^gstrOm

eA 1 A-0.1 nm- 10"'° m

bam b lb - lOOfm^- lO'^m^

curie Ci 1 Ci- 3.7X10'° Bq

roentgen R 1 R- 2.58X10"'* C/kg

rad rad^ 1 rad - 1 cGy - 10"^ Gy

rem rem 1 rem - 1 cSv - 10"^ Sv

(1852/3600) m/s

1000hPa-10*Pa

' This unit and its symbol are used to express areas of land.

* When there is risk of confusion with the symbol for the radian, rd may be used as the symbol for rad.

Use of SI Prefixes With Units Outside

the SI

Some SI prefixes are used with some

of the units given in Tables 6, 7, and 8. For example, prefixes for both positive

and negative powers of ten are used

with the liter, the electronvolt, the

unified atomic mass unit, the bar, and

the barn. Prefixes for positive powers of

ten are used with the metric ton, and

prefixes for negative powers of ten are used with the neper and the bel,

although the bel is most commonly

used in the form of the decibel:

1 dB = 0.1 B.

Rules and Style Conventions

A number of rules and style

conventions have been adopted

internationally for the use of the SI to ensure that scientific and technical

communication is not hindered by

ambiguity. The most important of these

are as follows:

1. Unit symbols are printed in roman

(upright) type regardless of the type

used in the surrounding text.

2. Unit symbols are printed in lowercase letters except that:

(a) the symbol or the first letter of the

symbol is an upper-case letter when the

name of the unit is derived from the

name of a person; and

(b) the preferred symbol for the liter in the United States is L.

3. When the name of a unit is spelled

out, it is always written with a lowercase initial letter unless it begins a sentence.

4. Unit symbols are unaltered in the

plural.

5. Unit symbols are not followed by

a period unless at the end of a sentence.

6. Symbols for units formed from

other units by multiplication are indicated by means of a half-high (that

is, centered) dot or space.

[11]
40340 Federal Register /Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 /Notices

Example: N»m or N m

7. Symbols for units formed from

other units by division are indicated by

means of a solidus (oblique stroke,/), a horizontal line, or negative exponents.

Example: m/s, orm-s~^

However, to avoid ambiguity, the

solidus must not be repeated on the same line unless parentheses are used.

Examples:

m/s2 or m«s ~^ but not: m/s/

m»kg/(s3»A) or m»kg»s~3«A-' but

not: m»kg/s3/A

Negative exponents should be used in

complicated cases.

8. Prefix symbols are printed in roman

(upright) type regardless of the type

used in the surrounding text, and are attached to unit symbols vi^ithout a space between the prefix symbol and

the unit symbol. This last rule also

applies to prefix names attached to unit names.

Examples:

1 mL (one milliliter)

1 pm (one picometer)

1 GQ (one gigaohm)

1 THz (one terahertz)

9. The dgrouping formed by a prefix

symbol attached to a unit sybmbol

constitutes a new inseparable symbol

(forming a multiple or submultiple of

the unit concerned) which can be raised

to a positive or negative power and

which can be combined with other unit

symbols to form compound unit

symbols.

Examples:

2.3 cm3 = 2.3 (cm)3 = 2.3 (10-2 m)3

= 2.3x10-6 m3

1 cm-i = 1 (cm)-' = 1 (10-2m)-i

= 102 m-i

5000 M.s-1 = 5000 (ns)-i = 5000 (10-6s)-i = 5000x106 s-i = 5x109 s-i

Prefix names are also inseparable

form the unit names to which they are attached. Thus, for example, millimeter,

micropascal, and meganewton are single

words.

10. Compound prefix symbols, that is, prefix symbols formed by the

juxtaposition of two or more prefix

symbols, are not permitted. This rule

also applies to compound prefix names. Example: 1 nm (one nanometer) but not:

1 m|un (one millimicrometer)

11. An SI prefix symbol (and name)

cannot stand alone, but must always be

attached to a unit symbol (or name).

Example: 5xl06/m3 but not: 5M/m3

12. In the expression for the value of

a quantity, the unit symbol is placed

after the numerical value and a space is

left between the niunerical value and

the unit symbol. The only exceptions to

this rule are for the unit symbols for

degree, minute, and second for plane

angle: °,

', and ", respectively (see Table

6), in which case no space is left between the numerical value and the

unit symbol.

Example: a = 30''22'8"

This rule means that:

(a) The symbol °C for the degree

Celsius is preceded by a space when one

expresses the values of Celsius

temperatures.

Example: t = 30.2 °C but not: t = 30.2°C

orf = 30.2°C

(b) Even when the value of a quantity

is used in an adjectival sense, a space

is left between the numerical value and

the unit symbol. (This rule recognizes

that unit symbols are not like ordinary

words or abbreviations but are mathematical entities, and that the

value of a quantity should be expressed

in a way that is as independent of

language as possible.)

Examples:

aim end gauge but not: a 1-m end

gage

a 10 kQ. resistance but not: a 10-kQ

resistance

However, if there is any ambiguity,

the words should be rearranged

accordingly. For example, the statement

"the samples were placed in 22 mL

vials" should be replaced with the

statement "the samples were placed in

vials of volume 22 mL, " or "the

samples were placed in 22 vials of

volume 1 mL," whichever was meant.

Note: When unit names are spelled out as

is often the case in nontechnical writing, the

normal rules of English apply. Thus, for example, "a roll of 35-millimeter film" is acceptable.

Obsolete Units

As stated in the 1990 Federal Register

notice, metric units, symbols, and terms

that are not in accordance with the

foregoing interpretation are not accepted

for continued use in the United States

with the International System of Units.

Accordingly, the following units and

terms listed in the table of metric units

in section 2 of the Act of July 28, 1866

(15 U.S.C. 205) that legalized the metric

system of weights and measures in the

United States are not accepted for use in

the United States: myriameter

stere millier or tonneau

quintal

myriagram

kilo (for kilogram).

Additional Information on the SI

Additional information on the SI may

be found in NIST Special Publication

(SP) 811, Guide for the Use of the

International System of Units (SI), by

Barry N. Taylor. This publication is for

sale by the Superintendent of

Documents, but is also available online

(as will be this notice) at URL http://

physics.nist.gov/cuu. (Although the

1995 edition of SP 811 is the edition

currently available in print and online,

a new edition that fully reflects the

contents of this notice is under

preparation and will replace the 1995

edition.)

Although there is no formal comment

period, public comments are welcome

on a continuing basis. Comments should

be submitted to Dr. Barry N. Taylor at the above address.

Dated: June 19, 1998.

Robert E. Hebner,

Acting Deputy Director. [FR Doc. 98-16965 Filed 7-27-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-13-M

[12]
1 METRIC CONVERSION ACT

Public Law 94-168

December 23, 1975

As Amended by Public Laws

100-418, August 23, 1988

1 04-66, December 21 , 1 995

104-289, October 11, 1996

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress

Assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Metric Conversion Act of 1975".

Sec. 2. The Congress finds as follows:

(1) The United States was an original signatory party to the 1875 Treaty of the Meter (20

Stat. 709), which established the General Conference of Weights and Measures, the " International Committee of Weights and Measures and the International Bureau of

Weights and Measures.

(2) Although the use of metric measurement standards in the United States has been

authorized by law since 1866 (Act of July 28 1866; 14 Stat. 339), this Nation today is the

only industrially developed nation which has not established a national policy of

committing itself and taking steps to facilitate conversion to the metric system.

(3) World trade is increasingly geared towards the metric system of measurement.

(4) Industry in the United States is often at a competitive disadvantage when dealing in

international markets because of its nonstandard measurement system, and is

sometimes excluded when it is unable to deliver goods which are measured in metric

terms.

(5) The inherent simplicity of the metric system of measurement and standardization of

weights and measures has led to major cost savings in certain industries which have

converted to that system.

(6) The Federal Government has a responsibility to develop procedures and techniques

to assist industry, especially smaU business, as it voluntarily converts to the metric

system of measurement.

(7) The metric system of measurement can provide substantial advantages to the

Federal Government in its own operations.

Sec. 3. It is therefore the declared policy of the United States —

(1) to designate the metric system of measurement as the preferred system of weights and

measures for United States trade and commerce;

(2) to require that each Federal agency, by a date certain and to the extent economically

feasible by the end of the fiscal year 1992, use the metric system of measurement in its

procurements, grants, and other business-related activities, except to the extent that such

use is impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to United

[13]
2

States firms, such as when foreign competitors are producing competing products in

non-metric units;

(3) to seek out ways to increase understanding of the metric system of measurement

through educational information and guidance and in Government publications; and

(4) to permit the continued use of traditional systems of weights and measures in

nonbusiness activities.

Sec. 4. As used in this Act, the term-

(1) "Board" means the United States Metric Board, established under section 5 of this Act;

(2) "engineering standard" means a standard which prescribes (A) a concise set of

conditions and requirements that must be satisfied by a material, product, process,

procedure, convention, or test method; and (B) the physical, functional, performance

and/or conformance characteristics thereof;

(3) "international standard or recommendation" means an engineering standard or

recommendation which is (A) formulated and promulgated by an international

organization and (B) recommended for adoption by individual nations as a national

standard;

(4) "metric system of measurement" means the International System of Units as established

by the General Conference of Weights and Measures in 1960 and as interpreted or

modified for the United States by the Secretary of Commerce;

(5) "full and open competition" has the same meaning as defined in section 403(6) of title

41, United States Code;

(6) "total installed price" means the price of purchasing a product or material, trimming or

otherwise altering some or all of that product or material, if necessary to fit with other

building components, and then installing that product or material into a Federal facility;

(7) "hard-metric" means measurement, design, and manufacture using the metric system

of measurement, but does not include measurement, design, and manufacture using

English system measurement units which are subsequently reexpressed in the metric

system of measurement;

(8) "cost or pricing data or price analysis" has the meaning given such terms in section

304A of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 254b); and

(9) "Federal facility" means any public building (as defined under section 13 of the Public

Buildings Act of 1959 (40 U.S.C. 612) and shall include any Federal building or

construction project—

(A) on lands in the public domain;

(B) on lands used in connection with Federal programs for agriculture research,

recreation, and conservation programs;

(C) on or used in connection with river, harbor, flood control, reclamation, or power

projects;

(D) on or used in connection with housing and residential projects;

(E) on military installations (including any fort, camp, post, naval training station,

airfield, proving ground, military supply depot, military school, or any similar facility of

the Department of Defense);

[14]
3

(F) on installations of the Department of Veteran Affairs used for hospital or

domiciliary purposes; or

(G) on lands used in connection with Federal prisons, but does not include (i) any

Federal Building or construction project the exclusion of which the President deems to be

justified in the public interest, or (ii) any construction project or building owned or

controlled by a State government, local government, Indian tribe, or any private entity.

Sec. 5. (a) There is established, in accordance with this section, an independent

instrumentality to be known as a United States Metric Board,

(b) The Board shall consist of 17 individuals, as follows:

(1) the Chairman, a qualified individual who shall be appointed by the President, by

and with the advice and consent of the Senate;

(2) sixteen members who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice

and consent of the Senate, on the following basis-

(A) one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by engineers

and organizations representative of engineering interests;

(B) one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by scientists,

the scientific and technical community, and organizations representative of scientists

and technicians;

(C) one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals recommended by the

National Association of Manufacturers or its successor;

(D) one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by the

United States Chamber of Commerce, or its successor, retailers, and other commercial

organizations;

(E) two to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by the

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations or its

successor, who are representative of workers directly affected by metric conversion,

and by other organizations representing labor;

(F) one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals recommended by the

National Governors Conference, the National Council of State legislatures, and

organizations representative of State and local government;

(G) two to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by

organizations representative of small business;

(H) one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals representative of the

construction industry;

(I) one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals recommended by the

National Conference on Weights and Measures and standards making organizations;

(J) one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by educators,

the educational community, and organizations representative of educational interests;

and

(K) four at-large members to represent consumers and other interests deemed

suitable by the President and who shall be qualified individuals.

[15]
4

As used in this subsection, each "list" shall include the names of at least three individuals for

each applicable vacancy. The terms of office of the members of the Board first taking office

shall expire as designated by the President at the time of nomination; five at the end of the

2nd year; five at the end of the 4th year; and six at the end of the 6th year. The term of office

of the Chairman of such Board shall be 6 years. Members, including the Chairman, may be

appointed to an additional term of 6 years, in the same manner as the original appointment.

Successors to members of such Board shall be appointed in the same manner as the original

members and shall have terms of office expiring 6 years from the date of expiration of the

terms for which their predecessors were appointed. Any individual appointed to fill a

vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of any term of office shall be appointed for the

remainder of that term. Beginning 45 days after the date of incorporation of the Board, six

members of such Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any function of the

Board.

(c) Unless otherwise provided by the Congress, the Board shall have no compulsory

powers.

(d) The Board shall cease to exist when the Congress, by law, determines that its mission

has been accomplished.

Sec. 6. It shall be the function of the Board to devise and carry out a broad program of

planning, coordination, and public education, consistent with other national policy and

interests, with the aim of implementing the policy set forth in this Act. In carrying out this

program, the Board shall—

(1) consult with and take into account the interests, views, and conversion costs of United

States commerce and industry, including small business; science; engineering; labor;

education; consumers; government agencies at the Federal, State, and local level;

nationally recognized standards developing and coordinating organizations; metric

conversion planning and coordinating groups; and such other individuals or groups as are considered appropriate by the Board to the carrying out of the purposes of this Act.

The Board shall take into account activities underway in the private and public sectors, so

as not to duplicate unnecessarily such activities;

(2) provide for appropriate procedures whereby various groups, under the auspices of the

Board, may formulate, and recommend or suggest, to the Board specific programs for

coordinating conversion in each industry and segment thereof and specific dimensions

and configurations in the metric system and in other measurements for general use. Such

programs, dimensions, and configurations shall be consistent with (A) the needs, interests,

and capabilities of manufacturers (large and srnall), suppliers, labor, consumers, educators,

and other interested groups, and (B) the national interest;

(3) publicize, in an appropriate manner, proposed programs and provide an opportunity

for interested groups or individuals to submit comments on such programs. At the request

of interested parties, the Board, in its discretion, may hold hearings with regard to such

programs. Such comments and hearings may be considered by the Board;

(4) encourage activities of standardization organizations to develop or revise, as rapidly as

practicable, engineering standards on a metric measurement basis, and to take advantage

[16]
5

of opportunities to promote (A) rationalization or simplification of relationships, (B)

improvements of design, (C) reduction of size variations, (D) increases in economy, and

(E) where feasible, the efficient use of energy and the conservation of natural resources;

(5) encourage the retention, in new metric language standards, of those United States

engineering designs, practices, and conventions that are internationally accepted or that

embody superior technology;

(6) consult and cooperate with foreign governments, and intergovernmental

organizations, in collaboration with the Department of State, and, through appropriate

member bodies, with private international organizations, which are or become concerned

with the encouragement and coordination of increased use of metric measurement units

or engineering standards based on such units, or both. Such consultation shall include

efforts, where appropriate, to gain international recognition for metric standards proposed

by the United States, and, during the United States conversion, to encourage retention of

equivalent customary units, usually by way of dual dimensions, in international standards

or recommendations;

(7) assist the public through information and education programs, to become familiar with

the meaning and applicability of metric terms and measures in daily life. Such programs

shall include—

(A) public information programs conducted by the Board, through the use of

newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and other media, and through talks before

appropriate citizens' groups, and trade and public organizations;

(B) counseling and consultation by the Secretary of Education; the Secretary of Labor;

the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; and the Director of the

National Science Foundation, with educational associations. State and local educational

agencies, labor education committees, apprentice training committees, and other

interested groups, in order to assure (i) that the metric system of measurement is

included in the curriculum of the Nation's educational institutions, and (ii) that

teachers and other appropriate personnel are properly trained to teach the metric

system of measurement;

(C) consultation by the Secretary of Commerce with the National Conference of

Weights and Measures in order to assure that State and local weights and measures

officials are (i) appropriately involved in metric conversion activities and (ii) assisted in

their efforts to bring about timely amendments to weights and measures laws; and

(D) such other public information activities, by any Federal agency in support of this

Act, as relate to the mission of such agency;

(8) collect, analyze, and publish information about the extent of usage of metric

measurements; evaluate the costs and benefits of metric usage; and make efforts to

minimize any adverse effects resulting from increasing metric usage;

(9) conduct research, including appropriate surveys; publish the results of such research;

and recommend to the Congress and to the President such action as may be appropriate

to deal with any unresolved problems, issues, and questions associated with metric

conversion, or usage, such problems, issues, and questions may include, but are not

limited to, the impact on workers (such as costs of tools and training) and on different

[17]
6

occupations and industries, possible increased costs to consumers, the impact on society

and the economy, effects on small business, the impact on the international trade position

of the United States, the appropriateness of and methods for using procurement by the

Federal Government as a means to effect conversion to the metric system, the proper

conversion or transition period in particular sectors of society, and consequences for

national defense;

(10) submit annually to the Congress and to the President a report on its activities. Each

such report shall include a status report on the conversion process as well as projections

for the conversion process. Such report may include recommendations covering any

legislation or executive action needed to implement the programs of conversion accepted

by the Board. The Board may also submit such other reports and recommendations as it deems necessary; and

(11) submit to the Congress and to the President, not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of the Act making appropriations for carrying out this Act, a report on the need

to provide an effective structural mechanism for converting customary units to metric

units in statutes, regulations, and other laws at all levels of government, on a coordinated

and timely basis, in response to voluntary conversion programs adopted and

implemented by various sectors of society under the auspices and with the approval of

the Board. If the Board determines that such a need exists, such report shall include

recommendations as to appropriate and effective means for establishing and

implementing such a mechanism.

Sec. 7. In carrying out its duties under this Act, the Board may

(1) establish an Executive Committee, and such other committees as it deems desirable;

(2) establish such committees and advisory panels as it deems necessary to work with the

various sectors of the Nation's economy and with Federal and State governmental

agencies in the development and implementation of detailed conversion plans for those

sectors. The Board may reimburse, to the extent authorized by law, the members of such

committees;

(3) conduct hearings at such times and places as it deems appropriate;

(4) enter into contracts, in accordance with the Federal Property and Administrative

Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.), with Federal or State agencies,

private firms, institutions, and individuals for the conduct of research or surveys, the

preparation of reports, and other activities necessary to the discharge of its duties;

(5) delegate to the Executive Director such authority as it deems advisable; and

(6) perform such other acts as may be necessary to carry out the duties prescribed by this

Act.

Sec. 8. (a) The Board may accept, hold, administer, and utilize gifts, donations, and bequests

of property, both real and personal, and personal services, for the purpose of aiding or

facilitating the work of the Board. Gifts and bequests of money, and the proceeds from the

sale of any other property received as gifts or requests, shall be deposited in the Treasury in

a separate fund and shall be disbursed upon order of the Board.

[18]
7

(b) For purpose of Federal income, estate, and gift taxation, property accepted under

subsection (a) of this section shall be considered as a gift or bequest to or for the use of the

United States.

(c) Upon the request of the Board, the Secretary of the Treasury may invest and reinvest,

in securities of the United States, any moneys contained in the fund authorized in subsection

(a) of this section. Income accruing from such securities, and from any other property

accepted to the credit of such fund, shall be dispersed upon the order of the Board.

(d) Funds not expended by the Board as of the date when it ceases to exist, in accordance

with section 5(d) of this Act, shall revert to the Treasury of the United States as of such date.

Sec. 9. Members of the Board who are not in the regular full-time employ of the United

States shall, while attending meetings or conferences of the Board or while otherwise

engaged in the business of the Board, be entitled to receive compensation at a rate not to

exceed the daily rate currently being paid grade 18 of the General Schedule (under section

5332 of title 5), including travel time. While so serving, on the business of the Board away

from their homes or regular places of business, members of the Board may be allowed travel

expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5,

for persons employed intermittently in the Government service. Payments under this section

shall not render members of the Board employees or officials of the United States for any

purpose. Members of the Board who are in the employ of the United States shall be entitled

to travel expenses when traveling on the business of the Board.

Sec. 10. (a) The Board shall appoint a qualified individual to serve as the Executive Director

of the Board at the pleasure of the Board. The Executive Director, subject to the direction of

the Board, shall be responsible to the Board and shall carry out the metric conversion

program, pursuant to the provisions of this Act and the policies established by the Board.

(b) The Executive Director of the Board shall serve full time and be subject to the

provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5. The annual salary of the

Executive Director shall not exceed level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of

such title.

(c) The Board may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff personnel as may be

necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act in accordance with the provisions of chapter

51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5.

(d) The Board may (1) employ experts and consultants or organizations thereof, as authorized by section 3109 of title 5; (2) compensate individuals so employed at rates not in

excess of the rate currently being paid grade 18 of the General Schedule under section 5332

of such title, including travel-time; and (3) may allow such individuals, while away from their

homes or regular places of business, travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of

subsistence) as authorized by section 5703 of such title 5 for persons in the Government

service employed intermittently: Provided^ however That contracts for such temporary

employment may be renewed annually.

[19]
8

Sec. 11. Financial and administrative services, including those related to budgeting,

accounting, financial reporting, personnel, and procurement, and such other staff services as may be needed by the Board, may be obtained by the Board from the Secretary of Commerce

or other appropriate sources in the Federal Government. Payment for such services shall be

made by the Board, in advance or by reimbursement, from funds of the Board in such

amounts as may be agreed upon by the Chairman of the Board and by the source of the

services being rendered.

Sec. 12. DELETED

Sec. 13.(formerly Sec. 12) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be

necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Appropriations to carry out the provisions

of this Act may remain available for obligation and expenditure for such period or periods as may be specified in the Acts making such appropriations.

SEC. 14. (a) Construction services and materials for Federal facilities shall be procured in

accordance with the policies and procedures set forth in chapter 137 of title 10, United States

Code, section 2377 of title 10, United States Code, title III of the Federal Property and

Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.), and section 3(2) of this Act.

Determination of a design method shall be based upon preliminary market research as required under section 2377(c) of title 10, United States Code, and section 314B(c) of the

Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 264b(c)). If the

requirements of this Act conflict with the provisions of section 2377 of title 10, United States

Code, or section 314B of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, then

the provisions of 2377 or 314B shall take precedence.

(b) In carrjdng out the policy set forth in section 3 (with particular emphasis on the policy

set forth in paragraph (2) of that section) a Federal agency may require that specifications for

the acquisition of structures or systems of concrete masonry be expressed under the metric

system of measurement, but may not incorporate specifications, that can only be satisfied by

hard-metric versions of concrete masonry units, in a solicitation for design or construction of

a Federal facility within the United States or its territories, or a portion of said Federal facility,

unless the head of the agency determines in writing that—

(1) hard-metric specifications are necessary in a contract for the repair or replacement

of parts of Federal facilities in existence or under construction upon the effective date of

the Savings in Construction Act of 1996; or

(2) the following 2 criteria are met:

(A) the application requires hard-metric concrete masonry units to coordinate

dimensionally into 100 millimeter building modules; and

(B) the total installed price of hard-metric concrete masonry units is estimated to be

equal to or less than the total installed price of using non-hard-metric concrete

masonry units. Total installed price estimates shall be based, to the extent available, on

cost or pricing data or price analysis, using actual hard-metric and non-hard-metric

offers received for comparable existing projects. The head of the agency shall include

[20]
9

in the writing required in this subsection an explanation of the factors used to develop

the price estimates.

(c) In carrying out the policy set forth in section 3 (with particular emphasis on the policy

set forth in paragraph (2) of that section) a Federal agency may require that specifications for

the acquisition of structures or systems of recessed lighting fixtures be expressed under the

metric system of measurement, but may not incorporate specifications, that can only be

satisfied by hard-metric versions of recessed lighting fixtures, in a solicitation for design or

construction of a Federal facility within the United States or its territories unless the head of

the agency determines in writing that—

(1) the predominant voluntary industry consensus standards include the use of

hard-metric for the items specified; or

(2) hard-metric specifications are necessary in a contract for the repair or replacement of

parts of Federal facilities in existence or under construction upon the effective date of the

Savings in Construction Act of 1996; or

(3) the following 2 criteria are met:

(A) the application requires hard-metric recessed lighting fixtures to coordinate

dimensionally into 100 millimeter building modules; and

(B) the total installed price of hard-metric recessed lighting fixtures is estimated to be

equal to or less than the total installed price of using non-hard-metric recessed lighting

fixtures. Total installed price estimates shall be based, to the extent available, on cost or

pricing data or price analysis, using actual hard-metric and non-hard-metric offers

received for comparable existing projects. The head of the agency shall include in the

writing required in this subsection an explanation of the factors used to develop the price

estimates.

(d) The provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to Federal

contracts to acquire construction products for the construction of facilities outside of the

United States and its territories.

(e) The provisions contained in subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall expire 10 years

from the effective date of the Savings in Construction Act of 1996.

(f) (1) The head of each executive agency that awards construction contracts within the

United States and its territories shall designate a senior agency official to serve as a

construction metrication ombudsman who shall be responsible for reviewing and responding

to complaints from prospective bidders, subcontractors, suppliers, or their designated

representatives related to~

(A) guidance or regulations issued by the agency on the use of the metric system of

measurement in contracts for the construction of Federal buildings; and

(B) the use of the metric system of measurement for services and materials required for

incorporation in individual projects to construct Federal buildings. The construction

metrication ombudsman shall be independent of the contracting officer for construction

contracts.

(2) The ombudsman shall be responsible for ensuring that the agency is not implementing

the metric system of measurement in a manner that is impractical or is likely to cause

significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to United States firms in violation of the policy

[21]
10

stated in section 3(2), or is otherwise inconsistent with guidance issued by the Secretary of

Commerce in consultation with the Interagency Council on Metric Policy while ensuring

that the goals of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 are observed.

(3) The ombudsman shall respond to each complaint in writing within 60 days and make a

recommendation to the head of the executive agency for an appropriate resolution

thereto. In such a recommendation, the ombudsman shall consider—

(A) whether the agency is adequately applying the policies and procedures in this

section;

(B) whether the availability of hard-metric products and services from United States

firms is sufficient to ensure full and open competition; and

(C) the total installed price to the Federal Government.

(4) After the head of the agency has rendered a decision regarding a recommendation of

the ombudsman, the ombudsman shall be responsible for communicating the decision to

all appropriate policy, design, planning, procurement, and notifying personnel in the

agency. The ombudsman shall conduct appropriate monitoring as required to ensure the

decision is implemented, and may submit further recommendations, as needed. The head

of the agency's decision on the ombudsman's recommendations, and any supporting

documentation, shall be provided to affected parties and made available to the public in a

timely manner.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede the bid protest process

established under subchapter V of chapter 35 of title 31, United States Code.

[22]
Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 1991 / Presidential Documents 35301

Presidential Documents

Executive Order 12770 of July 25, 1991

Metric Usage in Federal Government Programs

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of

the United States of America, including the Metric Conversion Act of 1975,

Public Law 94-168 (15 U.S.C. 205a et seq.) ("the Metric Conversion Act"), as amended by section 5164 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of

1988, Public Law 100-418 ("the Trade and Competitiveness Act"), and in order

to implement the congressional designation of the metric system of measure- ment as the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade

and commerce, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Coordination by the Department of Commerce, (a) The Secretary of

Commerce ("Secretary") is designated to direct and coordinate efforts by

Federal departments and agencies to implement Government metric usage in

accordance with section 3 of the Metric Conversion Act (15 U.S.C. 205b), as amended by section 5164(b) of the Trade and Competitiveness Act.

(b) In furtherance of his duties under this order, the Secretary is authorized:

(1) to charter an Interagency Council on Metric Policy ("ICMP"), which will

assist the Secretary in coordinating Federal Government-wide implementation

of this order. Conflicts and questions regarding implementation of this order

shall be resolved by the ICMiP. The Secretary may establish such subcommittees and subchairs within this Council as may be necessary to carry out the

purposes of this order.

(2) to form such advisory committees representing other interests, including

State and local governments and the business community, as may be neces- sary to achieve the maximimi beneficial effects of this order; and

(3) to issue guidelines, to promulgate rules and regulations, and to take such

actions as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. Regulations promulgated by the Secretary shall function as policy guidelines for

other agencies and departments.

(c) The Secretary shall report to the President annually regarding the progress

made in implementing this order. The report shall include:

(1) an assessment of progress made by individual Federal agencies towards

implementing the purposes imderlying this order;

(2) an assessment of the effect that this order has had on achieving the

national goal of estabHshing the metric system as the preferred system of

weights and measures for United States trade and commerce; and

(3) on October 1, 1992, any recommendations which the Secretary may have

for additional measures, including proposed legislation, needed to achieve the

full economic benefits of metric usage.

Sec. 2. Department and Agency Responsibilities. All executive branch departments and agencies of the United States Government are directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this

order. Consistent with this mission, the head of each executive department

and agency shall:

(a) use, to the extent economically feasible by September 30, 1992, or by

such other date or dates established by the department or agency in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the metric system of measurement in

Federal Government procurements, grants, and other business-related activi-

[23]
35802 Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 1991 / Presidential Documents

ties. Other business-related activities include all use of measurement units in

agency programs and functions related to trade, industry, and commerce.

(1) Metric usage shall not be required to the extent that such use is impractical

or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to United

States firms.

(2] Heads of departments and agencies shall establish an effective process for a policy-level and program-level review of proposed exceptions to metric

usage. Appropriate information about exceptions granted shall be included in

the agency annual report along with recommendations for actions to enable

future metric usage.

(b) seek out ways to increase imderstanding of the metric system of

measurement through educational information and guidance and in Government publications. The transition to use of metric units in Government publications should be made as publications are revised on normal schedules or new publications are developed, or as metric publications are required in

support of metric usage pursuant to paragraph (a] of this section.

(c) seek the appropriate aid, assistance, and cooperation of other affected

parties, including other Federal, State, and local agencies and the private

sector, in implementing this order. Appropriate use shall be made of governmental, trade, professional, and private sector metric coordinating groups to secure the maximum benefits of this order through proper communication

among affected sectors.

(d) formulate metric transition plans for the department or agency which

shall incorporate the requirements of the Metric Conversion Act and this

order, and which shall be approved by the department or agency head and be

in effect by November 30, 1991. Copies of approved plans shall be forwarded

to the Secretary of Commerce. Such metric transition plans shall specify,

among other things:

(1) the total scope of the metric transition task for that department or agency,

including firm dates for all metric accomplishment milestones for the current

and subsequent fiscal year;

(2] plans of the department or agency for specific initiatives to enhance

cooperation with industry, especially small business, as it voluntarily converts

to the metric system, and with all affected parties in undertaking the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and

(3) specific steps and associated schedules through which the department or agency will seek to increase understanding of the metric system through

educational information and guidance, and in department or agency publications.

(e) designate a senior-level official as the Metric Executive for the department or agency to assist the head of each executive department or agency in

implementing this order. The responsibilities of the Metric Executive shall

include, but not be limited to:

(1) acting as the department's or agency's policy-level representative to the

ICMP and as a liaison with other goverimient agencies and private sector

groups:'

(2) management oversight of department or agency outreach and response to Inquiries and questions from affected parties during the transition to metric

system usage; and

(3) management oversight of preparation of the department's or agency's

metric transition plans and progress reports, including the Annual Metric

Report required by 15 U.S.C. 205j and OMB Circular A-11.

(4) preparation by June 30, 1992, of an assessment of agency progress and

problems, together with recommendations for steps to assure successful implementation of the Metric Conversion Act. The assessment and recommendations shall be approved by the head of the department or agency and provided

[24]
Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 145 / Monday. July 29, 1991 / Presidential Documents 35803

to the Secretary by June 30, 1992, for inclusion in the Secretary's October 1,

1992, report on implementation of this order.

Sec. 3. Application of Resources. The head of each executive department and

agency shall be responsible for implementing and applying the necessary

resources to accomplish the goals set forth in the Metric Conversion Act and

this order.

Sec. 4. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve the internal

management of the executive branch and is not intended to create any right or

benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by a party against the

United States, its agencies, its officers, or any other person.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

July 25, 1991.

[PR Doc. 91-18028

Filed 7-25-91; 3K)6 pm]

Billing code 3195-01-M

[25]

Wednesday

January 2, 1991

Editors Note: In a Federal Register notice of August 20,

1991 (56 FR 41281-41283), 15CFR Part 19 was redesignated 15CFR 1170. The autiiority citation for Part 1170

is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 15U.S.C. 1512 and 3710, 15 U.S.C. 205a

et seq., and DOO 10-17 and DOO 10-18.

The Table of contents for Part 1170 reads as follows:

Sec.

1170.1 Purpose.

1 170.2 Definition.

1 170.3 General Policy.

1170.4 Guidelines.

1 170.5 Recommendations for Agency Organizations.

1 170.6 Reporting Requirement.

1 1 70.7 through 1 1 70.99 reserved.

Part IV

Department of

Commerce

Office of the Secretary

15 CFR Part 19

Metric Conversion Poiicy for Federal

Agencies; Rule

[27]
160 Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 1 / Wednesday, January 2, 1991 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary

15CFR Part 19

[Docket No. 90913-0259]

RIN 0692-AA07

Metric Conversion Policy for Federal

Agencies

agency: Office of the Secretary, Under

Secretary for Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

has been taken directly from the 1985

notice. However, this rule amends the

earlier policy to bring the references and

text up-to-date. The policy clarifies and

strengthens Federal program

requirements. Implementing agency

initiatives are expected.

The current text reflects comments

received from the public (1 comment) as well as from the Federal Metrication

Operating Committee (MOC] The text

of the policy has been approved by the

Federal Interagency Council on Metric

PoHcy (ICMP.) Recommended changes

from the representatives of the ICMP/

MOC included updating the Federal

Register notice defining the "metric

system," clarifying the term "other

business-related activities," and adding

agency reporting requirements. These

changes were made and are incorporated in the rule. The only private sector response was

from the American Petroleum Institute

(API.) The API commented on: (1) Section 19.23(a), encouraging DoC to continue to coordinate federal agency

metrication activities. That section was

modified in the final, although it never mentioned DoC. However 19.22(a) refers

to the Department's coordination role;

(2) section 19.23(b), asking for a

clarification of "areas where metrication

is dependent on agency initiatives." That language was clarified and became

§ 19.23(c); and (3) section 19.23(d)

pointing out that the American National

Metric Council and the U.S. Metric

Association are good sources for agencies seeking information on private

sector metrication efforts. Section

19.24(d) recommends that agencies

"maintain liaison with private sector groups (such as the American National

Metric Council and the U.S. Metric

Association) that are involved in planning for or coordinating National

transition to the metric system."

Rulemaking Requirement

Under Executive Order 12291 the

Department must judge whether a

regulation is major within the meaning

of section 1 of the Order and, therefore,

subject to the requirement that a Regulatory Impact Analysis be

prepared. This policy statement is not a major rule because it is not likely to result in (1) an annual effect on the

economy of $100,000,000 or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries.

Federal, state or local government

agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on

competition, employment, investment,

productivity, innovation, or in the ability

of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises

in domestic or export markets.

Therefore, a Regulatory Impact Analysis

will not be prepared.

This policy statement contains no

policies with Federalism implications

sufficient to warrant preparation of a Federalism assessment under Executive

Order 12612.

This action is exempt from the

analysis requirements of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act because notice and

opportunity for comment are not required for this policy statement by

section 553 of the Administrative

Procedure Act or any other law.

Therefore, no initial or final regulatory

flexibihty analysis was prepared.

This poHcy statement does not contain a collection of information for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction

Act.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 19

Science and technology. Metric

system.

For the reasons set out in the

preamble part 19 of title 15 of the Code

of Federal Regulations is amended as

follows:

1. The authority citation for 15 CFR

part 19 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512 and 3710, 15 U.S.C. 205a et seq. and DOO 10-17.

2. Subpart B is revised to read as

follows:

Subpart B—Metric Conversion Policy for Federal Agencies

Sec. 19.20 Purpose.

19.21 Definition. 19.22 General Policy. 19.23 Guidelines.

19.24 Recommendations for Agency

Organizations.

19.25 Reporting Requirement.

19.26 thru 19.199 reserved.

Subpart B—Metric Conversion Policy

for Federal Agencies

§ 19.20 Purpose.

To provide policy direction for Federal agencies in their transition to use of the metric system of

measurement.

§ 19.21 Definition. Metric system means the

International System of Units (SI) established by the General Conference

of Weights and Measures in 1960, as

interpreted or modified from time to time for the United States by the

Secretary of Commerce under the

authority of the Metric Conversion Act

of 1975 and the Metric Education Act of

1978.

summary: 15 CFR part 19 subpart B sets out Federal Government policy on the

voluntary use of the metric system of

measurement by agencies, industry and

the public. In conformance with the

Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness

Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418, section

5164), we are revising that subpart to remove the voluntary aspect of metric

transition for Federal agencies. The

amended subpart B provides policy

direction to assist Federal agencies in

their transition to use of the metric

system of measurement.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 1, 1991.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A. S. Whelihan, Office of Metric

Programs, Room 4845, U.S. Department

of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230;

Phone (202) 377-0944.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Omnibus Trade and

Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418, section 5164) declares the

metric system to be the "preferred

measurement system for U.S. trade and

commerce." Federal agencies are also

now required to use the metric system in procurement, grants and other businessrelated activities, by a date certain and

to the extent economically feasible by

the end of fiscal year 1992, except to the extent that such use is impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies

or loss of markets to United States firms,

such as when foreign competitors are producing competing products in nonmetric units. These declarations and the

accompanying report of the

Congressional conferees require this updating of the existing Federal policy

document. The policy set out below was

issued as a proposed rule: "Metric

Conversion Policy for Federal

Agencies," 54 FR 41848, October 12,

1989, which updated the policy stated in a prior notice: "Metric Conversion

Policy for Federal Agencies," 50 FR

27577, July 5, 1985. The updated policy

[28]
Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 1 / Wednesday, January 2, 1991 / Rules and Regulations 161

Other business-related activities means measurement sensitive

commerical or business directed

transactions or programs, i.e., standard

or specification development,

publications, or agency statements of

general applicability and future effect designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describing the

procedure or practice requirements of an

agency. "Measurement sensitive" means

the choice of measurement unit is a

critical component of the activity, i.e., an

agency rule/regulation to collect

samples or measure something at specific distances or to specific depths,

specifications requiring intake or discharge of a product to certain

volumes or flow rates, guidelines for clearances between objects for safety,

security or environmental purposes, etc.

§ 19.22 General Policy.

The Omnibus Trade and

Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-^18, section 5164) amended the

Metric Conversion Act of 1975 to, among

other things, require that each Federal

agency, by a date certain and to the extent economically feasible by the end

of the fiscal year 1992, use the metric

system of measurement in its procurements, grants, and other

business-related activities, except to the extent that such use is impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to Urited States firms,

such as when foreign competitors are producting competing products in nonmetric units.

(a) The Secretary of Commerce will

appoint a Commerce Department Under

Secretary to assist in coordinating the

efforts of Federal agencies in meeting

their obligations under the Metric

Conversion Act, as amended.

(b) Federal agencies shall coordinate

and plan for the use of the metric system

in their procurements, grants and other

business-related activities consistent

with the requirements of the Metric

Conversion Act, as amended. Federal

agencies shall encourage and support an

environment which will facihtate the

transition process. When taking

initiatives, they shall give due

consideration to known effects of their

actions on State and local governments

and the private sector, paying particular

attention to effects on small business.

(c) Each Federal agency shall be

responsible for developing plans,

establishing necessary organizational

structure, and allocating appropriate

resources to carry out this policy.

§ 19.23 Guidelines.

Each agency shall:

(a) Establish plans and dates for use

of the metric system in procurements,

grants and other business-related

activities;

(b) Coordinate metric transition plans

with other Federal agencies. State and

local governments and the private

sector;

(c) Require maximum practical use of

metric in areas where Federal

procurement and activity represents a predominant influence on industry

standards (e.g.: weapon systems or space exploration]. Strongly encourage

metrication in industry standards where

Federal procurement and activity is not

the predominant influence, consistent

with the legal status of the metric

system as the preferred system of

weights and measures for United States

trade and commerce;

(d) Assist in resolving metric-related

problems brought to the attention of the

agency that are associated with agency

actions, activities or programs

undertaken in compliance with these

guidelines or other laws or regulations;

(e) Identify measurement-sensitive

agency policies and procedures and

ensure that regulations, standards,

specifications, procurement pohcies and

appropriate legislative proposals are updated to remove barriers to transition

to the metric system;

(f) Consider cost effects of metric use

in setting agency policies, programs and

actions and determine criteria for the

assessment of their economic feasibility.

Such criteria should appropriately weigh

both agency costs and national

economic benefits related to changing to the use of metric;

(g) Provide for full public involvement

and timely information about significant

metrication policies, programs and

actions;

(h) Seek out ways to increase

understanding of the metric system of

measurement through educational

information and guidance and in agency

publications;

(i) Consider, particularly, the effects of

agency metric policies and practices on

small business; and

(j) Consistent with the Federal

Acquisition Regulation System (48 CFR),

accept, without prejudice, products and

services dimensioned in metric when

they are offered at competitive prices

and meet the needs of the Government,

and ensure that acquisition planning

considers metric requirements.

§ 19.24 Recommendations for Agency

Organization.

Each agency shall:

(a) Participate, as appropriate, in the

Interagency Council on Metric Policy

(ICMP], and/or its working committee,

the Metrication Operating Committee

(MOC], in coordinating and providing

policy guidance for the U.S. Government's transtion to use of the

metric system.

(b) Designate a senior policy official to be responsible for agency metric

policy and to represent the agency on

the ICMP.

(c) Designate an appropriate official to represent the agency on the Metrication

Operating Committee (MOC), an

interagency committee reporting to the

ICMP.

(d) Maintain liaison with private sector groups (such as the American

National Metric Council and the U.S

Metric Association) that are involved in planning for or coordinating National

transition to the metric system.

(e) Provide for internal guidelines,

training and documentation to assure employee awareness and understanding

of agency metric policies and programs.

§ 19.25 Reporting Requirement.

Each Federal agency shall, as part of

its annual budget submission each fiscal year, report to the Congress on the

metric implementation actions it has

taken during the previous fiscal year. The report will include the agency's

implementation plans, with a current timetable for the agency's transition to the metric system, as well as actions

planned for the budget year involved to implement fully the metric system, in accordance with this policy. Reporting

shall cease for an agency in the fiscal year after it has fully implemented

metric usage, as prescribed by the

Metric Conversion Act (15 U.S.C.

205b(2).)

§§ 19.26 thru 19.199 IReserved]

Dated: December 19, 1990. Robert M. White,

Under Secretary for Technology.

[FR Doc. 90-30566 Filed 12-31-90; 8:45 am]

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[29]

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