CSA S478:19 (R2024) ✓ Most Recent

Scope

1.1 This Standard provides criteria and requirements for the design of a durable building and its building elements and includes provisions for cost analysis and management and for a quality management program for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, repair, and renovation of a building and its building elements.

1.2 This Standard applies to the building and to building elements that
a) are required to resist loads from the structure environment and the effects of those loads;
b) are exposed to exterior space or the ground;
c) separate interior space from exterior space or separate interior space from the ground; or
d) separate environmentally dissimilar interior spaces.

1.3 This Standard includes the following:
a) definitions for performance, failure, service life, and other concepts related to the durability of a building or building element;
b) fundamental durability requirements for the design of a new building or the repair or renovation of an existing building and building elements;
c) compliance criteria for the design for durability of a building and building elements, including requirements for design service life and predicted service life;
d) compliance criteria for construction processes that affect durability;
e) compliance criteria for quality management and for an operation, maintenance, and inspection program;
f) for existing buildings, requirements for investigation and assessment of degradation of a building and building elements and for repair and maintenance; and
g) guidance on the use of this Standard to
i) select a design service life for a building and building elements;
ii) determine a predicted service life;
iii) assess structure environments; and
iv) understand degradation mechanisms.

1.4 This Standard is intended to be used throughout all stages of the building life cycle, as follows:
a) by designers, working from design conception to building handover;
b) by building owners, particularly after building handover;
c) for operation and maintenance, in conjunction with the designer; and
d) for repair and renovation.

Note: As a minimum, designers should consult with the building owner from design conception to building handover. The nature of the contract between the designer and the owner might affect the assignment of responsibilities for implementing the Standard after building handover. However, the intent is to ensure seamless transition and effective cooperation and communication between the designer and the owner throughout all stages of the building life cycle to ensure durability and reliability.

1.5 The following are not within the scope of this Standard:
a) durability of mechanical systems, electrical systems, and services in buildings; and
b) durability of building finishes, except those providing a performance control function.

Notes:
1) Although the Standard does not specifically address mechanical systems, electrical systems, and services, such systems and services should be taken into account in an integrated design for durability of a building and building elements.
2) The loads on a building and building elements that result from the operation of mechanical and electrical systems and services should be considered along with the structure environment and structural loads. See more