CSA Group to release ‘landmark’ home inspection standard

A man in a hard hat standing in front of an old rundown house holding a clipboard in his hand.

A house is more than just shelter. It’s a place where people come together, where families grow, and where memories are made. It’s a home.

That is why buying a home is one of the single most important decisions a person can make in their lifetime. Many factors need to be considered during the home buying process. But one that cannot be ignored is the home inspection. 

A proper home inspection is critical in helping buyers understand the condition of their prospective home. However, there has never been a consistent set of guidelines to help ensure a home has been properly inspected — until now. 

The CSA Group recently announced the upcoming release of CSA A770 – Home Inspection — a landmark, first-of-its-kind standard that gives minimum requirements for a proper home inspection. CSA A770 aims to establish which systems and components in and around a home need to be inspected, and the conditions that need to be identified. It also outlines general home inspection methods and minimum reporting requirements for inspectors to follow. 

The broad acceptance and application of this important standard is expected to have a positive impact on Canada’s housing market. It will help create more consistent criteria for what makes up an informative home inspection, contributing to enhanced peace of mind for all stakeholders, improved safety, and better understanding of the expectations for a home inspection. Consumers will benefit from the protection that comes from inspection providers offering services that are delivered more uniformly, on a level playing field. 

CSA A770 will be the first home inspection standard developed by a Standards Development Organization (SDO) accredited by the Standards Council of Canada. A landmark standard like CSA A770 has the potential to impact a number of stakeholders. As a result, the new standard was developed by consensus using a balanced committee of home inspectors, consumers, insurance industry representatives, building experts, and regulators to ensure all parties had a say, and the end result was agreed upon by all.

CSA A770 is expected to be published in February 2016.

To learn more about how this standard was developed, join the construction and engineering section of CSA Communities, an open, collaborative platform that allows you to participate in related discussions and connect with industry experts for free.

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