Codes and standards in Canada
The codes, CSA standards and ASHRAE documents that shape Canadian HVAC work. 11 guides.
- ASHRAE 90.1 vs NECB
Learn the practical differences between ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and the NECB, how their compliance paths and modelling rules work, and which one applies to a Canadian project.
- ASHRAE Standard 170 for healthcare ventilation
Learn what ASHRAE Standard 170 requires for healthcare ventilation, how to read its design tables, and where Canadian projects follow CSA Z317.2 instead.
- Accessibility and HVAC controls
Learn which accessibility requirements apply to HVAC controls in Canadian buildings, how to locate and specify user controls, and where the rules vary by province.
- CSA B149 gas installations and HVAC equipment
Learn how the CSA B149 series applies to boilers, furnaces, rooftop units, unit heaters and make-up air units, and what designers and owners need to know about venting, air supply and approvals.
- CSA B52 mechanical refrigeration code
Learn how CSA B52 governs refrigeration and air conditioning systems in Canada, how refrigerant quantity limits are checked, when a machinery room is needed and what the 2023 edition changed.
- Fire dampers and smoke control under Canadian codes
Learn the difference between fire dampers, smoke dampers and fire stop flaps, where the NBC requires them, how installation affects performance, and what ongoing inspection and testing involves.
- Mechanical permits and engineering seals in Canada
Learn who regulates engineers in each province, when mechanical drawings must be sealed, how permits and letters of assurance work, and what owners and contractors should expect during construction.
- National Building Code of Canada: HVAC requirements
Learn how the National Building Code is structured, where its HVAC requirements live, which standards it references, and how provinces adopt and amend it.
- Provincial building codes and HVAC: Alberta, BC and Ontario
Learn which code editions and regulators govern HVAC work in Alberta, BC and Ontario, how they differ from the national model codes, and what that means for design and permitting.
- Seismic restraint of HVAC equipment in Canada
Learn when HVAC equipment, ductwork and piping need seismic restraint in Canada, which codes apply, and how restraints are designed, installed and inspected.
- Stairwell pressurization and smoke control systems
Learn why high buildings use stair pressurization and other smoke control measures, how the systems are designed around pressure and door force limits, and how they are tested and kept working.