U.S. METRIC STUDY INTERIM REPORT COMMERCIAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES U.S. METRIC STUDY MUM U.S. METRIC SUBSTUDY REPORTS The results of substudies of the U.S. Metric Study, while being evaluated for the preparation of a comprehensive report to the Congress, are being published in the interim as a series of NBS Special Publications. The titles of the individual reports are listed below. REPORTS ON SUBSTUDIES NBS SP345-1: International Standards (issued December 1970, SD Catalog No. C 13.1 0:345- price $1.25) 1 , NBS SP345-2: Federal Government: Civilian Agencies (issued July 1971, SD Catalog No. C13. 10:345-2, price $2.25) NBS SP345-3: Commercial Weights and Measures (this publica- tion) NBS SP345-4: The Manufacturing Industry (issued July 1971, SD Catalog No. CI 3. 10:345-4, price $1.25) NBS SP345-5 Nonmanufacturing Businesses (in press) NBS SP345-6 Education (in press) NBS SP345-7 The Consumer (in press) NBS SP345-8 International Trade (in press) NBS SP345-9 Department of Defense (issued July 1971, SD Catalog No. C13. 10:345-9, price $1.25) NBS SP345-10: A History of the Metric System Controversy in the United States (in press) NBS SP345-1 1: Engineering Standards (issued July 1971, SD Cata- log No. C13. 10:345-1 1. Drice $2.00) NBS SP345-12: Testimony of Nationally Representative Groups (in press) COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE U.S. METRIC STUDY NBS SP345: To be published in August 1971 Those publications with catalog numbers have already been issued, and may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 for the prices indicated. Add one- fourth of the purchase price if the publication ordered is to be sent to a foreign address. Be sure to include the SD Catalog number with your order. U.S. METRIC STUDY INTERIM REPORT COMMERCIAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Third in a series of reports prepared for the Congress U.S. METRIC STUDY Daniel V. De Simone, Director - (J, S ' National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 345-3 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Maurice H. Stans, Secretary NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Nat. Bur Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ. 345-3, 116 pages (July 1971) CODEN: XNBSA Issued July 1971 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents. U.S. Government Printing Office. Washington. D C. 20402 (Order by SD Catalog No. C 13.10:345-3). Price $1.00 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL THE HONORABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE THE HONORABLE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIRS: I have the honor to present the third in the series of interim reports stemming from the U.S. Metric Study, prepared by the National Bureau of Standards. This Study was authorized by Public Law 90-472 to reduce the many un- certainties concerning the metric issue and to provide a better basis upon which the Congress may evaluate and resolve it. I shall make a final report to the Congress on this Study in August 1971. In the meantime, the data and opinions contained in this interim report are being evaluated by the Study team at the National Bureau of Standards. My final report to you will reflect this evaluation. Respectfully submitted, Secretary of Commerce Enclosure iii LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Honorable Maurice H. Stans Secretary of Commerce Dear Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to transmit to you another interim report of the U.S. Met- ric Study, which is being conducted at the National Bureau of Standards at your request and in accordance with the Metric Study Act of 1 968. The Study is exploring the subjects assigned to it with great care. We have tried to reach every relevant sector of the society to elicit their views on the metric issue and their estimates of the costs and benefits called for in the Metric Study Act. Moreover, all of these sectors were given an opportunity to testify in the extensive series of Metric Study Conferences that were held last year. On the basis of all that we have been able to learn from these conferences, as well as the numerous surveys and investigations, a final report will be made to you before August 1971 for your evaluation and decision as to any recommendations that you may wish to make to the Congress. The attached interim report includes data and other opinions that are still being evaluated by us to determine their relationship and significance to all of the other information that has been elicited by the Study. All of these evaluations will be reflected in the final report. Sincerely, Lewis M. Branscomb, Director National Bureau of Standards Enclosure IV . FOREWORD This report explores the probable effects of a metric changeover on com- mercial weights and measures activities. It primarily concerns two aspects of commercial weights and measures that would have to be dealt with in any metric changeover: (1) The cost of adapting or changing commercial weighing and measur- ing devices to record and/or indicate in metric units. (2) The effects of metrication on state and local weights and measures jurisdictions. Reports covering other substudies of the U.S. Metric Study are listed on the inside front cover. All of these, including this report, are under evalua- tion. Hence, they are published without prejudice to the comprehensive re- port on the entire U.S. Metric Study, which will be sent to the Congress by the Secretary of Commerce in August of 1 97 1 This report was prepared by Mr. Stephen L. Hatos of the Office of Weights and Measures, National Bureau of Standards. The Office of Weights and Measures is grateful for the contributions made by the Scale Manufacturers Association, the Gasoline Pump Manufacturers Association, the National Scale Men's Association, and the Task Force on Metrication of the National Conference on Weights and Measures. In this as in all aspects of the U.S. Metric Study, the program has benefited from the independent judgment and thoughtful counsel of its ad- visory panel and the many other organizations, groups, and committees that have participated in the Study. Daniel V. De Simone, Director U.S. Metric Study v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Letters of Transmittal Hi, iv Foreword v Summary and Recommendations 1 Introduction 5 I. Adaptation of Weighing and Measuring Devices 9 1-1. Introduction 9 1-2. Statistical Analysis: Qualifications 10 1-3. Adaptation of Weighing Devices 11 1-4. Adaptation of Metering Devices (Mechanical) 25 1-5. Adaptation of Fabric Measuring Devices 30 1-6. Adaptation of Miscellaneous Weighing and Measuring Devices 32 I- 7. Statistical Analysis Chart 34 Appendix 1-1. General Statistics Appendix 1-2. Scale Manufacturers Association Presentation of Views on Weighing Scale Conversions to the Metric System (September 15, 1970) 43 Appendix 1-3. National Scale Men's Association Presentation of Views on Conversion to the Metric System (October 30, 1970) 50 Appendix 1-4. Service Agencies (General Discussion) 54 Appendix 1-5. Glossary 56 II. Report of the Task Force on Metrication (December 17, 1970) 58 II- l. Introduction 59 1 1-2. Weights and Measures Jurisdictions 60 1 1 -3 . Inspector's Equipment 61 1 1-4. Weights and Measures Laws, Regulations, and Technical Specifications 68 72 1 1-5 . Education and Training Appendix II-l. Summary of Statistics 75 Appendix 1 1-2. State-County-City Service Center 79 Appendix 1 1 -3. Organization of the Task Force on Metrication 80 Appendix II-4. New State Standards 82 vii viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page III. Supplement 83 Metric Study Act, Public Law 90-472 (82 Stat. 693) 85 Excerpts from NBS Handbook 67, Checking Prepackaged Com- modities 86 Excerpts from the Report of the 54th National Conference on Weights and Measures, 1 969, N BS Special Publication 318 87 Excerpts from NBS Handbook 44, Specifications, Tolerances, and other Technical Requirements for Commercial Weighing and Measuring Devices ( 1 970 version) 88 Excerpts from the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, Public Law 89-755 (80 Stat. 1296) 94 Excerpts from the Model State Weights and Measures Law, as Adopted by the National Conference on Weights and Mea- sures (1970) 95 Excerpt from the United States Code 1 964 Edition, 1 5 U .S.C. 204 96 Excerpt from the 47th National Conference on Weights and Mea- sures, 1962, NBS Miscellaneous Publication 244 97 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS PURPOSE The purpose of this report is to: 1. Identify and describe the impacts (cost, time, etc.) of changing selected commercial weighing and measuring devices to record and/or indicate in metric units. 2. Analyze the problems that increased metric usage would have on state and local weights and measures jurisdictions (e.g., laws and regulations, test- ing equipment, and training programs). BACKGROUND Evidence indicates that evolutionary metrication in the commercial weights and measures area is unlikely. Consequently, it is felt that a national metrication program would be needed in order to advance the usage of met- ric units in this area. SUMMARY: FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS ATTITUDES TOWARD METRICATION A. Sixty-seven percent of the 15 weighing and measuring device manu- facturers responding to our industry questionnaires were in favor of metrica- tion; a like percentage, of the same respondents, were in favor of a mandato- ry metrication program based on legislation. I 2 COMMERCIAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES B. Sixty-four percent of the 63 weights and measures jurisdictions responding to our jurisdiction questionnaire were in favor of metrication. BENEFITS OF METRICATION Device manufacturers, in fact, 73 percent of the respondents, and many weights and measures jurisdictions felt there would be benefits in using the metric system.