Metric Units Used in the Construction Trades

The metric units used in the construciton trades are as follows: The terms
length includes all linear measurements (That is, length, width, height,
thickness, diameter,and circumference).

Quantity Unit Symbol Quantity Unit Symbol

Surveying length kilometer, meter km, m Roofing length meter, millimeter m, mm

square kilometer km2

area hectare ( 10 000 m2) ha area square meter m2
square meter m2

degree (non-metric) 0

plane angle minute (non-metric) ' slope meter, millimeter m, mm

second (non-metric) "
Excavating length meter, millimeter m, mm Plumbing length meter, millimeter m, mm
volume cubic meter m2 mass kilogram, gram kg, g
Trucking distance kilometer km capacity liter (1 000 cm3) L
volume cubic meter m3 pressure kilopascal kPa
mass metric ton (1 000 kg) t Drainage length meter, millimeter m, mm

hectare ( 10 000 m )2
ha
Paving length meter, millimeter m, mm area
square meter m2
area square meter m2 volume cubic meter m3
Concrete length meter, millimeter m, mm slope millimeter/meter mm/m
area square meter m2 HVAC length meter, millimeter m, mm
volume cubic meter m3 volume cubic meter m3
temperature degree celsius 0
C capacity liter (1 000 cm3) L
water capacity liter (1 000 cm3) L airflow meter/second m/s
cubic meter/second m3/s
mass (weight) kilogram, gram kg, g volume flow
liter/second L/s
cross-sectional
square millimeter mm2 temperature degree Celsius C
0
area
Masonry length meter, millimeter m, mm force newton, kilonewton N, kN
area square meter m2 pressure kilopascal kPa
mortar volume cubic meter m3 energy,work kilojoule, megajoule kJ, MJ
rate of heat
Steel length meter, millimeter m, mm watt, kilowatt W, Kw
flow

metric ton (1 000 kg) t

mass Electrical length meter, millimeter m, mm
kilogram, gram kg, g

pascal Pa
pressure /
kilopascal kPa frequency hertz Hz
stress
megapascal MPa
Carpentry length meter, millimeter m, mm power watt, kilowatt W, Kw
megajoule MJ
Plastering length meter, millimeter m, mm energy
kilowatt hour kWh
area square meter m2 electric current ampere A

electric
water capacity liter (1 000 cm3) L volt, kilovolt V,kV
potential
Glazing length meter, millimeter m, mm resistance ohm Ω
area square meter m2
Painting length meter, millimeter m, mm
area square meter m2
liter (1 000 cm3) L
capacity
milliliter (cm3) mL

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