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The stere as a cubic metre of stacked firewood

The stere or stère (st) is a unit of volume in the original metric system equal to one cubic metre. The stere is typically used for measuring large quantities of firewood or other cut wood,[1] while the cubic meter is used for uncut wood.[2] The name was coined from the Greek στερεός stereós, "solid", in 1795 in France as a metric analogue to the cord. The unit was introduced to remove regional disparities of this former unit, for which the length could vary greatly from 6 to 13.5 m. It is not part of the modern metric system (SI) and is no longer a legal unit in France, but remains used in the commerce of firewood.

Background

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The correspondence between stere and cubic meters of stacked wood is imprecise because it depends on the length of the logs used and on how irregular they are. The stere corresponds to 1 m3 (35.3 cu ft) of wood, made exclusively with logs of 1 m (3.3 ft) in length, all stacked parallel and neatly arranged. If the logs are less than 1 m, the volume of visible wood decreases because the voids are better occupied. Thus the "stere" no longer corresponds to 1 m3, but to 0.8 m3 (28.3 cu ft) for 50 cm (19.7 in) logs, 0.7 m3 (24.7 cu ft) for 33 cm (13.0 in) logs and 0.6 m3 (21.2 cu ft) for 25 cm (9.8 in) logs.

In Dutch and German, a closely related unit called kuub (Dutch), short for kubieke meter, or "Kubikmeter" (German) which differs from a stere. Whereas a "kuub" or "Kubikmeter" is a solid cubic metre, as it was traditionally used for wood, a stere (in German: Raummeter) is a cubic metre pile of woodblocks. A stere or Raummeter is less than a kuub or full cubic metre of wood, because the spaces between the woodblocks are included in a stere, while they do not count towards a kuub or Kubikmeter. In Finnish, the same unit is known as motti (from Swedish mått, "measure").

The stere as used in contexts outside the timber industry is not subject to the same ambiguity.[3] In particular, stere and kilostere are sometimes used in hydrology, as the kilostere (1,000 m3 (35,315 cu ft) or megalitre) is a slightly smaller metric analogue of an acre-foot (approximately 1,233 m3 (43,500 cu ft)), similar to the relationship of the metric tonne to the short ton.[4]

See also

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References

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Stere

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from Grokipedia
The stere (symbol: st) is a unit of volume in the equal to one (1 m³ or 1,000 litres), primarily employed to measure the volume of stacked , timber, or cordwood. This unit accounts for the specific arrangement of wood in stacks, where the base length is typically 1 for a single stere, and individual logs or pieces generally do not exceed 1 in length to ensure consistent packing. Equivalent to approximately 35.315 cubic feet, the stere provides a standardized way to quantify bulk wood volumes beyond simple cubic measurements. The term "stere" originates from the Greek word stereós (στερεός), meaning "solid" or "firm," reflecting its application to solid volumes. Introduced in France as part of the early metric system around 1798, it served as a practical measure for firewood during the revolutionary standardization of weights and measures. The unit gained formal international recognition when adopted by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) in 1879, initially with the symbol "s," which was updated to "st" by the 9th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1948. In the United States, it was approved under the Act of July 28, 1866, but later deemed unacceptable for trade in 1982. Similarly, the European Economic Community mandated its cessation by December 31, 1977, under Directive 71/354/EEC, contributing to its decline in official use. Despite its obsolescence in many modern contexts, the stere persists in some and industries, particularly in and parts of , where related multiples like the decastere (10 steres or 10 m³) and decistere (0.1 stere or 100 dm³) have been documented in use as late as the 1960s in regions such as . The unit's design emphasizes the solid, stacked nature of the material, distinguishing it from the plain used for unprocessed timber. Today, while the (SI) favors the for all volume measurements, the stere remains a notable example of metric system's early adaptations for practical commodities.

Overview

Definition

The stere (symbol: st) is a unit of volume equal to exactly one cubic meter (1 m³). It represents the volume of a cube measuring 1 m on each side, making it suitable for measuring bulk or stacked solid materials. Introduced as part of the original metric system in 1795, the stere served as a special name for the cubic meter, particularly for firewood and other irregular solid volumes. Although it is not an SI unit, it was historically accepted for use alongside SI units as a supplementary measure before being deprecated in modern practice. The symbol "st" was officially adopted in 1948 to distinguish it from the second (s).

Etymology

The term "stere" derives from the French "stère," which in turn is borrowed from the ancient Greek "stereos" (στερεός), signifying "solid" or "firm." This etymological root underscores the unit's intended purpose for quantifying volumes of solid substances, distinguishing it from measures for liquids or gases. The word entered the French lexicon in the late 18th century amid efforts to establish a rational, decimal-based system of measurement during the French Revolution. French metrologists adopted the term to evoke solidity and stability, aligning with the era's emphasis on scientific precision and universality in nomenclature. Its earliest documented appearance occurs in official French metrological legislation around the 1790s, particularly in the decree of 18 Germinal An III (7 April 1795), which formalized "stère" as a specialized measure for solid volumes like . This introduction marked the term's integration into the provisional metric framework, emphasizing practical application to tangible, non-fluid materials.

History

Origins in the

The stere was developed during the in the as part of the broader metric reforms initiated by the to create a universal system of measurements based on natural constants. In 1790, the commissioned the Academy to reform the disparate and arbitrary units prevalent in pre-revolutionary , with prominent mathematicians such as Jean-Charles de Borda and playing key roles in proposing standards for length, mass, and volume to facilitate trade, science, and administration. The stere emerged as a practical unit for measuring the volume of solid materials, particularly to complement the smaller cubic decimeter (later formalized as the liter) for larger-scale applications like bulk goods. Officially defined on April 7, 1795 (18 Germinal Year III), by the French National Convention through Article 5 of the law on weights and measures, the stere was established as equal to the volume of a with one-meter sides (one cubic meter or 1,000,000,000 cubic millimeters) for use in practical contexts such as and forestry, especially firewood stacking. This provisional definition integrated the stere into the nascent metric framework, deriving it directly from the meter to ensure coherence and universality. A pivotal advancement occurred in with the French law on weights and measures (19 Frimaire Year VIII), which confirmed the metric standards, including the stere, by depositing the platinum prototypes in the and mandating their use within . However, while this solidified the stere's role domestically, its adoption remained limited outside initially, as the metric system's international dissemination faced resistance from entrenched local traditions.

Evolution and Standardization

During the 19th century, the stere underwent refinements as part of broader expansions under the of 1875, which facilitated international collaboration on standards. The unit was formally adopted by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) in 1879 with the initial symbol "s". Its definition as exactly one was indirectly confirmed at the 1st General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1889, when the international prototype —a platinum-iridium bar preserved at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)—was adopted as the fundamental length standard, thereby fixing the volume unit derived from it. In the United States, the stere was approved for use under the Act of July 28, 1866, but later deemed unacceptable for trade in 1982. Similarly, the mandated its cessation by December 31, 1977, under Directive 71/354/EEC. In the , the stere received further formal recognition in a resolution of the 9th CGPM (Resolution 7), which assigned it the symbol "st" to distinguish it from the second (s) and affirmed its role as a specifically for . However, when the modern (SI) was established by the 11th CGPM in 1960, the stere was not incorporated as an official SI unit or special name; instead, the (m³) became the standard for volume, though the stere was tolerated in certain traditional applications. By 1978, the CIPM deemed the stere permissible for continued use only where already established, such as in specific fields or countries, due to its practical entrenchment, but discouraged its expansion. The stere saw adoption across , particularly in and , for and wood volume measurements until the mid-20th century, reflecting its utility in stacked amid early metric implementations. Its usage declined following the BIPM's promotion of the SI in 1960, which prioritized coherent units like the for scientific and international consistency. As of the 26th CGPM in 2019, which redefined the SI based on fixed constants rather than artifacts, the stere remains outside the SI system, excluding non-coherent traditional names like the stere. Nonetheless, it persists in recognition for specific trades, such as firewood sales in parts of , where it continues in commercial practice despite formal SI preferences.

Applications

Measurement of Wood and

The stere is traditionally used for quantifying volumes of stacked firewood and cordwood, defined as a stack measuring 1 meter high, 1 meter wide, and 1 meter long—equivalent to 1 cubic meter—that inherently accounts for air spaces in loose stacking arrangements. This unit facilitates practical assessment of bulk wood without requiring solid volume calculations, as the stacking method incorporates typical gaps between logs. In measurement techniques, firewood is stacked with logs aligned parallel and arranged neatly to form the stere, often paralleling a "face cord" in certain regions, though the stere typically provides 60-70% solid wood volume owing to interstitial air gaps; it is suitable for cordwood where tighter packing is feasible. Regional practices highlight the stere's prevalence in France as the "stère de bois" for forestry and firewood sales, alongside its adoption in Eastern Europe for log wood quantification and in Canada for metric-based firewood transactions. In the European Union, legal standards such as EN ISO 17225-5 regulate firewood trade by specifying quality classes and moisture limits to promote consistent and equitable commerce. A key advantage of the stere lies in its simplicity for bulk firewood sales, enabling volume-based pricing without mandatory weighing; for instance, one stere of firewood weighs approximately 500-700 kg, varying with moisture content from green (higher) to seasoned (lower) states. As of 2023, the stere continues to be used in and parts of for firewood sales.

Other Volume Measurements

The unit remains unsuitable for liquids or gases due to its design for solid, stacked or loose solids; for instance, 1 stere of dry weighs approximately 1,600 kg, reflecting its of around 1,600 kg/m³.

Conversions and Equivalents

Relation to SI Units

The stere is exactly equal to one (m³), the coherent derived SI unit for volume, defined as the cube of the , which is the of . The is a legacy metric unit predating the SI, equal to 1 m³, but not an SI unit. It is accepted for use with the SI in specific contexts, such as the trade of and stacked wood volumes, though the SI recommends the for general measurements. Its , st, does not conflict with any official SI . The stere retains its exact equivalence to 1 m³ following the 2019 revision of the SI, which redefined the in terms of a fixed numerical value of the and the but preserved the previous numerical relations without change.

Comparisons to Non-Metric Units

The stere, equivalent to 1 cubic meter of volume, corresponds to approximately 35.3147 cubic feet in . This volume is also approximately 1.30795 cubic yards. In the United States, where the cord serves as a standard unit defined as 128 cubic feet, one stere equates to roughly 0.2759 cords. This conversion is particularly relevant for , as the cord's larger (approximately 3.625 steres) facilitates bulk comparisons. Historically in the , wood measurements like the "load" varied but often ranged from 40 to 50 cubic feet, making the stere a substantially larger unit for similar applications. In North American logging contexts, conversions to cubic yards are common, with one stere equaling 1.30795 cubic yards to align with regional volume standards.

References

  1. https://www.sizes.com/units/stere.htm
  2. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/stere
  3. https://www.convertunits.com/info/stere
  4. https://www.etymonline.com/word/stere
  5. https://usma.org/si-unit-definitions
  6. https://mjp.univ-perp.fr/france/1793mesures.htm
  7. https://physics.nist.gov/cuu/pdf/sp330.pdf
  8. https://www.dictionnaire-academie.fr/article/A9S2877
  9. https://www.si.edu/spotlight/metric-system-demonstration-apparatus/the-origin-of-the-metric-system
  10. https://www.britannica.com/science/stere
  11. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233642315_The_Foundation_of_the_Metric_System_in_France_in_the_1790s
  12. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/french-revolution-toppled-king-forged-metric-system
  13. https://www.bipm.org/en/history-si/metre
  14. https://www.bipm.org/en/measurement-units
  15. https://physics.nist.gov/cuu/pdf/sp811.pdf
  16. https://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/mensuration/BrackandWood1998/METRIC.HTM
  17. https://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/si-brochure/SI-Brochure-9-EN.pdf
  18. https://www.woodresearch.sk/wr/201503/16.pdf
  19. https://timbeter.com/blog/cord-stere-in-regards-to-firewood-pulpwood/
  20. https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/biomass-energy-resources/fuel/types-of-woodfuel/
  21. https://services.totalenergies.fr/particuliers/conseils/energies-habitat/buches/mesure-bois-chauffage
  22. https://www.seefor.eu/images/arhiva/vol2_no1/06_ljubojevic.pdf
  23. https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/firewood-measurements/
  24. https://www.en-standard.eu/bs-en-iso-17225-5-2021-solid-biofuels-fuel-specifications-and-classes-graded-firewood/
  25. https://www.tips.adurofire.com/knowledge-and-useful-advice/firewood/cord-cubic-metre-or-by-the-kilo/
  26. https://www.toutsurlebeton.fr/le-ba-ba-du-beton/quelle-est-la-masse-volumique-du-sable/
  27. https://www.bipm.org/documents/20126/41483022/SI-Brochure-9-EN.pdf
  28. https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811/nist-guide-si-appendix-b-conversion-factors
  29. https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2024/12/12/2025_NIST_HB133_Chapter3-20241025.pdf
  30. https://agriculture.az.gov/weights-measures/consumer-tips/firewood-sale-requirements
  31. https://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/gclark/papers/Agprice.pdf
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