Canadian Engineering Standards Association - Essay Example

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a “not-for-profit organization” that started its operations as an agency for ensuring railway safety and grew into becoming “a leader in standards development, certification and testing, and consumer product evaluation services” (Griffin, 1). CSA was formed in 1919 when a federal charter was issued announcing the formation of the Canadian Engineering Standards Association (Griffin, 1). Gradually, the organization expanded its operations to national and international levels (Griffin).

CSA provides standards for almost everything that a business or industry handles and a consumer benefits from; “from toasters to transformers, sewer pipes to sewing machines and light to lumber” (Griffin, 15). The CSA mark of the standard can be found on “more than a billion products around the world” (Griffin, 15). The international counterpart of the organization “tests and certifies products to national, regional and international standards” (Griffin, 15).

This, in turn, helps to ensure “public safety and health”, better the “quality of life”, and conserve environmental health (Griffin, 15). The role of the organization has been defined as “foster operational excellence” (Griffin, 15).  A renovator can follow these standards to ensure quality and safety. They help the renovator to know “if the technical functions associated with their major systems were safe and fully operational,” as suggested in the CSA website, CSA.CA.com.

These standards approach the buildings and their entire operational systems from a holistic perspective, says the CSA website, CSA.CA.com. The website also explains that the “major building systems” that come under these guidelines are: architectural systems (building envelope and interior space assemblies that are environmental separators); vertical and horizontal transportation systems; electrical systems (incoming, main, and branch distribution; fire alarm and detection systems); mechanical systems (HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, and refrigeration); and control systems and integration (BAS, energy management control systems, lighting control systems).

It is also observed in the CSA website, CSA.CA.com, that “the intent of this Standard is to provide a comprehensive, integrated, consistent, and managed the process to ensure and document the performance of a complete building and its major systems in meeting the basis of design and operational requirements of the owner.” The Z320-11 standards encompass the processes of commissioning, necessary resources, the roles, responsibilities and conduct of the professional team involved, and “the sequence and integration of commissioning activities” of a building that is renovated, says the CSA website.