CSA A93:19

National Standard of Canada

Airflow ventilators for the unoccupied spaces of buildings

Legal Notice for Standards

Canadian Standards Association (operating as “CSA Group”) develops standards through a consensus standards development process approved by the Standards Council of Canada. This process brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus and develop a standard. Although CSA Group administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in achieving consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the content of standards.

Disclaimer and exclusion of liability

This document is provided without any representations, warranties, or conditions of any kind, express or implied, including, without limitation, implied warranties or conditions concerning this document’s fitness for a particular purpose or use, its merchantability, or its non-infringement of any third party’s intellectual property rights. CSA Group does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or currency of any of the information published in this document. CSA Group makes no representations or warranties regarding this document’s compliance with any applicable statute, rule, or regulation.

IN NO EVENT SHALL CSA GROUP, ITS VOLUNTEERS, MEMBERS, SUBSIDIARIES, OR AFFILIATED COMPANIES, OR THEIR EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, OR OFFICERS, BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INJURY, LOSS, COSTS, OR EXPENSES, HOWSOEVER CAUSED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOST REVENUE, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOST OR DAMAGED DATA, OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL OR ECONOMIC LOSS, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM ACCESS TO OR POSSESSION OR USE OF THIS DOCUMENT, EVEN IF CSA GROUP HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, INJURY, LOSS, COSTS, OR EXPENSES.

In publishing and making this document available, CSA Group is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity or to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to another person or entity. The information in this document is directed to those who have the appropriate degree of experience to use and apply its contents, and CSA Group accepts no responsibility whatsoever arising in any way from any and all use of or reliance on the information contained in this document.

CSA Group is a private not-for-profit company that publishes voluntary standards and related documents. CSA Group has no power, nor does it undertake, to enforce compliance with the contents of the standards or other documents it publishes.

Intellectual property rights and ownership

As between CSA Group and the users of this document (whether it be in printed or electronic form), CSA Group is the owner, or the authorized licensee, of all works contained herein that are protected by copyright, all trade-marks (except as otherwise noted to the contrary), and all inventions and trade secrets that may be contained in this document, whether or not such inventions and trade secrets are protected by patents and applications for patents. Without limitation, the unauthorized use, modification, copying, or disclosure of this document may violate laws that protect CSA Group’s and/or others’ intellectual property and may give rise to a right in CSA Group and/or others to seek legal redress for such use, modification, copying, or disclosure. To the extent permitted by licence or by law, CSA Group reserves all intellectual property rights in this document.

Patent rights

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this standard may be the subject of patent rights. CSA Group shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights is entirely their own responsibility.

Authorized use of this document

This document is being provided by CSA Group for informational and non-commercial use only. The user of this document is authorized to do only the following:

If this document is in electronic form:

• load this document onto a computer for the sole purpose of reviewing it;

• search and browse this document; and

• print this document if it is in PDF format.

  Limited copies of this document in print or paper form may be distributed only to persons who are authorized by CSA Group to have such copies, and only if this Legal Notice appears on each such copy.

  In addition, users may not and may not permit others to

• alter this document in any way or remove this Legal Notice from the attached standard;

• sell this document without authorization from CSA Group; or

• make an electronic copy of this document.

  If you do not agree with any of the terms and conditions contained in this Legal Notice, you may not load or use this document or make any copies of the contents hereof, and if you do make such copies, you are required to destroy them immediately. Use of this document constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Legal Notice.

  
  

  
  

  Standards Update Service

  CSA A93:19

  November 2019

  
  

  Title: Airflow ventilators for the unoccupied spaces of buildings

  To register for e-mail notification about any updates to this publication

• go to store.csagroup.org

• click on Product Updates

  The List ID that you will need to register for updates to this publication is 2427620.

  If you require assistance, please e-mail techsupport@csagroup.org or call 416-747-2233.

  Visit CSA Group’s policy on privacy at www.csagroup.org/legal to find out how we protect your personal information.

  Canadian Standards Association (operating as “CSA Group”), under whose auspices this National Standard has been produced, was chartered in 1919 and accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to the National Standards system in 1973. It is a not-for- profit, nonstatutory, voluntary membership association engaged in standards development and certification activities.

  
  

  CSA Group standards reflect a national consensus of producers and users — including manufacturers, consumers, retailers, unions and professional organizations, and governmental agencies. The standards are used widely by industry and commerce and often adopted by municipal, provincial, and federal governments in their regulations, particularly in the fields of health, safety, building and construction, and the environment.

  
  

  Individuals, companies, and associations across Canada indicate their support for CSA Group’s standards development by

  volunteering their time and skills to Committee work and supporting CSA Group’s objectives through sustaining memberships. The more than 7000 committee volunteers and the 2000 sustaining memberships together form CSA Group’s total membership from which its Directors are chosen. Sustaining memberships represent a major source of income for CSA Group’s standards development activities.

  
  

  CSA Group offers certification and testing services in support of and as an extension to its standards development activities. To ensure the integrity of its certification process, CSA Group regularly and continually audits and inspects products that bear the

  CSA Group Mark.

  
  

  In addition to its head office and laboratory complex in Toronto, CSA Group has regional branch offices in major centres across Canada and inspection and testing agencies in eight countries. Since 1919, CSA Group has developed the necessary expertise to meet its corporate mission: CSA Group is an independent service

  organization whose mission is to provide an open and effective forum for activities facilitating the exchange of goods and services through the use of standards, certification and related services to meet national and international needs.

  
  

  For further information on CSA Group services, write to CSA Group

  178 Rexdale Boulevard Toronto, Ontario, M9W 1R3 Canada

  A National Standard of Canada is a standard developed by a Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredited Standards Development Organization, in compliance with requirements and guidance set out by SCC. More information on National Standards of Canada can be found at www.scc.ca.

  
  

  SCC is a Crown corporation within the portfolio of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada. With the goal of enhancing Canada's economic competitiveness and social well- being, SCC leads and facilitates the development and use of national and international standards. SCC also coordinates Canadian participation in standards development, and identifies strategies to advance Canadian standardization efforts.

  
  

  Accreditation services are provided by SCC to various customers, including product certifiers, testing laboratories, and standards development organizations. A list of SCC programs and accredited bodies is publicly available at www.scc.ca.

  
  

  Standards Council of Canada 600-55 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6L5 Canada

  
  

  
  

  Cette Norme Nationale du Canada est disponible en versions française et anglaise.

  
  

  Although the intended primary application of this Standard is stated in its Scope, it is important to note that it remains the responsibility of the users to judge its suitability for their particular purpose.

  ®A trademark of the Canadian Standards Association, operating as “CSA Group”

  National Standard of Canada

  
  

  CSA A93:19

  Airflow ventilators for the unoccupied spaces of buildings

  
  

  
  

  
  

  ®A trademark of the Canadian Standards Association, operating as “CSA Group”

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Published in November 2019 by CSA Group A not-for-profit private sector organization

  178 Rexdale Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 1R3

  
  

  To purchase standards and related publications, visit our Online Store at store.csagroup.org

  or call toll-free 1-800-463-6727 or 416-747-4044.

  
  

  ICS 23.120

  ISBN 978-1-4883-2545-8

  
  

  © 2019 Canadian Standards Association

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the prior permission of the publisher.

  CSA A93:19 Airflow ventilators for the unoccupied spaces of buildings

  
  

  Contents

  Technical Committee on Ventilators for Buildings 3

  
  

  Preface 5

  
  

  1. Scope 6

     
     

  2. Reference publications 6

     
     

  3. Definitions 7

     
     

  4. General requirements 8

     1. Types 8

     2. Installation 8

        
        

  5. Physical requirements 8

     1. Basic design 8

     2. Materials 8

     3. Insect and rodent protection 9

     4. Fastener components 9

     5. Flanges 9

     6. Foundation ventilators 9

        
        

  6. Performance requirements 9

     1. Wind resistance 9

     2. Rain resistance 9

     3. Corrosion resistance 10

        
        

  7. Test methods 10

     1. General 10

     2. Wind resistance test 10

     3. Rain resistance test 10

     4. Corrosion resistance test 10

     5. Mechanical ventilator airflow test 10

        1. General requirement 10

        2. Mechanical ventilators with multiple airflow levels 10

           
           

  8. Net free area 10

     1. General 10

     2. Adjustable ventilators 11

     3. Mechanical ventilators 11

     4. Availability of information 11

        
        

  9. Marking 11

  
  

  Annex A (informative) — Installation of passive airflow ventilators 12

  Annex B (informative) — Guide for determining net free area of passive vents 18

  
  

  November 2019 © 2019 Canadian Standards Association 1

  CSA A93:19 Airflow ventilators for the unoccupied spaces of buildings

  
  

  Annex C (informative) — Properties of forced-air ducted ventilators 21

  Annex D (informative) — Prevention of ingress of burning embers 22

  Annex E (informative) — Precautionary measures for mechanical ventilator installation 23

  
  

  November 2019 © 2019 Canadian Standards Association 2

  CSA A93:19 Airflow ventilators for the unoccupied spaces of buildings

  
  

  Preface

  This is the fourth edition of CSA A93, Airflow ventilators for the unoccupied spaces of buildings. It supersedes previous editions published in 1982, under the title of Natural airflow ventilators for buildings, and in 1965 and 1961, under the title Vents for buildings.

  Significant changes since the previous edition include the following:

• addition of requirements of mechanical airflow ventilators for unoccupied spaces;

• updated design and testing requirements for passive airflow ventilators;

• addition of Annex C, Properties of forced-air ducted ventilators

• addition of Annex D, Prevention of ingress of burning embers; and

• addition of Annex E, Precautionary measures for mechanical ventilator installation.

This Standard is intended to be referenced by regulatory authorities, airflow ventilator manufacturers and installers, building designers, and certification bodies responsible for testing and certification of airflow ventilators.

This Standard is considered suitable for use for conformity assessment within the stated scope of the Standard.

This Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on Ventilators for Buildings, under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Construction and Civil Infrastructure, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee. This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.

Notes:

1. Use of the singular does not exclude the plural (and vice versa) when the sense allows.

2. Although the intended primary application of this Standard is stated in its Scope, it is important to note that it remains the responsibility of the users of the Standard to judge its suitability for their particular purpose.

3. This Standard was developed by consensus, which is defined by CSA Policy governing standardization — Code of good practice for standardization as “substantial agreement. Consensus implies much more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity”. It is consistent with this definition that a member may be included in the Technical Committee list and yet not be in full agreement with all clauses of this Standard.

4. To submit a request for interpretation of this Standard, please send the following information to

   inquiries@csagroup.org and include “Request for interpretation” in the subject line:

   1. define the problem, making reference to the specific clause, and, where appropriate, include an illustrative sketch;

   2. provide an explanation of circumstances surrounding the actual field condition; and

   3. where possible, phrase the request in such a way that a specific “yes” or “no” answer will address the issue.

      Committee interpretations are processed in accordance with the CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization and are available on the Current Standards Activities page at standardsactivities.csa.ca.

5. This Standard is subject to review within five years from the date of publication. Suggestions for its improvement will be referred to the appropriate committee. To submit a proposal for change, please send the following information to inquiries@csagroup.org and include “Proposal for change” in the subject line:

   1. Standard designation (number);

   2. relevant clause, table, and/or figure number;

   3. wording of the proposed change; and

   4. rationale for the change.

November 2019 © 2019 Canadian Standards Association 5

CSA A93:19 Airflow ventilators for the unoccupied spaces of buildings

CSA A93:19

Airflow ventilators for the unoccupied spaces of buildings

1. Scope

   
   

   1.1

   This Standard gives minimum requirements for ventilators used in buildings which are designed to permit venting of unoccupied spaces to the exterior so as to minimize the unwanted accumulation of condensation, moisture, and excess heat in the building component or assembly. These include

   1. passive airflow ventilators for buildings; and

   2. mechanical (powered) airflow ventilators for buildings.

   Note: Forced-air ducted ventilators might have additional requirements which are not included in this Standard. Information for these systems is included in Annex C.

   
   

   1.2

   This Standard includes physical, performance, and marking requirements. It also includes annexes giving recommendations for installation of ventilators to ventilate unoccupied building spaces, a guide for determining net free area, recommended properties of exterior apertures of ducted forced-air ventilation systems, and the mitigation of ingress of fire embers in areas of high fire risk.

   
   

   1.3

   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.

   
   

   1.4

   The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.

   
   

2. Reference publications

This Standard refers to the following publications. Where reference is made and the publication is in force at the installation location, it shall be to the edition and all amendments in force at the time of construction in the jurisdiction where the building will be placed for occupancy. Where such reference is

November 2019 © 2019 Canadian Standards Association 6