Kilopascal (kPa)

The kilopascal is a x1000 multiple of the Pascal unit which is the SI unit for pressure. 1 kilopascal equals 1,000 pascals.
It is not one of the most used pressure units since it lies between the Millibar (hectopascal) and the bar, both of which are widely used pressure units and there is a strong tendency due to converting a kilopascal into one or the other.

The kPa is mostly used for describing sub-atmospheric air pressures and low differential air pressures found in building ventilation systems.

When compared to a bar unit there is 100 kPa in 1 bar which happens to be very close to the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level (101.325kPa), therefore a reading in kPa closely represents the same value as the 0 to 100 percentage scale of atmospheric pressure. This makes the comparison of atmospheric pressure with the pressure at different altitudes or the partial pressures of component gases more tangible.