Standards for more resilient infrastructure in Canada’s North

3 times

faster warming

than the average global rate was reported in Canada’s North^[1]

$7 million

annual cost of permafrost thaw damage

to airport runways projected for 2040 alone if no adaptation measures are implemented^[2]

$30 - 38 million

annual cost of damage to buildings

expected across the North by mid-century without adaptation measures^[2]

Canada’s North

Learn about the climate change risks and vulnerabilities for the physical infrastructure, operations, and maintenance of airports located in the northern regions.

Standards help northern communities adapt to the changing climate

Canada’s North is warming three times faster than the average global rate. Changing temperatures and precipitation patterns, permafrost degradation, and coastal erosion take a heavy toll on buildings and infrastructure in the region. Mitigating the impacts of climate change on roads, airports, municipal infrastructure, and buildings and adapting to the new realities will require significant investments and major changes in engineering and construction practices.

CSA Group research, standards, and training can help northern communities design, plan, build, and maintain infrastructure that can withstand a changing climate while meeting the needs for quality and sustainability. CSA Group solutions address:

thermosyphons and building foundations in permafrost regions
high wind, snow drifting, and snow load risks for buildings
climate change vulnerabilities of airports
erosion and sediment risks for infrastructure
fire resilient planning
community drainage and wastewater treatment system
solid waste disposal in northern communities

CSA Group standards and training were developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) under the Northern Infrastructure Standardization Initiative (NISI).

Feature

Towards a Guideline for Assessing Climate Change Vulnerabilities of Northern Airports

With air travel being the only year-round option for transporting goods and people in many northern communities, it is vital to understand the climate change vulnerability of airports in Canada’s North. CSA Group’s research explored how this topic could be addressed through standards.

Towards a Guideline for Assessing Climate Change Vulnerabilities of Northern Airports

Resources

CSA Group standards, research, policy briefs, and other resources

Leverage the resources developed by CSA Group and its technical committee members to provide you with information, guidance, best practices, and requirements to help adapt the northern infrastructure to the impacts of the changing climate. With support from SCC and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and permission from Ecology North, we also present a collection of climate change adaptation guides outlining the main principles, requirements, and recommendations of key CSA Group standards. The northern adaptation guides are easy to read and available in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun.

Industry perspective

Link between the UN SDGs and CSA S501:14 Moderating the effects of permafrost degradation on existing building foundations

Research report

Use Category for Preservative-Treated Wood in Northern Regions Containing Permafrost

Research report

Investigating Standards for Small Water and Wastewater Systems in Canada’s North

Guide

Understanding Thermosyphon Foundation Systems (in English, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun)

Guide

Preventing Permafrost Degradation (in English, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun)

Guide

Managing Changing Snow Loads (in English, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun)

Guide

Improving Community Drainage (in English, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun)

Guide

Operating Solid Waste Sites (in English)

Research report

Canada’s North – Exploring the Environment, Societal & Economic Challenges Facing Canada’s Northern Communities

Standards for dealing with extreme weather

Training

NISI Standards and Climate Change in Canada’s North - Online Training

Training

NISI S502 Online Training - Managing changing snow load risks for buildings in Canada’s North

CSA S502:21

Managing changing snow load risks for buildings in Canada's North

Get Standard

CSA S504:19

Fire resilient planning for northern communities

Get Standard

CSA S505:20

Techniques for considering high winds and snow drifting and their impact on northern infrastructure

Get Standard

CSA W205:19

Erosion and sedimentation management for northern community infrastructure

Get Standard

Standards for buildings in permafrost regions

Training

NISI S500 Online Training - Thermosyphon Foundations for Buildings in Permafrost Regions

Training

NISI S501 Online Training - Moderating the Effects of Permafrost Degradation on Existing Building Foundations

CSA S500:21

Thermosyphon foundations for buildings in permafrost regions

Get Standard

CSA S501:21

Moderating the effects of permafrost degradation on existing building foundations

Get Standard

CSA PLUS 4011:19

Technical guide: Infrastructure in permafrost: A guideline for climate change adaptation

Get Standard

CSA PLUS 4011.1:19

Technical Guide: Design and construction considerations for foundations in permafrost regions

Get Standard

Standards for northern community systems

Training

NISI S503 Online Training - Community drainage system planning, design, and maintenance in northern communities

CSA R111:21

Solid waste sites in northern communities: From planning to post-closure

Get Standard

CSA S503:20

Community drainage system planning, design, and maintenance in northern communities

Get Standard

CSA W203:19

Planning, design, operation, and maintenance of wastewater treatment in northern communities using lagoon and wetland systems

Get Standard

Get involved

Stay up-to-date with the latest developments at CSA Group, connect with your peers and the CSA Group team to ask questions and share your insights, or get involved in the standards development. There are many ways to stay in touch and contribute to creating a better, safer, and more sustainable world.

Contact CSA Group’s Construction & Infrastructure Team with questions or to discuss your standards development needs.

[email protected]

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[1]Canada’s Changing Climate Report, Government of Canada, 2019

[2]Due North: Facing the costs of climate change for Northern infrastructure, Canadian Climate Institute, 2022