There are a couple easy steps required to take an accurate compass reading of the facing of your home or building. In order to do so, you need to know the facing direction of the building and have a good compass. Below are simple guidelines to follow.
Step 1. Determine the facing of the building
The facing side of a building has the most expansive view or unblocked exposure or farthest view of the horizon; typically it is the street side or where the main door is located or where people enter the building, but not always. To be sure, I ask that you fax or email your floor plan prior to taking your measurement so I can indicate where to stand in order to take your reading. I may also require pictures of the surroundings and a copy of your site plan. For those in condos or apartments, it is best to provide the floor plan of your unit, the footprint of the building and the site plan showing the location of the building on the property.
Step 2. Use a good quality compass
Your compass should have all 360 degrees clearly marked (at minimum every 2 degrees should be marked). You must be able to determine the exact degree the building faces. The compass should also feature a line of sight, allowing you to line your compass up with the object you are measuring. There are two main types of compasses:
Chinese Compass – called a Luopan (the flat edge really helps you align with the flat edge of the building!)
Western Compass – like a Suunto with or without a flat edge (examples are shown below and can either be found doing a Google search for Suunto Compass and select www.TheCompassStore.com or visit your local camping and hiking equipment store for this brand or others like it).
1.) A-30L Woodsman Compass
2.) MCA-D Challenger Sighting Mirror Compass
3.) KB-20 VISA Sighting Compass
Step 3. Accurately position yourself and your compass for the reading
Avoid magnetic interference to ensure an accurate reading. Avoid standing near electrical equipment, cars, parking meters and cell phones. Remove metal objects from yourself such as watches, belts and chains.
Stand facing the building, square your body with both feet even and slightly apart for stability. You may need to lean over your compass to read the exact degree. (Why face the building? Because you can only determine you are parallel with the building if you are facing it! You cannot determine this if your back is to the building!)
Center yourself along the facing side of the building. Stand 5 to 10 feet away from the building (to avoid the structure’s magnetic interference). Position yourself and your compass to be parallel with the facing of the building. This is extremely important – you must be parallel to the building to get an accurate reading. It is suggested you take 3 different readings to verify accuracy; these positions can be different locations along the facing side of the building and at 5 feet and 10 feet from the building.
Hold the compass at your waist and level to the ground.
Step 4. Working with the compass
The direction the needle actually points depends on the type of compass you have. If you have a western compass, the needle will point to 0 degrees north. For the Chinese compass (luopan), the needle will line up with 180 degrees south. Both are accurate, just magnetically aligned differently.
For a western compass you may find an outer dial that rotates, set this so the arrow points to 0 degrees north.
For the Chinese compass you will find a circular plate with a red line and 2 red dots in the center or heaven’s pool. Rotate this plate until these markings are perfectly aligned with the floating magnetic needle. Make sure the round head of the needle rest between the 2 red dots of the circular plate.
Step 5. Determine the facing degree
Now you need to read the compass to determine which degree is the exact facing degree of the building.
IMPORTANT: Since you are facing the building, you are facing the direction the building is actually ‘sitting’. Since you want the facing direction, you will need to read the degree closest to you. So …
For the Western Compass: For compasses without rotating dials, you’ll read the ‘smaller number’ since this indicates the opposite direction you are currently facing (and therefore the facing direction of the building). For compasses with a rotating dial, read the degree that is closest to your body or at your bellybutton (because this matches the facing orientation of the building).
For the Chinese Compass: There are 2 nylon strings squaring the compass. Look at the string that points towards the building. This line will cover two different degrees – the one opposite you (closest to the building) will give you the sitting degree of the building and the one closest to your body (near your bellybutton) will give you the facing degree of the building. The degree closest to your bellybutton is the degree you need!
Note: Since you are taking a magnetic reading with your compass, you do not need to make any adjustments to determine true north. Magnetic north is used for Feng Shui purposes.
Below is a chart of the corresponding degrees for each direction. Most people have a general idea of the direction their property faces. Use this chart to guide you and help confirm the reading you have taken.
| NORTH |
SOUTH |
| N1 |
337.5 – 352.5 |
S1 |
157.5 – 172.5 |
| N2 |
352.5 – 7.5 |
S2 |
172.5 – 187.5 |
| N3 |
7.5 – 22.5 |
S3 |
187.5 – 202.5 |
| NORTHEAST |
SOUTHWEST |
| NE1 |
22.5 – 37.5 |
SW1 |
202.5 – 217.5 |
| NE2 |
37.5 – 52.5 |
SW2 |
217.5 – 232.5 |
| NE3 |
52.5 – 67.5 |
SW3 |
232.5 – 247.5 |
| EAST |
WEST |
| E1 |
67.5 – 82.5 |
W1 |
247.5 – 262.5 |
| E2 |
82.5 – 97.5 |
W2 |
262.5 – 277.5 |
| E3 |
97.5 – 112.5 |
W3 |
277.5 – 292.5 |
| SOUTHEAST |
NORTHWEST |
| SE1 |
112.5 – 127.5 |
NW1 |
292.5 – 307.5 |
| SE2 |
127.5 – 142.5 |
NW2 |
307.5 – 322.5 |
| SE3 |
142.5 – 157.5 |
NW3 |
322.5 – 337.5 |
|
