B.S.T.J. Recommendation for Adopting the International System (SI) of Units

TECHNICAL VOLUME xLv Copyright © JULY-AUGUST 1966, American JOURNAL 1966 Telegraph Company n u m b e r 6 Telephone and B.S.T.J. Recommendation for Adopting the International System (SI) of Units In 1960, the Eleventh General Conference on Weights and Measures proposed an International System of Units (designated SI System from Le Systeme International d'Unites) to be used when referring to physical quantities and concepts. This system was given official status in Resolution No. 12 of the General Conference when it was adopted by the 36 treaty nation members, including the United States. The SI System was adopted by the International Committee on Weights and Measures (the executive body of the General Conference) in 1962. Since then, leading professional societies, such as the American Institute of Physics (AIP), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers ( I E E E ) , the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and other national and international organizations have adopted and are actively promoting the SI System of Units. The Bell System Technical Journal Editorial Committee feels that a logical step toward eventual acceptance of the SI System is to use it in scientific publications wherever practical. In areas where such use is already established, no interpretative hardship should result. In applications where the use of the SI units is recent or new, it is recommended that the SI units be shown, followed by the equivalent conventional English units in parenthesis.