FAQ's
What is a Standard?
Many standards define safety requirements intended to reduce the risk of personal injury due to electrical shock or fire. Some standards set levels of performance for products, and increasingly standards address social concerns, such as how our environment is managed or how information about us is being used. CSA facilitates committees of volunteer experts to develop standards using a "balanced matrix" approach and has published over 1800 voluntary standards to date. More than one third of these are referenced in legislation passed by jurisdictions throughout North America.
Who writes the standards at CSA?
CSA standards are developed by volunteer technical committees consisting of representatives from groups such as government, industry, consumer groups and users impacted by the standard. Our process ensures that no one group dominates the process. The committees use a consensus-based approach to determine the contents of a standard. CSA employees facilitate the standards development process.
Is CSA part of the government?
No, we are an independent, not-for-profit organization.
What sectors of business and industry is Standards Development involved in?
CSA Standards and its parent company Canadian Standards Association develops standards in the following areas:
- Business/Management Systems
- Communications/Information
- Construction
- Electrical and Electronics
- Environment
- Gas Equipment
- Health Care
- Materials Technology
- Transportation/Distribution
Who controls CSA?
We are a member-based organization governed by a Board of Directors. The majority of directors are elected by the voting membership. The others are appointed by the elected board members.