CSA A500-16 (R2021)

Preface

This is the first edition of CSA A500, Building guards.

This Standard was prepared in response to requests from stakeholders who saw the need for a standard for materials, design, construction, testing, and performance of building guards. The Standard was developed through the collaboration of designers, engineers, fabricators, suppliers, building owners, property developers, regulators, and other technical specialists.

Special recognition is given to the members of the Writers Working Group for developing content for this Standard.

CSA Group acknowledges that the development of this Standard was made possible, in part, by the financial support of Concord Adex, Daniels Group, Grappe Industrielle d%u2019Aluminium du Quebec (GIAQ), Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, RESCON, Royal Guard, State Window Corporation, Toro Aluminum Railings, and Tridel-Deltera.

Introduction

0.1 General

This Standard was developed in response to a request from stakeholders who saw the need for a standard for materials, design, construction, testing, and performance of building guards.

0.2 Intent

The intent of this Standard is to specify minimum requirements for the materials, design, construction, testing, and performance of building guards and to provide guidance on assessing guards to maintain ongoing minimum performance levels.

This Standard is intended to be

a) adopted by building code regulations in provinces and territories across Canada;

b) reviewed and updated from time to time to reflect the current state of knowledge of building guards; and

c) used in its entirety.

Scope

1.1 General

This Standard specifies requirements for the materials, design, construction, testing, and performance of building guards.

This Standard applies to building guards required as protective barriers to prevent accidental falls from one level to another.

Notes:

1) This includes walls acting as guards.

2) Guards can be with or without openings, around openings in floors, or at the open sides of stairs, landings, balconies, mezzanines, galleries, raised walkways, or other locations.

1.2 Exclusions

This Standard does not apply to

a) temporary guards regulated elsewhere by applicable health and safety requirements;

b) guards for resisting impact from vehicles;

c) guards used in Group F (industrial occupancy) buildings as set out by the National Building Code of Canada (NBC); and

d) guards used in Group A (assembly occupancy) buildings that are permitted to be designed to other requirements as set out by the National Building Code of Canada (NBC), such as in places of assembly with fixed seats or bleacher seats.

1.3 Terminology

In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.