Work begins on new Canadian standards for infrastructure in Canada's North

OTTAWA, Nov. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is pleased to announce that work is set to begin on the development of four new standards, supporting the adaptation of northern infrastructure to a changing climate, under the Northern Infrastructure Standardization Initiative (NISI).

"Close and sustained participation from those on the "front lines" of northern infrastructure adaptation will play a central role in the standards development process and beyond," says Mike Burns, Assistant Deputy Minister, Asset Management Division, Public Works and Services, Government of Northwest Territories, and Chair of SCC's Northern Advisory Committee. "It is our role (on the advisory committee) to facilitate this collaboration and to help ensure that the tools developed through NISI will truly meet the needs of northern communities."

Following a competitive bid process, SCC selected CSA Group to spearhead the formation and management of technical committees that will develop standards in the following four areas:

1. Community drainage and climate change in Northern Canada;
2. Thermosyphon-supported foundations for new buildings;
3. Risk management of snow loads on northern buildings; and
4. Management of the effects of permafrost degradation on existing buildings

"SCC's goal is to provide a sustainable and effective means for Northerners to take advantage of standardization," says SCC's Chief Executive Officer, John Walter. "The standards and guides developed as a result of this initiative will not only address current built infrastructure challenges, but will also contribute to reinforcing the fabric and quality of life in Canada's North."

"Since 2005, CSA Group has been actively researching the role standards and codes play in helping to mitigate the risk associated with changing climate and its impact on infrastructure in various regions of Canada," says Bonnie Rose, President, Standards, CSA Group. "This knowledge will prove invaluable in developing standards for the cities, towns and aboriginal communities of the far North."

Funding for the development of the standards and capacity building activities comes from the Government of Canada's Clean Air Agenda. NISI is managed by SCC with support from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC). SCC has been granted $2.5 million over five years for program implementation. This initiative will contribute to the adaptation of critical codes and standards to address the effects of climate change on new infrastructure, as well as retrofits, maintenance and repairs to existing infrastructure.

SCC encourages participation from interested stakeholders in NISI and related standardization projects. To become involved and stay informed about NISI activities and developments, please contact SCC's Kelly Montgomery, project manager, Adaptation & Roadmaps, at [email protected].

SCC is a Crown corporation and a portfolio of Industry Canada. With the goal of enhancing Canada's economic competitiveness and social well-being, SCC advises federal, provincial and territorial governments, industry organizations, and nongovernmental bodies on standards- and conformity assessment-related aspects of trade and regulatory policy. SCC also serves as Canada's World Trade Organization and North American Free Trade Agreement (WTO/NAFTA) Enquiry Point. SCC represents Canada as the Canadian member of ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission and is an active member of the International Accreditation Forum. For additional information on the work of SCC, please visit www.scc.ca, or email [email protected].

SOURCE: Standards Council of Canada

Antonia Kusy
Manager, Corporate Communications and Planning
613-238-3222 ext. 462
[email protected]