Preface
This is the third edition of CSA A660, Certification of manufacturers of steel building systems. It supersedes the previous editions, published in 2004 and 1991.
This Standard was developed at the request of the industry to assist code enforcement officials and purchasers of steel building systems in determining the suitability and quality of steel buildings. The manufacturer of steel buildings is often remote from the building site, and buildings are frequently sold through a dealer or contractor. Local code enforcement officials sometimes lack the capability to check the structural analysis of a building, and problems can occur in determining the acceptability of such structures. It is the intent of this Standard and the accompanying certification program to help alleviate such problems.
This Standard requires that the manufacturer’s production facilities, staff, and quality assurance systems be capable of reliably producing acceptable steel buildings. To ensure that these design and production capabilities are met and maintained, this Standard requires a manufacturing facility to be certified by a certification body. In turn, the manufacturer certifies each building for a specific location by means of a certificate of design and manufacturing conformance, signed and sealed by an engineer. This certificate lists key design criteria for review by code enforcement officials.
This Standard is presented in a manner that lends itself to reference in the National Building Code of Canada or the applicable building code in the jurisdiction in which the building is to be constructed.
This Standard is considered suitable for use for conformity assessment within the stated scope of the Standard.
This Standard has been prepared by the Technical Committee on Certification of Manufacturers of Steel Building Systems, under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Building Products and Systems, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.
Scope
1.1
This Standard applies to the certification of manufacturers of steel building systems.
1.2
This Standard prescribes the procedure for certification based on an audit of a manufacturer's plants and facilities by the certification body.
1.3
This Standard provides the requirements for a certificate of design and manufacturing conformance for each steel building system supplied by a certified manufacturer (see Clause 12). Note: This should not be construed as third-party certification of the steel building system.
1.4
Inspection of the structure in its final erected state is outside the scope of this Standard.
Note: Inspection and approval requirements are under the jurisdiction of applicable building authorities.
1.5
In CSA Standards, 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; may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard; and can is used to express possibility or capability.
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.