Metric foot
Encyclopedia
A metric foot is a nickname occasionally used in the United Kingdom
for a length
of 300 millimetre
s (30 cm). A metric foot can be divided into twelve "metric inches" of 25 millimetre
s (2.5 cm) each. The metric foot and inch are therefore 4.8 and 0.4 millimetres (or about ) shorter than an imperial
foot and inch
respectively.
The term "metric foot" does not appear in any British Standard. The practice of choosing multiples of 300 mm and 600 mm as preferred dimensions in the construction industry originated from the international standard
on modular coordination (ISO 2848). These numbers were chosen because of their large number of divisors. Any multiple of 600 mm can be evenly divided into 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 24, 25, 30, etc. parts.
While the term "metric foot" is still occasionally used in the United Kingdom
, in particular in the timber
trade, dimensions are most likely to be quoted exclusively in metric units today.
The sizes of the studios at BBC
Television Centre
in London
, first opened in 1960, are all specified and measured up in metric feet—a contrast to film stages where imperial feet and inches prevail.
Historically in France, under the mesures usuelles
system (intermediary between traditional French units
and metric units), a metric foot was exactly a third of a metre ( mm).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for a length
Length
In geometric measurements, length most commonly refers to the longest dimension of an object.In certain contexts, the term "length" is reserved for a certain dimension of an object along which the length is measured. For example it is possible to cut a length of a wire which is shorter than wire...
of 300 millimetre
Millimetre
The millimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousandth of a metre, which is the SI base unit of length....
s (30 cm). A metric foot can be divided into twelve "metric inches" of 25 millimetre
Millimetre
The millimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousandth of a metre, which is the SI base unit of length....
s (2.5 cm) each. The metric foot and inch are therefore 4.8 and 0.4 millimetres (or about ) shorter than an imperial
Imperial unit
The system of imperial units or the imperial system is the system of units first defined in the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824, which was later refined and reduced. The system came into official use across the British Empire...
foot and inch
Inch
An inch is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units. There are 36 inches in a yard and 12 inches in a foot...
respectively.
The term "metric foot" does not appear in any British Standard. The practice of choosing multiples of 300 mm and 600 mm as preferred dimensions in the construction industry originated from the international standard
International standard
International standards are standards developed by international standards organizations. International standards are available for consideration and use, worldwide...
on modular coordination (ISO 2848). These numbers were chosen because of their large number of divisors. Any multiple of 600 mm can be evenly divided into 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 24, 25, 30, etc. parts.
While the term "metric foot" is still occasionally used in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, in particular in the timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
trade, dimensions are most likely to be quoted exclusively in metric units today.
The sizes of the studios at BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Television Centre
BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre at White City in West London is the headquarters of BBC Television. Officially opened on 29 June 1960, it remains one of the largest to this day; having featured over the years as backdrop to many BBC programmes, it is one of the most readily recognisable such facilities...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, first opened in 1960, are all specified and measured up in metric feet—a contrast to film stages where imperial feet and inches prevail.
Historically in France, under the mesures usuelles
Mesures usuelles
Mesures usuelles were a system of measurement introduced by Napoleon I in 1812 to act as compromise between the metric system and traditional measurements...
system (intermediary between traditional French units
French units of measurement
France has a unique history of units of measurement due to radical attempts to adopt a metric system following the French Revolution.In the Ancien régime, before 1795, France used a system of measures that had many of the characteristics of the modern Imperial System of units...
and metric units), a metric foot was exactly a third of a metre ( mm).
Further reading
- British Standard BS 6750: Modular coordination in building.
- Martin Kempton: An unofficial history of Television Centre