Designers Need to do More Than Reference a Standard

Share

• 
• 
• 

On a regular basis the professional engineers at Ontario Concrete Pipe Association are presented with specifications for drainage systems that do little more than reference a national or provincial manufacturing standard for a particular type of pipe. Typically in Ontario, the referenced standards are developed by the Canadian Standards Association or Ontario Provincial Standards. Design engineers charged with designing our province’s infrastructure need to do more than just reference a standard. Specifically for drainage systems and sanitary sewers, designers need to recognize that successful projects demand three key elements:

• Quality pipe
• Sound engineering and design
• Proper installation and post installation Inspection

In order to achieve this, comprehensive specifications are required that address all three elements regardless of the pipe material or pipe system that is being used. For the purposes of this article the designer is urged to consider the following information and disclaimer from Canadian Standards Association (CSA). The Canadian Standards Association is a not-for-profit, membership-based association serving business, industry, government and consumers in Canada and the global marketplace.

CSA standards are developed through a consensus development process approved by the Standards Council of Canada. This process brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve agreement and develop a standard. Although CSA administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in achieving consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the content of standards.¹

The following Disclaimer and exclusion of liability is included in the standards developed by CSA. “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 does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or currency of any of the information published in this document. CSA makes no representations or warranties regarding this document’s compliance with any applicable statute, rule, or regulation.

IN NO EVENT SHALL CSA, 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, LOSTREVENUE, 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 HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, INJURY, LOSS, COSTS, OR EXPENSES.

In publishing and making this document available, CSA is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person/entity or to perform any duty owed by any person/entity to another person/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 accepts no responsibility whatsoever, arising in any way, from any and all use of, or reliance on, the information contained in this document. CSA is a private not-for-profit company that publishes voluntary standards and related documents. CSA has no power, nor does it undertake, to enforce compliance with the contents of the standards or other documents it publishes.” ²

The user of such a standard, namely the design engineer, should be under no illusion: The Canadian Standards Association or any similar body is NOT accepting any responsibility for his/her design.

The engineers at Ontario Concrete Pipe Association have over 60 years combined experience in the gravity pipe and precast industries. We make this experience available to designers and project managers through our Lunch and Learn program. We address the three essential elements listed above for successful drainage and sanitary sewer projects and provide recommendations to the designers to protect himself or herself from litigation.

References:

1. www.csa.ca
2. Canadian Standards Association – Legal Notice for Standards