Metric Project Units

[75ironhead]

A client has requested that I use metric units for review at there corporate office in Holland.

What is the "standard" metric units format for architectural floor plans? meters, centimeter, millimeter.

I guess what seems odd is using just one format like a surveyor for example, 135.8 feet.

Is the standard architectural metric format just in centimeters? 4139.18 cm

Also do they use a suffix?

Thanks

Todd

[leothebuilder · Accepted solution]

It's been a long time since I worked in Holland. The convention (then) was to dimension architectural floor plans in meters and centimeters. E.g. an office could have a dimension of 3.65 x 4.15 (meters)

Not often that you would have to use fractions of centimeters. After all, a centimeter is only approx 3/8".

Steel construction (or any other industry that needed tighter tolerances) would use millimeters.

Unless someone else has any other suggestions because of more recent experience, I would use millimeters as your autocad unit. Set out rooms at rounded measurements e.g. an office could be 3600 x 3600 (12 x 12 feet)

You can format your dimension style for either meters, centimeters or millimeters.

P.s. France and Holland were the first countries to adopt the metric system (courtesy of Napoleon)

[75ironhead]

I ended up using meters with 0.00 precision and no suffix. I searched the web for quite some time trying to find a floor plan using metric system with no luck. The funny thing is, It was not only the dimensions but also annotation with fractional reference notes like 3/4 walls or 1/2 walls. I just did not want to come across as clueless as I am in these matters. If someone sent me a floor plan in inches I would probably get a good chuckle and my first impression would be less then appealing.

Thanks again

Todd

[leothebuilder]

I think you're heading in the right direction as far as general architectural floor plans, sections, elevations is concerned.

Once you get to detailing it will probably be different.

E.g. a reference to 12 mm plywood (1/2" plywood) or something similar. You wouldn't use fractional meters.

Good Luck