IS: 965 w 1963

EQUIVALENT METRIC tiNITS FOR

SCALES, DWfENSIONS AND Quantities
IN( Reaffirmed
GENERAL 1995
CONSTRUCTION
WORK
)

Third Reprint MARCH

1991

( Icwwora:inc AsrecdmwrtsNo. 1 and 2)

UDC S30814 :69

0 Copyright1979
BUREAU
MANAK

OF
BKAVAN,

INDIAN
s

BAHADUR

ST AN DA-RDS
SIfAIf

ZAFAR

MAIW

t+EW DELMS llWJZ

Gr 7

March 1964

.--

IS:%s-1963

Indian

Standard

EQUIVALENT METRIC UNITS FOR

SCALES, DIMENSIONS AND QUANTITIES
iN GENERAL CONSTRUCTION WORK

( Revised )
Standing

Working Committee of the Building

Division Council ( SWCB )
Repr&enting

Chairman
8m

In personal

(c/o Nariman Sons Private

Ltd., Nariman Building. 1iA, Bomanji Master
Rotid, Dhobi Talao, Bombay )

EIA~H A. NADIB~EAH

Vice-Chairman
SERX C. P. MALIK

capacity

National Buildings
New Delhi

Members
SHIP K. F. ANTIA

In personal

Construction

capacity

Road, Bombay )

Corporation

Ltd.,

Rock Side , 1 I2 Walkewar

Cannon Dunkerley & Co. Ltd., Ahmedah8d

SEBX H. K. DASTU~
SHBI S. C. MAZUMDAB
( Alteriati! )
Central Public Works Department
Soar N. G. DEWAX
Drrmxos
STANDARDS ( Cxvrr. ), Railway Board ( Ministry of Railways)
Rlrs~rtcri,
DESXGNS& STANDABMI OR~ANXZATXON,SIMLA
Reads Wing, Ministry of Transport
& CornmunicnSHBXG~~ERD~AN
Lar.
tions
SEBI J. M. TBEEAN ( Alternate )
Centrril Water & Powrr Commission
SHBI C. L. HANDA
Engineer-in-Chiefs
Branch, Army Headqunrtcrs
MAJ-GEN HAR~I~AT S~NOR
MAJ-G$N R. A. LOOMSA i Alternate )
In personal capacity I co Hinclustbrr Construction
Sam B. P. KAPADIA
SEBI
Sasr
Srrnr
SktSl

N.
K.
R.
g.

Company Ltd., Construction

Estate, Fort, Bombay-l I

House, Ballard

Forest Research 1rrr;titute 6 Col~cgc~, Dehrn Durt

l!he Concrete Aasociu!ion
of India, Bomha>
Directorate
Curter111 of Supplies 8;. Disposals
Burmeh-Shell
Oil Storegct R Distrit,uting
Co. of
India Ltd., Benltr~l>

J. MASASI
K. NAXBXAI~
N. ~ARXA
S. %lArl.

i Continued on page 2 )

BUREAU
MANAK

OF

BHAVAN,

INDIAN

STANDARDS

9 BAHADUR
SHAH
NEW DELHI 110002

ZAFAR

MARG

.
IS:%5-1963
( Contimtedjiom

pugc 1)

Mam~ers
LT-GENH. WILLIAMS
DB. II. C!. VIBVEBVABAYA,
Deputy Director ( Bldg )
( Secretory )

Representing
Council of Scientific
& Industrial
Delhi
Direptor, IS1 ( Ex-oficio Member

Raearch,

New

Research,

Eew

Panel for Revision of IS : 965-1958

Convener
LT-GEN H. WILLIAMS

Members
SHRI P. D. bOWLA
REPRICSE~TAT~VE

SERX 0. P.

$EARMA

Council of Scientific
Delhi

& Industrial

Central Public Works Department

Engineer-in-Chiefs
l%rsrwh, Auny Headquarters
Iridian Standards Institution, Sew Delhi

ls:96!5-1963

CONTENTS

PAGE
0. FOREWORD . . .

...

. ..

...

...

1. SCOPE

.*.

.:.

...

. ..

2.

. ..

SCALESFOR SURVEY PLANS AND BUILMNG AIW ARCHITECTIJRALDRAWINCS

...
...
...
...
2.1 Topographical Maps
*..
. ..
.. .
.. .
...
2.2 Town Surveys
. ..
2.3 Large Scale Surveys and Layouts
2.4 Preliminary or Sketch Drawings Dependent
Subject

...

.. .

...

. ..

. ..
...
.. .
on

2.5 Working Drawings: Plans, Elevations and Sections

_..
2.6 Large Scale Drawings: General Details
...
2.7 Enlarged Details
3.

SURVEYINGINSTRUMENTS...
3.1 Levelhng Staff
3.2
3.3

4.

Measuring
Measuring

Tapes
Chains

DIMENSIONS ...

., .
. ..
...

...

...

. ..

. ..

,..
. ..
.. .

.. .
.-.
...

9
9
9

...

10

...
...
. ..
. ..
. ..
...
. ..

10
10
10
11
11
12
b12
12
13
13

.*.

...
...
.. .
...
... ..
.. .
...

.. .

. ..

. ..

...

...

.a.

...
...
...
...
.. .

I~...
. ..

r..

_.*

4.1 Flooring Materials . . .

4.2 Walling Materials . . .
4.3 Assembled Components
4.4 Builders Hardware
4.5 Roofing Materials . . .
. ..
4.6 Ceiling Boards
. ..
4.7 Furniture
4.8 Sanitary Appliances
4.9 Pipes, Gutters, etc . . .
.. .
4.10 Miscellaneous

the
.. .

...

ls:965-1963
PAGE
5.

QUANTITIES . . .
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
.5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
5.10
5.11
5.12
5.13
5.14

...

...

...

............

General
.........
Excavation aid Earthwdrk
............
Concrete
Brickwork and Stone Masonry
Woodwork and Joiner)- ( Measurements
.........
Steel and Iron Work
............
Roof Coverings
..........
Ceilings and Linings
Pavings and Floor Finishes

......
) ......

.........

...

. ..
...
Plastering and Pointing
White Washing, Colour Washing and Distempering
..*
...
. ..
...
Glazing
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
Painting
Wood
Preservative
Treatment,
Varnishing
and
.. .
. ..
.. .
. ..
Polishing

5.15 Water. Supply,

Plumbing,
...
. Fittings . . .
5.16 Electrical Work.
...
...
5.17 Roadwork
5.18 Demolition and Dismantling

Drains
...
,...
. ..

6.

CARRIAGEOF MATERIALS

7.

WEIGHTYAND STRENGTHOF MATERIALS

8.

MIXELLANEOUS

APPENDIX.4

...

BASICMETRIC UNITS

13

13
14
14
16
18
_( 20
21
22
23
...
24
...
24
24
24
25

...

and
...
...
...
...

Sanitary
...
.,.
. ..
...

25
25
26
.26

...

...

...

27

...

...

28

...

...

...

29

...

...

...

30

1s: %5- 1963

Indian

Standard

EQUIVALENT METRIC UNITS FOR

SCALES, DIMENSIONS AND QUANTITIES
IN GENERAL CONSTRUCTION WORK
( Revised )
0.

FOREWORD

0.1 This revised Indian Standard

was ad pted by the Indian Standards
Institution
on 12 November
1963, after the draft finalized by the Standing Working
Committee
of the Building
Division
Council
had been
approved by the Building,DiviSion
Council.
0.2 This standard
.was first issued in 1958. Since the issue of the
standard considerable
experience has been gained with regard to actual
working to the standard
during the last few years.
The various Public
Works Departments
and other concerned
organizations
adopted
this
/standard and difficulties in implementation
of certain proposed
metric
units were experienced.
The Committee
has taken note of these and
has issued this revision which in addition to some minor modifications
incorporates
an additional
item on carriage of materials for which also
metric units have been suggested.
0.3 Dimensions
of. building
materials
and components,
quantities
of
constru tion work and strength of materials bear close inter-relation
to
one a ncother and influence
preparation
of material
specifications
and
codes of practice.
Further,
the units of length, area or volume used
today, have significance
in terms of the actual quantity
implied, and
while making
conversion,
care has to be exercised as to what the
A concrete grasp
equivalent
quantity would mean in the new system.
of the quantity
eferred to by the units by reading a description
of the
quantity
is an essential
requirement
in evolving standard
units; for
instance one cubic yard is vividly grasped
as the volume of a cube
having a length; breadth and height equal to one yard.
When converting into metric units, and choosing a rationalized
value, two requirements are to be fulfilled; firstly the equivalent
unit should be in round
number, and secondly the equivalent
unit should have an easily understood direct relationship
to the original unit.
One cubic metre which
is nearly equivalent
to one cubic yard fuliils both these requirements;
the tonne which is equivalent
to the present ton is also another instance.
The ddvantage
in choosing such units as cubic metre and tonne is that
5

iS :965 - 1963
the numerical
value expressing
the quantity
either in the foot-pound
system or in the metric system will not change much and the quantity
specified can be easily imagined.
In many other cases such a direct
conversion
into a convenient
metric unit is not possible, and consequently the conception
of the actual quantity
specified takes time to
grasp.
In the preparation
of estimates
for construction
work where
certain units and rates in terms of such units have been established
by
tradition,
the importance
of choosing new units in the metric system
which have a simple and convenient
relationship
to these units is further
emphasized.
The new unit will have a derived rate and the familiarization of this derived rate will be quicker if the relationship
between
the former units and the metric units is direct and simple, preferably
in whole numbers.
On account of this close inter-relationship
between materials
and
quantities
of construction
work carried out and also in view of the
variety of materials
and types of constructional
quantities
which even
a very simple type of construction
involves, the necessity has been felt
to establish,
as a first step, equivalent
metric units which should be
used for dimensions,
scales, quantities,
etc, generally
met with in the
building field.
The proposed equivalent
metric units in place of the
existing units take note of the practices at present being followed in the
metric countries and the units which have become familiar and conversant over a period of their use.
0.4 This standard
has been prepared
with the purpose of guiding the
various technical
committees
under the Building
Division Council in
selecting
the equivalent
metric
units for dimensions
and quantities
which they come across while preparing
standard
specifications
and
codes of practice.
For convenience
of reference,
a tabulation
of basic
metric units in regard to length, area, volume and weight is given in
Appendix A.

1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard
lays down equivalent
metric units for the various
dimensional
values met with in general
construction
.work and at
present expressed inthe foot-pound-second
( fps ) system.
6

IS : 965 - 1963
AND BUILDING

2. SCALES FOR SURVEY PLANS

ARCHITECTURAL
DRAWINGS
2.1 Topographical

Maps

Metric Scale
to be Used

fps Scale
Currently Used
1 in. =4

AND

lcm=2*5km

miles ( 2531440)

lin.=2miles
1 in. = 1 mile

1 cm = 1 km

(j&m)

lcm=0*5km

(w-&i>

(-&$m)
(i&G)
( 50\oo)

!.2 Town Surveys

fps Scale
Currently Used
1 in. = 1 mile
3 in. = 1 mile
6 in. = 1 mile
8;;

i,: x lg~}

Metric Scale
to be Used
2cm=lkm

(-GAO-)

4cm=lkm

( 21 I20 )
(-+_&

lOcm=

(_&_!O_)

2.3 Large Scale Suheys

1 in. =

6J ft

1 in. =

32 ft

NOTE -

I km

1 cm = 50 m

( 25&U

1oLb0

5LO)

and Layouts

Metric Scale
to be Used

fps Scale
Currently Used
1 in. = 100 ft

(AaT)

1 fO0

lcm=

10m

lcm=

5m

(A,)

( 71s8)
(A-r)

5:o

may also be used though there is

Metric scale 1 cm = 20 m

no corresponding fpescele currently used.

IS : 965 - 1963
2.4 Preliminary or Sketch Drawings Dependent on the Subject
Metric Scale
fps Scale
to be Used
Currently Used
1 in. I=

1 in. =

32 ft

8 ft

lcm-:

Sm

lcm=

2m

lcm=

lm

(,-

A--)

2.5 Working Drawings: Plans, Elevations and Sections

Metric Scale
fps Scale
to be Used
Currently Used
1 in. =

16 ft

1 in. =
1 in. =

A2

8 ft

.9!G.-_)

4 ft

( -+----)

lcm=

2m,

lcm=

lm

lcm==0*5m

2.6 Large Scale Drawings: General Details

s Scale

1 in. =

1 ft

(241 J
1

&

>

100

>

lo

Metric Scale
to be Used

Cu?rent/y Used
1 in. = 1 ft

( -&)

1 cm = 20cm($j)
1 cm = lOcm,(-$)

2.7 Enlarged Details

Metric Scale
to be Used

fps Scale
Currently Used

1 in. = 1 ft ( & )

1 cm =lOcm

3 in. = 1 ft ( -d -)

1 cm =

4 in. -^ 1 ft

1 cm = 25 cm (&)

6 in. = 1 ft (
1 in, =. 1 in.
FulPrSize

)
2.

5cm(+)

1 cm =

2cm

lcm=

Icm

FulPrSize

<f)

1
)

IS:!&!-1963
3. SURVEYING

INSTRUMENTS

3.1 Le&l@
StaR ( see IS : 1779-1961 Specification
Staff, Folding Type )
fps

for 4-Mctre Levelling

stalp

Currently Used
2+

5+51f4-14ft
O-01 fr

Height
Divisioh

2=4m
Smm

3.2 b&am&Tapes

fps Tape

Cumntfy Used

I) Woven Metallic

Tapes
*IS : 1269-1958
( see
Specification for Metric
Woven Metallic
Tape
Measures ):
Lengths

iooft

30m
20 m

50 ft
t in.

Division

lcm

for
Metric
Steel Tape
Measures
( Winding Type )]:
200
100
50
25
6
3

Lengths

Lengths
Link
*Sina

revised.

ii2
20 m
10 m
2m
lm

5 mm

4 in.

Division
3.3 Measariog
chab
Surveying Chains )

ft
ft
ft
ft
ft
ft

(see IS : 1492-1959

Specification

for

Metric

fps iUeasuring
Chain Currently Used

Metric Measuring
Chain to be Used

100 ft
66 ft
1 ft

30 m
20 m
200 mm

IS : 965 --1963

4. DIMENSIONS
4.1 Flooring Materials

fps Units
Currently Used

.
Slabs, tiles, etc:
Length,
breadth
thickness

Metric Units
to be Used

and
in.

mm or cm

fps Units
Currently Used

Metric Units
to be Used

in.

mm or cm

ft
in.
in.

m
mm or cm
mm

ft
in.

4.2 Walling Materials

1) Stone
blocks,
etc:
All dimensions

bricks,

2) Wall boards:
Length
Breadth
Thickness
3) Piaster:
Length
and
Thickness

breadth

mm

4.3 Assembled Components

fps Units
Currently Used

1) Doors,

windows

ventilators:
Height

and

and
breadth

Thickness

2)

Units
to be Used

Metric

Parts of doors, windows,

ventilators,
etc ( such as
panels,
panes,
glass
shutters and frames )
10

ft
in.

mm or cm
mm

in. or ft

mm or cm

ls : 965 -.1963
4.4 Bailders Hardware

fps units

Currently Used
1) E*panded metal:
Size of mesh
Dimensions of strands

in.
in.

mm
mm

ft
SWG

m
mm

2) Wires:
Length
Diameter
3) Wire products:
ft or in.
SWG

Length
Diameter

morcm
mm

4) Mild steel bars:

Length
Diameter

or side of square

ft
in.

mm

in.

mm

5) Rivets, boits, nuts and washers:

All dimensions
6) Rolled steel sections:
Length
Size

7) Tower bolts, hinges,

etc:
All dimensions

ft
in. X in.
andlbperft
run

m
mmxmm
and kg per m
run

handles,
in.

mm

45 Roofing Materials

jps .UWitS
Currently Used

Metric Units
to be Used

1) Tiles, slabs, etc:

in. or ft
in.

Length and breadth

Thickness
2) Asbestos cement sheets:
Length
Breadth.
Thickness

ft
in
in.

11

mm or cm
mm
m
mmorcm
mm

fps.unit.,
Currently Used
3) Plain and corrugated
nized rtcel rhcet:

galvaft
.

hn8th
Bpdth
Thickness

iii

m
mm or cm
mm

4) Copper roofing sheet:

ft
.

hgh
Breadth
Thickness

Sk

m
mm or cm
mm

5) Lead sheet:
Length
Breadth
Thickness

ft
in.
in.

m
mm or cm
mm

ft
in.
Zinc gauge

m
mm or cm
mm

fps Units
CurrentJy Used

Metric Units
to be Used

it
in.

m
mm

fps Units
Currentfy Used

Metric-Units
to be Used

in.

rnE or cm

.dn.

mm or cm

fps Units
Currently Used

Metric Unit:
to be Used

6) zinc- sheet:
Length
Breadth
Thickness

Length and breadth

Thicknesr
47 Fwaitue

1) Overall

dimensions

2) Parts:
Length and other dimensions
,,
4.8 Smitary Applianch

Length,

breadth and thickness

12

in.

mm

4.9 Pipes, Caters,

ctc
fps units
Currently Used

Metric Units
to be Used

ft
in.

m
mm

it
in.

m
mm

1) Pipes ( asbestos, stoneware or

metallic ):
Length
Other dimensions

2) Gutters, Metallic:
Length
Other dimensions
4.10 Miacellaneo~
Metric units
robe used

fps Units
Currently Used
I) Aggregates for concrete

( size )

in.

mm

2) Timber:
Length
Girth
Cross-sectional

ft

morcm
cm
mm

.
In.

dimensions

in.

5. QUANTITIES
311 General
fps Units
Cur~enrly
Used

1) Dimensions

shall be measured to the nearest

2) Areas shall be worked out

to the nearest

shall be
3) Cubic contents
worked out to the nearest

Corresponding Metric
Metric Value Units to
;bc Used

OTl ft

O-03 m

0.01 In

0.1 fts

WO!I ma

001 ins

o-1 fts

0903 ma

N0~~-Thew,
Ij,ovidoncl
will epply only to rruah items
degree of acomaoy
hav not been apeoified.

13

for whioh

O-01 mJ
a de&nib

lS:%5-1963
5.2 Excavation and Earthwork
fps Units Corresponding Metric
Currently Metric Value Units to be
Used
Used
Rough
excavation,
foundand excaation
trenches,
vation

1 000 fts
100 fts

over areas

2) Surface

excavation

3) Surface dressing
for pipes,
4) Trenches

100 ft2
1 000 ft

10 ma

28.3 ms
2.83 mS
0.765 ms
9.29 ma
92.9 ma

ma
ms
10 ma
100 ma

cables,

etc
51 Return, fill and ram
Forming embankments

6)

30.5 m
2.83 m*

ms

1 000 fts
100 ftJ

28.3 ms
2.83 ms

10 m8
ms

100 rft

30.5 m

7) Removal

8)

9)

10)
11)

of excavated
material; the distance
(lead )
of removal
shall
be in
units of
Lifting
of excavated
material;
the
height
( lift)
shall be in units of
Planking
and strutting
to
uphold
the face of loose
earth
Puddling
Hard
core and floors
of
shingle,
ballast,
moorum,
red bajri
Filling in soakage pits

100 rft
100 fts

12)
13) Hand-packed
brick-ballast,

filling
etc

5 ft

l-52 m

50mor

1 mor

10m

1.5m

100 fL2.
100 ft*

9.29 ma
2.83 ms

m*

!OO fts
100 fts

2.83 ms
2.83 m?

m*
ma

100 ft*

2.83 ms

ms

lOmsorm*

of stone,

5;3 concrete

etric
fps Unirs Corresponding
Currew;ly Metric Value tYnits to be
Used
1) Concrete

O-765 m*
28 hms

work

14

ms
10 dms

IS : 965 - 1963

fps Units Corresponding

Currentlv Metric Value
Used *
Concrete cast-in-situ in solid
articles ( reinforced or otherwise )

ft*

O-028 ma
28 dm8

cement
concrete
3) Precast
solid articles ( reinforced or
. otherwise )

fts

O-028 m*
28 dms

2)

concrete
4) Precast
construction

block

5) Special finish to
block construction

concrete

cement
6) Reinforced
Crete-in-situ chajjar

con{

7) Expansion joints in concrete work:

Length per mm width
and per cm depth
8)

(4
lb)

10) Surface channels

11) Damp-proof

course

12) Waterproofing:
Waterproofing

Surface treatment

agent

ma
10 dma

100 fts

9.29 ma

10

fts
rft

28 dma
O-305 m

10 dms
m

3@5 m

15

m2

10 m

2.83, ma
28 dm*

ms
10 dma

ft2

9.29 m2
9.3 dm8

10 ms
10 dms

100 fts
ft2

9.29 mz
9.3 dm2

10 mz
10 dm2

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

100 ft2
ft2.

g::tp:;
cement

ma
10 dms

2.83 ms
28 dma

100 ft
ft
1oo ftz

9) Cavity walls of concrete,

stone, brick, etc

ms
10 dms

100 fta
ft*

100 rft

Concrete
casing
to
beams and the like
Wrapping
of netting,
expanded
metal, for
concrete Casing, etc

Metric
Units to
be Used

loo:::

9 29 m2
9.3 dms

10 m2
10 dm2

8.95 litres litre per

F;; quin40 kg of
of cement
cement
or
kg
per SQ
kg
of
cement
0.093 ms
me
9.29 me
10 m2

Corresponding Metric
Metric Value unitsto
be Used
13) Jallias and lowres
crete, wood, etc

of con-

14) Fencing posts of:

Concrete
Wood

rts

9.3 dma

10 dma

AJ

28 dm

10 dma

rft

Q305 m

,m

15) Piles:
Concrete piles

ft9

O-028 ma
28 dma
0,305 m

ma
10 dma

Wood piles

rfc

Sheet piles

100 ft
rts
1

9.29 ma
9.3 dms

10 ma
10 dm*

ft3

28 dms
9.3 dms

10 dms

ft2
ftS

28 dms

10 dms

16) Pitching
piles:

and

driving

of

Whole piles
Sheet piles
17) Cement breeze blocks
18) Cutting in concrete, brick
masonry per mm width and
per cm depth

100 rft

19) Toothing and bonding in

brick
masonry,
stone
masonry,
concrete work,
etc

100 ft*

3@5 m

9.29 ma

10 dm*

10 m

10 ma

5.4 Brickwork and Stone Masonry

fps Units
Currently
Used

1) Brickwork
masonry

2)
..-

and

Corresponding Metric
Metric Value Units to
be Used

stone

Honeycomb
brickwork
specified thickness

100 rta

283 ms

ma

100 rts

2.83 ms

m2

100 ft

9-29 ma

10 ma

of

3) Under pinning
16

Metric

Used

unitsto

be C&d

4) Biick or sione edging

100 rft
100 fP

36.5 m
2.83 ma

10 m

5) Filleting

100 rft

3@5 m

10 m

6) grickwork or stone masonry

aroupd steel joists

100 ft8

283 ma

m*

for
stone
7) Extra labour
masonry
or
brickwork
around steel joists

100 ft

9.29 mg

lOm*

ft

9.3 d+

10dma

8) Extra labour
stonework:

in

dressed

Sunk to faces, beds and

joints
and
moulded
work in cornices and
the like
CFotnnii-

arrises, splays,
bullnosc
angle, rebates, grooves
and cutting

.i

9). Levelling up in stonework

with lime or cement concrete
10) Dressing
work

rft

O-305 m

100 ft

9.29 ma

io ma

ft

9.3 dma

IO dm*

fta

28 dma

10 dma

rft

O-305 m

to arches in faced

11) Dressed stonework

12) Angles in facings:
External

angles

Squints,
splayed
angles

birds-mouths,
or rounded
100 rft

13) Stops, mitt-es, ctc

14) Boulder

work
17

30-5 m

10 m

rft

O-305 rn.

100 ft8

2.83 m*

In*

IS:%S-1963
5.5

Woodwork
and Jolnery ( Measrrements)
fpsUnits
Currently
Used

1) Lengths

shall
to the nearest

2) Width

of surfaces

to

4) Framework
and strutting

6) Rough boarding
rary partition

4 in.

l-27 cm

cm

d in,

3.2 mm

mm

fts

28 dm*

10 dms

100 fts

2.83 ma

.ma

100 ft

9.29 ms

10 ma

100 fts

9.29 ms

10 ma

100 ft
ft
ft

9.29 ma
9.3 dma
9.3 dms

10 ma
10 dma
10 dm

to:
{

Moulding
9) Fillets required
throating

to produce
100 rft

of timber

notching
11) Scribing,
circular cutting in:
Cubic timber
Boarding

30.5 m

10 m

100 ft

9.29 m2

lQma

ft
rft

9.3 dm:
o-305 m

10 dma
m

and

tongues, grooves,
12) Rebates,
beads,
staff
beads
and
flutes and mouldings
13) Roof

cm

or stone

Concrete

10) Planing

254 cm

in tempo-

to brick

8) Formwork

in.
the

3) Width of single or detached

boards and thickness of all
boarding to the nearest

7) Centering
arches

Metric

Units to
be Used

be measured

nearest

8 Shoring

Corresponding
Metric Value

100 rft

30-S m
9:29 mz
28 dma

battens
18

10 m
10 ma
10 dm8

ls:%S-1963
fps Units Corresponding Metric
Metric Value Units to
be Used
cuKZy
14) Trellis work:
Generally
windows
Doors.
and
formed in trellis work
18 Pluggingto

100 ft

9-29 m*

10 n?

ft

9.3 dms

10 dms

100 rft

walls

30.5 m

10 m
m

161 Bauier

rft

0.305 m

17) Rough-hewn scantlings

ft

28 dms

10 dms

100 ft:

9.29 m*

10 m*

18) Rough planking

J9) Wood piles [ ( see 5.3 ) ( item 15 ) ]

28 dms

10 dm

20) Door and window chodats

ft

21) Fitting frames, fixing and

hanging
hinges,
with
pivots, etc

ft

9-3 dms

10 dms

22) Cased frames of vertical

sliding windows

ft

9.3 dms

10 dms

23) Skirting cornices, picture

and dado rails, etc

rft

O-305m

rft
rft
rft
ft

O-305 m
@305 m
@305 m
9.3 dms

24) Staircases:
Wall strings, outer strings
and cut strings
Hand-rails
Turned work
Treads, risers
Circular cutting
and
waste
Scaling joints of plaster
or fibre boards
Chamfering or rounding
edges of fibre boarding
and cutting v-groove
19

rn:
m
m
IO dma

IO0 rft

30-5 m

10m

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

lb0 rft

30.5 m

10 m

be Used
Plates, fiats, angles, bars
for reinforcement and gencral purpose, channels, etc

cwt

0508 quintal

quintal

ton
cwt

l-01 6 tonnes
O-508 quintal-

tonne
quintal

ft

9.3 dms

10 dm

CWt

0508

quintal

rft

@305 m

j@Srn
@305 m

10 m
m

100 ft

929 ma

10 m*

8) Fabric reinforcement

100 fi

9.29 ms

10 ms

9) Wire netting in wrappings

to steel work embedded in
concrete

100 ft*

9.29 m8

10 ma

2) Mild
etc

steel

beams,

joists,

3), Gates
4) Spirai
shaft

staircases;

centre

5) Railings
6) .Flue pipes

x7) Expanded metal

100 rft

10) Hoop iron

CWt

11) Bolts, nuts and washers

cwt

quintal

305 m
O%B quintal

10 m
quintal

0508 quintal

quintal

305 m

10 m

12) Wire fencing

1COrft

13) Patent plain wire fencing

100 ft

929 mg

10

14) Wire mattresses,

100 ft

9-29 m*

10 ma

1.5) Rolling shutters

ft

9.3 dmg

10 dms

16) Collapsible

cwt
ft

0508 quintal
93 dms

quintal
10 dms

9.3 dm*

10 dms

nets, etc

gates

17) Steel doors and windows

ft
20

ma

B:965-1963
s.7 Roofcoveriugs

fps units corresponding

cw~rm~ly Metric valuf?

Metric
Units

to

be Used
100 ft

9.29 m*

Ridges. hips and valleys

rft

Rolls, drips and flashings

100 ft

@305 m
9.29 rn

3) Raking cutting and waste

to hips, valleys, etc

100 rft
rft

3&S m
@305 m

100 rft
rft

30-S m
O-305 n.

10m.

1) R*f coverings

10 ma

2) Sheet roofing:
m

,iiida
l

10 m
m

4) Asbestos-cement sheets:
Filler
pieces, aprons,
barge boards, corner
pieces, flashings, louvres and similar specials

Ridges, hips and raking

cuttirig, etc ( see items 2 & 3 above )
5) Roof tiling:
Ridges,*hips, etc

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

Hips and ridges formed

in plaster

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

100 left

309 m

10 m

100 rft

309 m

10 m

Tiles at verges bedded in

mortar on walls

100 rft

309m

1Qlb

Cutting
and waste
to
abutments square
chimney
stacks,
and
the like

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

Rave

tiles

bedded

in

mortar
Filling

ends and spaces

Screwing
battens

cave

tiles

Half tiles or 14 tiles

verges

to

at

21

fis Units Corresponding Metric

Currently Metric Yalue
units to
Used
be Used

6) Terraced

roofing:
fts

Jack arches
Lime concrete
in terracing over jack arching,
RCC slab roof, etc
Fair finish or trowelled
smooth
to surface
of
lime concrete
Mud layer on terraced
verges
Waterproofing
layer

7) Felt-work:

10 ma
dms

100 fts

2.83 ma

ma or ma

100 ft

9.29 nis

10 m*

100 fts
100 fts

929 ma
9.29 m*

10 ms
10 ms

Weight of
felt in
lb per
100 ft

Dressing
or sealing
of felt by bitumen
Felt strips

!!E, s

Weight of
felt
O-049 kg
per m*

Weight of
felt in
kg per
ma

top
100 ft
100 ft

929.m
9.29 ma

10 ms
lOm*

8) Matting,

thatch and bamboo work:

Ridges and hips
Matting,
cover strips and
cross bracings of split
bamboos
Bamboo work
and
Bamboo-framing
trellis or jaffri work

100 rft

30-S m

10 m

100 fts
100 rft

9.29 ma
30.5 m

10 m*
10 m

100 ft

9.29 ma

10 m2

5.8 Ceilings and Linings

fps Unilr Corresponding Metric

Metric Value Units to
Used
be Used

, Currently

11Ceilings
2)

and linings

100 fts

Cover fillets, sealing joints,

chamfeting,
rounding,
etc

3) Iisulatiom board,
4) Hollow insulation

slabs,

100 rft

etc

blocks
22

9.29 ms
30*5 m

10 ma
10 m

100,ft

9.29 ms

10 m*

100 fts

2.83 m*

ma

Is:965-1963
5.9 Pavings aoa;l Floor Finislm
fps Units Corresbondinn
Met& Vu&

1) Paving
2)

Treads,

and floor finishes

risers,

3) Moulded
4j Surface
floors

etc

nosings
finish

of

8) Granolithic

sand

10 dm:*

0.305 m

9.29 ms

10 Ins

30.5 Iu

ma

100 ft2

9.29 ma

10 ms

100 ft

2.83 ma

m8

100 ft

9.29 ma

10 m*

100 ftt

929 ms

10 ma

to

finish
laid on floors

for
internal
and
angles in terrazzo
bands

in

topping

13) Mosaic finish

circular

fair

15) Wood block paving

parquet finish:

and

of expansion
Forming
joints
per mm width
and her cm depth

16) Asphalt paving:

Internal
angle
Skirting

30.5 m

10 m

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

to cement

floors

14) Brick paving:

Raking
or
cutting

100 rft
terrazzo

finish

12) Coloured

9:3 dms

100 rit

paving

11) Narrow

ft

coved

paper

7) Underlayer

external
floor

10 ms

100 fts

skirting

10) Lxtra

9.29 m*

to concrete

5) Cement-concrete

9) Terrazzo

l&l ft

rft

6) Building

h&WC

Units to
be Used

fillets,

23

100 fts

9.29 ms

100 rts

9.29 ma

l+Om*
10 m* or ma

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

100 rft
100 rft

365 m
30.5 m

10 m
ma

5.10Plaahg and Poidog

fps Units Corresponding
Cwr;ly
Metric V&he
1) Plastering
and
pointing.
generally
2) Pointing in single detached
joints

100 ft

5.11 White Washhg, Coloar W&g

30-S m
929 rnq

100 rft

30;s m

looft
100 rft

6) Flush or staff beads

m*

100 ft*

100 rft

3) Raking out joints

4) Plastering
bands not exceeding 30 cm in widthiper cm depth and per mm
projection
5) Stone imitation

9*29

929 rn

30.5 m

Metric
Ess;;

10

ma

10m
10 m*

10 m
10 ms

IOm

and D&tempt&g

fps units Corre~pontiihg

Cu;mretly Metrrc Value
100 ft*

Generally

929 m

AIrtrJc
ppMy
10 ms

5.12 Glazing

1) Generally
2) Hacking
glass

out

old

fps Units
Cuk4dtly

Coire~ponding
Metric Value

Afffrfc
Unrts to
be Used

100 ft

9.29 mi

10 m* or me

loo ft

929 m8

10 m.* or ms

broken

5.13 Pahfing

fps @its
Cu4;tly

Corresponding
Metric Value

Metrii:
Units to

be Used
1) Painting
2) Painting up to 150 mm in
width or girth not in conjunction with similar painted work
24

100 fts

100 rft

9.29 m*

305 m

10 ms or m*

10 m

Is:%S-1%3
5.14 Wood Preservative Treatment, Varnishing and Polisbing
ypfpsUnits Corresponding
Cu;e;tly
Metrrc Value
Generally

100 fts

5.15 Water Supply,

Plumbing,

9.29 m*

10 m*

Drains and Sanitary Fittings

fps Units Correfponding

Cuwrrr;ly Metm Value

1) Pipes
2) Insulating

Metric
Units10
be Used

100 rft
coverings

100 fts

beds, haunchings
and coverings
stating
details of section size of pipe
and mixkof concrete

30.5 m
9.29 ma

Mftric
Untts to
be Used
10 m
10 ms

3) Concrete

4) Effluent

drains

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

5.16 Electrical Work

fps Units Cohesponding
Currently Metric Value
Used

Metric
Units to
be, Uskd

1) Overhead

earth wire, bearer

wire, cradle, anti-climbing
device, over-head
conductor, etc

lb

Service
cables

100 rft

30.5 m

10m

3) Ducts, cover tiles and other

form
of
protection
for
underground
cables

100 rft

30.5 m

IO m

4) Flexibles

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

2)

connection

O-454 kg

kg

and

5) Boards

ft*
25

9.3 dms

10 dm

IS:%S-1963
5.17Roadwork

1) Collection of
2) Measurement.
pertaining
wearing coat

aggregate

Corresponding
Metric Value

Metric
Units to
be lJsed

100 fts

2.83 ms

ms

100 fts

9.29 m2
2.83 ms
28 dms

10 m2

0449 kg/m2

kgizsdof

of roadwork
to
building

3) Bases or soling
41 Tar and
surfacing

fps Units
Currently
Used

bitumen

for road

100 fP
fts
{
Ib per iO0
ft of road

10 ?tts

surface

5) Edging
6) Special

of premixed
surface

metal

100 rft

finishings

10 m

100 ft

30.5 m
9.29 m2

10 m2

100 rft

30.5 m

10 m

71 Expansion

joints per mm
Screening
8)
of road
9) Scarifying

and
dummy
per cm depth and
width
and/or
breaking
aggregate

100 fts
100 ft

2.83 ma
9.29 m2

ms
10 m2

10) Berms [ ( see 5.2 ) (item 3) ]

5.18 Demolition aod Dismratliog
NOTE - The unite of meeaurement
where applicable
,ac tboee employed for construction
of the work.

shall generally

fps Units Corresponding

Currently Metric Value
Used
1) Removal

of material
be in the units of

2) bud

100yd
100 ft
cwt
100 fts

3) Sheet, lead in roofs

as roof
beams,
concrete

Metric
Units to
be Used

shall

on roofs

4) Supporting

be the aeme

91.4 m

2.83ma
0508 quintal
9*29m2

50 m or
10 m
ma
quintal
10 ma

members,
such
battens,.
purlins,
etc,, of wood or
ft
26

28 dma

10 dm*

IS:965-1%3

5) Stripping
61 Breaking

fps Units Corresponding

Currently Metric Value
Used
100 ft*
9-29 m2

of ceilings

Metric
Units to
be Used
10 ma

down floors, roofs

of brick or concrete

100 fts

2.83lnj

ms

7) Taking down walls, piers,

etc, of brick or concrete

101)fts

2.83m3

ms

concrete
8) Reinforced
tures and reinforced
roofs and walls

strucbrick

9) Woodwork including rough

.hewn
scantlings
average
40 cm2 section
10) Woodwork

under

28 dms

10 dma

ftJ

28 dma

10 dm

40 cm2

section

100 rft

11) Bullies
12) Boarding
13) Steel and iron work
14) Picking up of drains, removal of water pipes, etc
6. CARRIAGE

ftJ

OF MATERIALS

Lime,
moorum,
building
rubbish, earth, manure and
sludge and excavated earth
stone
aggregates,
21 Sand,
soling stone, etc
3) Bricks, tiles, etc
4) Cement, stone blocks, steel
sections,
below
pipes,
100 mm size and
other
heavy materials
5) Timber
6) Tar, bitumen, etc
7! Steam coal
8) All types of pipes above
lOO-mm size

rft

30.5m
0.305m

100 fts
cwt

9.29 me

100 fts

2.83 m*

Os508quintal

fps Units Corresponding

Currently - Metric Value
Used

10 m
m
10 ma
quintal
ma

Metric
Units to
be Used

100 ft*

2.83ma

ms

100 fts
1OOONo.

2.83ma

Ins

ton
100 ft
ton
ton-

1016 tonnes
2.83 ms
l-016 tonnes
1.016 -tonnes

100 yds

27

91.4 m

lOOON

tonne
ma
tonne
tonne
100 m

IS:%S-1%3
7. WEIGHTS AND STRENGTH
OF MATERIALS
fps Units

Metric Units Conversion

Factor
to be Used

cuE3fiy

1) Simple

weights

2) Weight

of materials

per unit length

3) Density

rton
cwt
4
lb, (ounes)

tonne
q (quintal

lb/yd
{ lb/ft

kg/m
kg/m

O-496
l-488

rib/ins
lb/fP
cwtlyd
1

g/cm
g/ma
q/m

27.680
16.018
O-664

oz/imp
lb/f@

4) Concentrations
strength
5) Compressive
quirements
of materials
strength
6) Tensile
ments of materials
7) Breaking

require-

loads of materials

10) Other

pressure

( head )

pressure

13) Atmospheric
.pressure
head of mercury
14) Moment
15) Section

l-016
O-508
o-454
28.350

6.236
16019

lb/ins

kg/cm

0.070

lb/in.
{ tons/in.s

kg/cm
kg/mm

O-070
1-575

Ib/in.s
{ t0nslin.s

kg
kg/cma
kg/mm
m

ft

pressures

12) Atmospheric
head of water

gal g/l
g/l

lb

pressures

11) Bearing

g (:Zms)

re-

( tensile, compres8) Stresses

sive bearing or shear )
9) Hydraulic

( from fps
unit to
metric
unit )

O-454
@070
1575
o-305

lb/in.*

kg/cm

tons/ft?
lb/f@

tonne/me
kglms

ft

in.

mm

25.4

in.

cm*

-41.623

in.

cm*

16.387

o-070
10-937
4882

in
O-305

in\

of inertia
modulus
28

ls:965-1963

fpsUnits
Currently
Used

Metric Units Conversion

to be Used
Factor
( from fps
unit to
metric
unit )

16) Radius of gyratidn

moment

17) Bending

cm or mm

254

kib_
I in.-tons

kg-cm
kg-cm
kg-m

l-152
13.825
25.808

f-lb/f@
I tons/fts
4, tonqrft
llb/rft

kg/me
tonneImP
tonne/m
kglm

4.882
10-937
3.333
l-488

in.
and

moments

18) Force

19) Speed and velocity

mile/h
ft/s

km/h
m;s

1%09
0.305

20) Acceleration

ft/G

m/G

o-305

Cusec

ms/s

O-028

ft

o-305

21) Discharge
nels, etc

in rivers,

.chan-

22) Velocity head

.23) Work and energy

foot
pound

hp

Power

kilogram
metre

force

kilowatt

0.138
O-746

8. MISCELLANEOUS

fps Units Correspond@g

Currently
Used
1) Reduced

2) Catchment

levels

area

3) Rainfall
29

Metric Value

Metric
Units to
be Used

Height in
ft above
mean
sea level

0.305 m

Height .in
metres
above
mean
sea level

mile2

2.59 km*

kms or
hectare

in..

2%

mm

cm

Is:

965-1963
fps Units Corresponding
Currently
Metric Value
Used
4) Road

length

5) Land

areas

mile
1 furlong
acre
(acre

6) Storage

l-609 km
0.201 km

km
O-2 km

0405 hectare

hectare

0.123 3 hectare metre

0.028 32
million ms
4.55 meg
litres

hectare

million

m3

4.546 I/s
O-028 ma/s
@028 m3/day

l/s
ms/s
m3/day

0.089 hectare/l/s/
14.464 hectares/m3jda.y

hectare/
l/s
hectares/
m3/day

feet

I million

in reservoir

? ft
[gmillion
a ons

f iiNs

cusec
fts/day
I
[acre/gal/s

7) Flow

8) Duties

4, acre/As/

1 day

9) Viscosity
10) Kinematic

(ibpt)/s
ft/s

viscosity

Ib/ft

11) Surface tension

12) Cement bag_ ( weight ) f see
IS : 269-1958* Specification
for Ordinary,
Rapid Hardening and Low Heat Portland Cement ( Revised) J

(14.88
0.092
929.0s
1459

1 cwt

meg litres

R/cm)/s (g/cmJ/s
903 rnz/s m2js St
( Stokes )
St
N/m

N/m

50 kg

SO.802 kg

APPENDIX

Metric
Units to
be Used

( CZause 0.4 )
BASIC METRIC

UNITS

A-l. LINEAR MkiASURES

10 millimetres
10 centimetres

= 1 centimetre
= 1 decirrletre

( mm )
( cm )

10 decimetres
( dm )
* Third revision issued in 1976

= 1 metre
30

(cm)
( dm )*

(m )

IS : 965 - 1963
10 metres

= 1 hectometre

10 hectometres

= 1 kilometre

A-2. SQUARE

A-3. CUBIC

= 1 decametre

(m )

10 decametres

MEASURES

100 square

millimetres

100 square

centimetres

( mm2 ) = 1 square
( cm2 ) = 1 square

centimetre
decimetre

100 square

decimgtres

( dm2 )

metre

100 square

metres

1 square

1 are (a)

100 ares

1 hectare

100 hectares

= 1 square

MEASURES

( m2 )

( m2 )

kilometre

AND CAPACITIES
( mms )

= 1 cubic

1 000 cubic centimetres

( ems )

= 1 cubic decimetre

1 000 cubic

(dm*)

= 1 cubic metre

1 000 cubic

millimetres
decimetres

10 millilitres
10 centilitres
10 decilitres

( ml )

centimetre

1 centilitre

= 1 hectolitre
= 1 kilolitre
= I meglitre

1 000 kilolitres

( kl)

A-4. WEIGHTS
( mg )

milligrams
milligrams
centigrams
decigrams

=
=
=
=

= 1 kiiogram

10 hectograms
100 kilograms
1 000 kilograms

1 centigram
1 metric carat
1 decigram
1 gram(g)

= 1 decagram
= 1 hectogram

10 grams ( g )
10 decagrams
( kg )
( kg )

= 1 quintal
,= 1 tonne(t)

31

(kg )
(q )

( cm5 )
( dms)

( ms )

= 1 decilitre
= 1 litre ( 1)
= 1 decalitre

10 litres (1)
10 decalitres
10 hectolitres

10
200
10
10

( cm2)
( dm2)

BUREAU

OF

INDIAN

STANDARDS

Headquarters:
Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar
Telephones
: 331 01 31, 331 13 75

Regional
Central
*Eastern
Northern

NEW DELHI 110002

Telegrams
: Manaksanstha
( Common to all offices

Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,

NEW DELHI-110002
: l/14 C.I.T. Scheme VII M, V. I. P. Road,
Maniktola,
CALCUnA
700054
: SC0 445-446,
Sector 35-6,
CHANDIGARH
160036

: C. I. T. Campus,

tWestern

: Manakalaya,
BOMBAY

MADRAS

E9 MIDC,
400093

21843
1 31641
Y: fS
I 41 2916
6329295

600113

Marol,

Andheri

(East),

Ofices:

Pushpak
Nurmohamed
Shaikh Marg, Khanpur.
AHMEDABAD
380001
SPeenya Industrial
Area, 1 st Stage, Bangalore
Tumkur Road
BANGALORE
560058
Gangotri
Complex,
5th Floor, Bhadbhada
Road, T. T. Nagar,
BHOPAL 462003
Plot NO. 82/83, Lewis Road, BHUBANESHWAR
751002
5315, Ward No. 29, R. G. Barua Road, 5th Byelane,
GUWAHATI
781003
5-8-56C
L. N. Gupta Marg ( Nampally
Station Road),
HYDERABAD
500001
RI4

Yudhister

117/418

Telephones
331 01 31
[ 331 1375
36 24 99

Ofices:
: Manak

Southern

Branch

Marg,

Marg,

B Sarvodaya

C Scheme,
Nagar,

JAIPUR

800013
Palayam

lnspecfion
Office (With Sale Point) :
Pushpanjali,
1st Floor, 205-A
West High Court
Shankar Nagar Sauare,
NAGPUR 440010
Institution
of Engineers
PUNE 411005

( India

) Building,

1332

*Sales Office in Calcutta is at 5 Chowringhoe

Street, Calcutta 700072
Wales Office in Bombay
Bombay 400007
*Sales Office in Bangalore
Bangalore 560002

Is at

Novelty

Chambers,

is at Unity Building,

23 1083

2 51 71

Road,
Shivaji

Approach,

5 36 27
3 31 77

6 3471
1 6 98 32
21 68 76
[ 2.1 82 92
62305
6 21 04
1 621 17

302005

KAN PUR 208005

Patliputra
Industrial
Estate, PATNA
T.C. No. 14/1421,
University
P.O.,
TRIVANDRUM
695031;

26348
[ 26349
38 49 55
[ 38 49 56
66716

Nagar,

P.O. Princep
Grant

Narasimharaja

Road,
Square

52435
27 68 00
89 65 28
22 36 71

Printed at Simco Prlntino Prsos. Delhi. India