![]() On a hot summer day where the temperature can get over 100° F (38° C), they can be off by enough to require correction. Steel tapes are calibrated to have the optimum measurement at 68° F (20° C). In other words, temperature can make them shrink or expand depending on how hot or cold the environment is at the jobsite. For instance, because they are usually steel they are subject to thermal expansion, which is the tendency of matter to change its shape, area, volume and density in response to a change in temperature. The challenge with tape measures is that several factors can impact their accuracy-or lack thereof. The reason why tape measures are on pretty much every tool belt around the world is they work, are inexpensive and can handle most of what is thrown at them. For instance, a tape measure that is 60-meters (about 197 feet) can be confirmed within 0.1 millimeters, or the thickness of a piece of paper. They employ a number of techniques to ensure that tape measures are accurate. This intrepid group calibrates master tape measures for athletic organizations, crime scene investigators and others. The National Institute of Standards and Technology ( NIST) has an underground facility staffed by professional metrologists, who are scientists that study and practice the science of measurement. The question is, how can a tradesperson ensure the measuring tools they use on the jobsite are accurate and will perform appropriately in varying conditions? When it comes to measuring, three of the most widely used tools are the traditional metal tape measures, sonic wave generators and laser range finders. Inaccurate measurements bring issues from puddles due to poor drainage to unwanted cracks and instability, which can undermine the integrity of the building. ![]() With flatwork for instance, accurately measuring the length, width, depth, and slope are all critical factors that mean the difference between success and abject failure. It goes unsaid that accuracy is extremely important. While sometimes little notches in wood or metal are used to measure inches and feet, like a ruler or tape measure, today we have advanced devices that can use sound and light to measure an entire project in mere minutes. The way measurements are taken and the technology of the instruments used have evolved greatly from the time of King Henry I. That means what is used to measure must be accurate and conform to standards for every use. Translating their thoughts, designs, and calculations into real-world edifices requires accurate measurements of everything on the job sites. Architects and engineers go to great lengths to ensure the homes and buildings they design are safe and effective. Obviously, the length of humans’ arms and legs vary, and in today’s world, this variation is problematic. In America, we essentially still use the length of the foot, the width of the finger, and the distance from the nose to the thumb of the out-stretched arm of the 12th century King Henry I of England as the basis of our standard measurements. A tradition that originated thousands of years ago in Egypt that is still used today is to measure the height of a horse by “hands” or 4 in. ![]() In ancient times when someone needed to make a measurement, they would turn to something close at hand, often literally a hand. ![]()
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