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INTRODUCTION

Canadian Standards Association

CSA is Canada's largest standards writing, testing, and certification organization.

More than 8,000 volunteer members from across Canada serve on the committees that write, review, and revise the Standards published by CSA. Committee members include representatives from federal, provincial, and municipal governments; from research organizations, labour unions, consumer groups; from manufacturers, consultants, professional associations, and trade organizations.

The more than 1,300 Standards published by CSA reflect a national consensus of producers, users, and regulatory authorities. CSA Standards cover nearly 35 major areas, such as structural design, building materials, the Canadian Electrical Code, computers, office machines, environmental protection, health care, fire safety, sports and recreational equipment.

Most of the published CSA Standards provide detailed procedures for testing and inspection to certify conformance to the applicable Standards.

Approximately one-thid of CSA's Standards have been incorporated by reference into provincial or federal government regulation, so that in these cases, compliance with the CSA Standard has been made mandatory.

Manufacturers and suppliers have their products or services certified as conforming to CSA Standards for a variety of reasons: to provide product quality, enhance market acceptability, provide criteria for product design, evaluation and testing; improve quality and safety control procedures in manufacturing and construction.

Certification testing is conducted by CSA at its test laboratories in Etobicoke (Toronto) and its four region offices across Canada in Richmond (Vancouver), Edmonton, Pointe Claire (Montreal) or by CSA's worldwide Partner Network.

CSA certification and testing benefits everyone by helping ensure the integrity and safety of products in the marketplace.