‘Landmark’ home inspection standard now available

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

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.

This was the impetus behind the recent release of CSA A770 – Home Inspection — a landmark, first-of-its kind standard that gives minimum requirements for a proper home inspection.

About the standard

CSA A770 establishes 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 standard 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.

In addition, the standard supports policy development and regulatory requirements, and covers a broad range of building systems and components in residential dwellings across the country. It also outlines requirements for inspecting life safety systems, as well as the requirements to report items with health and safety concerns.

Additional details

CSA A770 is the first home inspection standard developed by a Standards Development Organization (SDO) accredited by the Standards Council of Canada. It was developed by consensus using a balanced committee of home inspectors, consumers, insurance industry representatives, building experts and regulators.

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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