About

The unit kgf/cm² (kilogram-force per square centimeter), often referred to as the "Technical Atmosphere" (at), is a legacy unit of pressure still widely found on older mechanical gauges, Russian/European piping schematics, and material strength reports. Unlike the standard atmosphere (atm), which is based on air pressure, the technical atmosphere is based on the gravitational force of 1 kg on 1 cm².

Confusion between these units often occurs in maintenance documentation. This calculator provides a strict conversion using the standard gravitational constant, ensuring accurate translation from the modern SI unit (Pascal) to the technical metric required for machinery specifications and gauge validation.

Formulas

The conversion derives from standard gravity (g = 9.80665 m/s²):

1 kgf/cm² = 98,066.5 Pa

To calculate kgf/cm² from Pascals:

P_(kgf/cm²) = P_(Pa)98,066.5

Reference Data

Value (Pa)	Value (kgf/cm²)	Note
98,066.5 Pa	1 kgf/cm²	Definition of 1 "at"
1,000,000 Pa (1 MPa)	10.1972 kgf/cm²	High Pressure
101,325 Pa (1 atm)	1.0332 kgf/cm²	Standard Atmosphere
1 Pa	0.0000102 kgf/cm²	-
200,000 Pa	2.0394 kgf/cm²	Approx 2 Bar

Frequently Asked Questions

"at" is the symbol for Technical Atmosphere (kgf/cm²), which equals 98,066.5 Pa. "atm" is the Standard Atmosphere, which equals 101,325 Pa. They differ by roughly 3%.

It is commonly seen on pressure gauges in older industrial plants, hydraulic excavators, and in some structural engineering codes in Europe and Asia (often referred to as "kilo").

Very close, but not identical. 1 kgf/cm² ≈ 0.98 Bar. For rough estimates, they are often treated interchangeably, but for calibration, the difference is significant.