M2 Metric Design Guide General Services Adminstration Design and Construction Division Region 3 Philadelphia Third Edition October 1993 Design General Introduction 1 Preparation 23 Design Policy Philosophy 3 Usage 6 AE / CM Advertisements 24 Drawings 7 Construction Advertisements Specifications AE / CM Scope Guidance Rounding 8 Codes and Standards 9 Submittals 25 Arch / Block 10 Products Arch / Brick Arch / Carpet 01 Tools 27 Arch / Ceiling Systems 03 Rebar Arch / Doors 04 Block / CMU 28 Arch / Drywall 11 04 Block / Glass Arch / Elevators Arch / Glass 05 Anchor Bolts 29 Arch / Landscaping 05 Nuts Arch / Lighting Fixtures Arch / Lumber 05 Steel Plate 30 Arch / Plywood 05 Structural Bolts 31 Arch / Renovation 12 06 Lumber 32 Arch / Roofing 06 Plywood Arch / Sheet Metal 13 07 Curtainwalls Arch / Slope 07 Insulation Arch / Stone Arch / Studs 08 Doors / Metal 33 Arch / Woodwork 08 Doors / Wood Civ / Concrete 14 08 Windows 34 Civ / Concrete Pipe 09 Carpet Civ / Geotech 09 Ceiling Systems 09 Drywall Civ / GIS 15 09 Floor Tile Civ / Infrastructure Civ / Reinforcement 10 Access Floor 35 14 Elevators Civ / Roads 16 Civ / Sitework 15 Grilles and Diffusers Civ / Surveying 15 Mechanical Equipment 36 Electrical 17 16 Conductors Environmental Estimating 16 Lighting Fixtures 37 Mechanical / General Fasteners 18 Mechanical / Anchor Bolts Mechanical / Fastener Data 19 Mechanical / HVAC 21 Structural 22 Drawings Road Design Data Arch / Cabinets 39 Road Design / Colorado Arch / Door 40 . Plans, Stations, Cross Sections 72 Arch / Door Jamb 41 . Proposed Features on Plans 73 Arch / Garage Detail 42 Road Design / GSA Arch / Garage Elevation 43 . Site Plan 74 Arch / Guardrail . State Roadway Plans 75/76 . State Roadway Profiles 77 Arch / Landscape Plan 44 . Cross Sections, Pavement Details 78 Arch / Landscape Section 45 . Curb and Gutter Details 79 Arch / Lintel Arch / Lobby Renovation 46/47 Road Design / Illinois . General, Drafting, Surveying 80 Arch / Reflected Ceiling 48 . CADD Issues 82 Arch / Renovation Plan 49 . Land Acquisitn, Geometric Design 83 Arch / Restroom Elevation 50 Arch / Restroom Plan 51/52 Road Design / Indiana . Sheet Size and Format 84 Arch / Security Desk 53 . Stations, Cross Sections 84 Arch / Stair Detail 54 . Angles and Horizontal Curves 85 Arch / Stair Section / New Const 55 . Elevations, Contour Intervals 86 Arch / Stair Section / Renovation 56 . Plot Accuracy, Proposed Features . Cross Section Elements 87 Arch / Storefront Detail 57 . Plan and Profile Sheets 88/90 Arch / Wall Section 57/59 Arch / Window 60 Road Design / Kentucky . Sample Geometric Design Criteria 91 Civil / Harbor Detail 61 Civil / Harbor Plan 62 Road Design / Louisiana . Design, Software, Steel 92 Mech / Air Distribution 63/64 . Bolts, Rebar, Scales 93 . Curve Set, Prestressed Girders 94 Scientific / Site Plan 65 . Future Projects, Priorities 95 Scientific / Sketches 66 Road Design / North Carolina Struct / Base Plate 67 . Stations, Intervals, Plan Sheets 96 Struct / Foundation Wall 68/69 . Photogrammetry, Map Labelling 97 . Existing Features, R/W 98 Struct / Grade Beam 70 . Att 2 Plan Sheet Guidelines 99 Struct / Reinforcement 70 . Att 3 Planimetric, Topo Maps 100 Struct / Welds 71 . Att 4 Existing Map Features 101 Road Design / Ohio . Sample Reconstructed Bridge Data 102 Road Design / Virginia . Plan Guidelines 103/4 . Pavement Detail, Road Section 105 Acknowlegements 106 Introduction 5. Improve page efficiency, getting more on fewer pages, making it feasible to insert the document into every AE and construction bid package. Since issuance of the last version of this guide, SI has taken firm root in the US construction community. This also reduces costs and conserves resources. For almost all Americans, there is now a project being Most guidance is consistent with the previous edition. planned or designed which will be built in metric within 1-2 hours of their home. This document supplements national policies. If it conflicts with them, those documents ofcourse govern. Many of us are located close to some of the projects already being constructed in metric. WARNING Sample drawings and data are from many sources and are for the explicit purpose of showing good Some of the largest federal and state projects are now metric practice. They are not represented as current being planned or designed in metric, and significant design criteria. Applicable codes and criteria should be activities have begun at local levels. consulted prior to design on projects. It is highly probable that the type of project you are Sample drawings are from US projects in design and starting has already been designed in metric by another construction, so drawings may be preliminary. Some region, or another federal, state or local government. drawings are from project add alternates, thus actual construction may vary from details shown. At a minimum, something similar has been designed in metric, to answer your questions. The trick is locating We admit selecting only details or portions of details the proper source, and obtaining material you need. showing good metric practice. Some details have been modified to delete inconsistent practice. Due to graphic Through strong communication this can be achieved. modification, details may not be to scale indicated. Now managing major metric construction projects, we Based on project knowledge, we feel confident to design reject assertions that metric design and construction are and build any road, sitework, or facilities project in not feasible. metric, anywhere on American soil, at little to no cost impact, using the compromise approach established in After January 1994, all GSA renovation and new this document. construction projects shall be designed in metric. As is unfair to project that the information in this We thank the private firms, contractors, government document is of our doing only. We have tried to credit agencies, and individuals who provided feedback. other sources for their metric experience. This document may be freely copied and distributed. As our leaders in the recent past simply resolved to place an American on the moon, and attained this through the Our goals for this edition have been: sheer willpower and resolve of the American people, let us simply resolve to conclude the issue of metric 1. Give lessons learned on use of metric. conversion, for the national good. 2. Minimize impact on design firms, contractors, Let us make the firm choices and gladly accept the effort and producers, while complying with the national required. We are looking for partners to move boldly and directive of complete metric conversion. decisively with us in a direction that is very clear at this point. 3. Use private sector guidance wherever possible. Doing this will level the playing field for the next 4. Convert to a metric thought process. generation, the children and grandchildren in our families, so they may compete head on with other Many regions have metric construction, and most nations, without hindrance of an outdated system whose others have done metric planning or designing, so time has come. basic material has been condensed or deleted. We have avoided using old units wherever possible. While metric receives mixed initial review, many tradespeople prefer it after some learning period. In this edition, we have focused primarily on hard metric products commonly used in construction. We have also encountered metric capability where we did not expect it. For a listing of firms that can fabricate or install these products, ie, construction firms that feel comfortable We must conclude that original estimates of extensive working in metric, see M1. effort to convert did not materialize. Products listed are made in USA, unless noted. When partnering between government and private industry is meaningfully applied, conversion to metric, This directory is open to firms making metric products and realization of the benefits of this system, are no more commonly used in federal construction. difficult than the introduction of any new technology or policy. Firms interested in being included may contact us. Some firms listed minimum orders for products. These minimums will get smaller as we constantly buy metric As the Federal landlord, we have frequent contact with products. If your order is half the minimum listed or many federal, state and municipal agencies. more, we recommend you contact the manufacturer to determine their current interest. Another document, M1, was developed to keep abreast of their metric conversion activities. We have deleted some product categories where obtaining metric products has not been a problem, and Title: M1, Metric Activity in US Construction have given overall guidance to assist specifiers. M1 is separate because metric projects and activities within government are changing rapidly, needing more frequent revision than design information. America recently regained its status as the world's largest exporter, and our firms are improving market M1 will be updated every few months. share for many products. M1 can be downloaded by interested parties from the Momentum is building in the American industrial Region 3 Bulletin Board Service: 215 656 6465 machine, and an important component is use of SI. Over the past year, we have spoken with thousands of All regional specifications will soon be upgraded to manufacturers, designers, project managers, personnel in conform to this document. education, and representatives of construction firms. The mood of the nation has shifted. There is a significant We welcome