{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-1980-181/annex/chapter-I/division-1/division-1.2/division-1.2.3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-1980-181/annex/chapter-I/division-1/division-1.2/division-1.2.3.json",
  "legislation": "eudr/1980/181",
  "legislation_title": "Council Directive of 20 December 1979 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement and on the repeal of Directive 71/354/EEC (80/181/EEC)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-1980-181",
  "path": "annex/chapter/I/division/1/division/1.2/division/1.2.3",
  "kind": "division",
  "number": "1.2.3",
  "heading": "SI derived units with special names and symbols",
  "text": "Special names for the unit of power: the name volt–ampere (symbol ‘ VA ’ ) when it is used to express the apparent power of alternating electric current, and var (symbol ‘ var ’ ) when it is used to express reactive electric power. The ‘ var ’ is not included in GCPM resolutions.\nQuantity\nUnit\nExpression\nName\nSymbol\nIn terms of other SI units\nIn terms of SI base units\nPlane angle\nradian\nrad\nm · m –1\nSolid angle\nsteradian\nsr\nm 2 · m –2\nFrequency\nhertz\nHz\ns –1\nForce\nnewton\nN\nm · kg · s –2\nPressure, stress\npascal\nPa\nN · m –2\nm –1 · kg · s –2\nEnergy, work; quantity of heat\njoule\nJ\nN · m\nm 2 · kg · s –2\nPower , radiant flux\nwatt\nW\nJ · s –1\nm 2 · kg · s –3\nQuantity of electricity, electric charge\ncoulomb\nC\ns · A\nElectric potential, potential difference, electromotive force\nvolt\nV\nW · A –1\nm 2 · kg · s –3 · A –1\nElectric resistance\nohm\nΩ\nV · A –1\nm 2 · kg · s –3 · A –2\nConductance\nsiemens\nS\nA · V –1\nm –2 · kg –1 · s 3 · A 2\nCapacitance\nfarad\nF\nC · V –1\nm –2 · kg –1 · s 4 · A 2\nMagnetic flux\nweber\nWb\nV · s\nm 2 · kg · s –2 · A –1\nMagnetic flux density\ntesla\nT\nWb · m –2\nkg · s –2 · A –1\nInductance\nhenry\nH\nWb · A –1\nm 2 · kg · s –2 · A –2\nLuminous flux\nlumen\nlm\ncd · sr\ncd\nIlluminance\nlux\nlx\nlm · m –2\nm –2 · cd\nActivity (of a radionuclide)\nbecquerel\nBq\ns –1\nAbsorbed dose, specific energy imparted, kerma, absorbed dose index\ngray\nGy\nJ · kg –1\nm 2 · s –2\nDose equivalent\nsievert\nSv\nJ · kg –1\nm 2 · s –2\nCatalytic activity\nkatal\nkat\nmol · s –1\nUnits derived from SI base units may be expressed in terms of the units listed in Chapter I.\nIn particular, derived SI units may be expressed by the special names and symbols given in the above table; for example, the SI unit of dynamic viscosity may be expressed as m –1 · kg · s –1 or N · s · m –2 or Pa · s.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Substituted by Directive 2009/3/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 amending Council Directive 80/181/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement (Text with EEA relevance)."
    },
    {
      "type": "X",
      "label": "X1",
      "text": "Substituted by Corrigendum to Council Directive 80/181/EEC of 20 December 1979 on the aproximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement and on the repeal of Directive 71/354/EEC (Official Journal of the European Communities No L 39 of 15 February 1980)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "Special names for the unit of power: the name volt–ampere (symbol ‘ VA ’ ) when it is used to express the apparent power of alternating electric current, and var (symbol ‘ var ’ ) when it is used to express reactive electric power. The ‘ var ’ is not included in GCPM resolutions."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/1980/181/annex/chapter/I/division/1/division/1.2/division/1.2.3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:23:40.868248+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}