The OAA is pleased to announce it has renewed its access to critical CSA standards for Ontario practices and licensed members through the CSA OnDemand program. The renewal takes effect June 1, 2026. For more on eligibility, how to register or renew, and to review the User Guides, visit the OAA Website.
From design development to general review, CSA standards are used to ensure design and construction meet regulatory and building code requirements. In support of its mandate to serve the public interest, the OAA has arranged for free viewing access to a collection of all CSA standards referenced in Ontario’s Building Code and the National Building Code of Canada (NBC), including previous versions of the standards, in both English and French versions, where available.
In addition to the standards referenced in those codes, this year’s subscription continues to include the following standards:
- CSA A440.6:20, High-Exposure Fenestration Installation;
- CSA A460:19, Bird-Friendly Building Design;
- CSA A500:16 (R2021), Building Guards;
- CSA Z250:21, Process for Delivery of Volumetric Modular Buildings;
- CSA Z252:23, Volumetric Modular Construction: Guide to Compliance and Approval Processes;
- CSA Z317.13:22, Infection Control During Construction, Renovation, and Maintenance of Health Care Facilities;
- CSA Z320-11 (R2021), Building Commissioning; and
- CSA Z768-01 (R2022), Environmental Site Assessments.
Additionally, the subscription now includes the following six standards focused on climate-resilience for northern and permafrost regions:
- SA S500:21, Thermosyphon Foundations for Buildings in Permafrost Regions;
- CSA S501:21, Moderating the Effects of Permafrost Degradation on Existing Building Foundations;
- CSA S502:21, Managing Changing Snow Load Risks for Buildings in Canada's North;
- CSA S503:20, Community Drainage System Planning, Design, and Maintenance in Northern Communities;
- CSA S504:19, Fire-Resilient Planning for Northern Communities; and
- CSA S505:20, Techniques for Considering High Winds and Snow Drifting and Their Impact on Northern Infrastructure.
No action is required by currently subscribed members until your individual annual program renewal date. CSA will send emails to primary account holders in advance of that date.
Enrolment as a primary account holder is restricted to licensed OAA members. However, they may share this important resource with colleagues within their practice by adding up to nine secondary users to their account.
This article originally appeared in an issue of Practice Advisory—a newsletter developed by the OAA’s Practice Advisory Services team, which offers numerous resources for both members and the public.
The OAA does not provide legal, insurance, or accounting advice. Readers are advised to consult their own legal, accounting, or insurance representatives to obtain suitable professional advice in those regards.