What Is CSA Certification and Why Does It Matter in Canada?

As the requirements of the CSA in Canada expanded further into areas such as enhancing public safety and health, preserving the environment, and expediting trade, it was renamed the CSA Group in 2012. Today, CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit, member-based organisation that serves Canada and the global marketplace.

What is CSA certification? The CSA certification mark indicates that a product has been independently tested and certified to meet the requirements of the applicable CSA Standard(s). CSA certification brings peace of mind to consumers and serves as a mark of trust and legal compliance in Canadian markets.

This article will provide a comprehensive explanation of what CSA certification is, when it’s required, and how to ensure your product complies with these Standards.

What Is CSA Certification?

To more fully explain CSA certification and its scope, the modern CSA Group consists of two organisations:

• Standards Organisation: Its mission is to “enhance the lives of Canadians through the advancement of Standards in the public and private sectors.” This organisation has more than 11,000 members and researches, develops, educates, and advocates the technical and management Standards to provide improvements in efficiency, health and safety.
• Testing, Inspection and Certification Organisation: All CSA Group testing and certification activities have the purpose of verifying that products meet Canadian safety, performance, and regulatory Standards. This organisation also oversees all CSA international certifications, because CSA Group has published over 3,000 codes and Standards for North America and beyond.

If you’re still wondering, “What is CSA certification?” here’s a more comprehensive statement. It is the “expert testing, inspection, and certification services that enable manufacturers to demonstrate that their products are in compliance with applicable safety, environmental, and operating performance Standards for markets around the world”. It is overseen, of course, by CSA Group’s Testing, Inspection and Certification Organisation.

How is testing and certification done on a product?

1. The manufacturer contacts CSA Group for a quote.
2. CSA Group sends detailed information about the exact testing required and its cost.
3. The manufacturer agrees to the testing and submits samples of their product, plus any technical information.
4. Comprehensive testing of the product is carried out in accordance with the relevant Standards and their criteria.
5. When all tests are passed, identical products from the manufacturer can bear the CSA certification mark for that region.

Is CSA mandatory in Canada? It can depend on local legislation, and it is important to note that CSA is one of several Nationally Recognised Certification Bodies (NCBs) in Canada.

Who Issues CSA Certification in Canada?

After completing and passing all testing at an accredited CSA Group laboratory, the CSA certification is issued by CSA Group (which is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada). CSA certification is part of Canada’s wider regulatory framework for product safety.

Since the corporate restructuring in 2012, there has been some confusion between the terms “CSA Group”, “CSA Canada” and “CSA International”.

• CSA Group: This is the parent company, under which CSA Canada and CSA International both operate.
• CSA Canada: Part of the CSA Group, CSA Canada provides testing and certification services for North America, in addition to Standards development and training.
• CSA International: Part of the CSA Group, CSA International provides international product testing and certification.

Is CSA Certification Mandatory in Canada?

When is CSA certification required? While CSA certification is not mandatory for all products in Canada, it is true that CSA or equivalent certification, such as UL or ETL, is mandatory for many regulated products. This is due to CSA Standards being cited in legislation at federal, provincial, state and municipal levels across North America.

It is particularly so for electrical, gas and building-related products and goods. Within Canada, there are also specific provincial regulations that may dictate compliance, such as the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, for example. Another testing option is through Intertek, which provides ETL certification (to CSA-equivalent Standards where applicable).

Types of Products That Require CSA Certification

What are the product categories that typically need CSA approval and certification? Some of these are:

• Electrical appliances: These include household appliances, power tools, household and industrial lighting, and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
.
• Gas-powered equipment: These include gas stoves, water heaters and furnaces.
• Medical devices: This especially applies to medical devices that rely on electricity and must comply with CSA Electrical Standards.
• Construction materials: This includes materials and products used in plumbing, electrical and modular construction.

How CSA Certification Works: Testing, Inspection & Labelling

How is CSA Group testing and certification​ carried out?

1. Perform a product design review. As an initial step, review your design against relevant CSA Standards to ensure compliance. If the product is also to be marketed outside North America, review the design against the applicable Standards for each region.
2. Once the design is compliant, contact CSA Group for a quote.
3. CSA Group will send you detailed information about the exact testing required, its cost, the approximate timeline and their documentation requirements.
4. The manufacturer agrees to the testing and submits samples of their product, plus all the required technical information.
5. Comprehensive lab testing of the product is carried out in accordance with the CSA Standards and their criteria.
6. CSA Group also offers factory audits and quality assurance services to ensure that all products produced in your manufacturing facility are uniform and in compliance with CSA Standards.
7. Once approved, your product will be issued with the CSA certification mark to demonstrate that your product has been rigorously tested to CSA and any other applicable Standards.

Intertek offers fast, expert product safety testing, inspection and certification solutions, providing expert third-party testing to almost any product safety Standard, including CSA.

Understanding CSA Labels and Marks

When you see a CSA certification mark, it lets consumers know that this product has been inspected, tested and certified to meet the applicable Standard(s). To identify a legitimate CSA mark on a product, take note of that mark’s Class or File number and search for it in CSA Group’s online database. In North America, there are three types of designation:

• “CSA US” means certification to US Standards.
• “CSA Canada” means certification to Canadian Standards.
• “CSA US/C” means that the product is certified to both US and Canadian Standards.

CSA vs Other Certification Bodies (UL, ETL, CE)

Is CSA certification mandatory in Canada only? And what Standards and certifications apply to the rest of the world? First of all, CSA certification is only mandatory when cited in Canadian legislation at federal, provincial, territorial or other levels.

Secondly, CSA is actually part of the global compliance ecosystem. For example, UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and ETL (Intertek) are Nationally Recognised Certification Bodies (NCBs) in North America and can test and certify products for safety. In Europe, CE (European Conformity) signifies that a product meets the Standards and requirements throughout the European Economic Area (EEA). 

Intertek Inform is your comprehensive resource for purchasing CSA Standards. We provide seamless access to the Standards you need to demonstrate compliance, safeguard consumers, and achieve market readiness with confidence, get in touch to learn more.