Whether it be the materials, design, or construction aspect, Canadian codes and standards are available to offer guidance and be used as the standard across the industry.
Codes & Standards
Material to reference for masonry materials, design, or construction
OUR ROLE IN CODES AND STANDARDS
Collaborating in Standards Development
The Canada Masonry Design Centre participates in the development of CSA standards that influence the masonry industry. In addition, as part of the technical committees, CMDC is able to represent its members by helping to ensure that the standards reflect the needs of our industry as well as consumers and end users of our products and services.
CMDC staff sit on every masonry related technical committee that develops and updates the Canadian codes and standards.
As a major participant, CMDC is able to use that expertise to provide masonry designers and masonry contractors with code and masonry standards interpretation.
CSA Standards
The CSA standards address issues such as design, manufacturing and construction, setting the minimum requirements for quality, safety and performance of building materials, construction methods and structural design. They are developed through a balanced, consensus-based process, where regulators and industry experts volunteer their time, knowledge and experience. The CSA standards are continually maintained to ensure they stay current and technically valid. CMDC, in collaboration with our venture partners, research collaborators, and allied industry associations, play an active role in the continuing development of CSA standards for masonry materials, design, and construction. The latest edition of each Standard is always available from the CSA online store. As modifications do occur between editions of a standard, it is important to ensure the correct edition (referenced by the Building Code, or within contract documents) are used.
The CSA Standards can be divided into three main categories, although there is relevant material to designers in each of these CSA Standards. Click below to jump to the relevant section
We do not sell copies of the CSA Standards directly. However, our engineering textbook does include a physical copy of CSA S304-14: Design of masonry structures.
CMDC provides complimentary copies of the other standards during our educational seminars to those who request them.
Design Standards
CSA S304-14 – Design of masonry structures
This Standard provides requirements for the structural design of unreinforced, reinforced, prefabricated masonry structures and components, and prestressed masonry beams, walls, and columns in accordance with the limit states design method of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC). In addition, this Standard specifies requirements for the empirical design of unreinforced masonry in Annex F.
This standard is referenced by the 2015 and 2020 editions of the NBCC and is largely directed towards engineers and designers.
Note: The Masonry Structures: Behaviour and Design textbook, includes a copy of the CSA S304-14 standard
CSA S304-24 – Design of masonry structures
New Edition! This Standard provides requirements for the structural design of unreinforced, reinforced, prefabricated masonry structures and components, and prestressed masonry beams, walls, and columns in accordance with the limit states design method of the National Building Code of Canada.
This standard contains significant updates from the 2014 edition of the standard and is referenced by the 2025 edition of the NBCC. It is largely directed towards engineers and designers.
CSA A370-14 – Connectors for masonry
This Standard specifies minimum requirements for the design of masonry connectors (ties, anchors, fasteners, and repair connectors) to interconnect the wythes of a masonry wall, attach masonry veneer to its structural backing, and connect masonry walls to intersecting walls or to other structural members.
This standard is largely directed towards engineers, and architects, as well as manufacturers of masonry connectors.
Construction Standards
CSA A371-14 – Masonry construction for buildings
This Standard states the minimum requirements for masonry materials and masonry construction, particularly for buildings designed in accordance with the CSA S304 standard. It is prescriptive in nature, and it is largely directed toward masonry contractors; however, designers and specifiers should be aware of the construction procedures and tolerances outlined within.
Materials Standards
CSA A82-14 – Fired masonry brick made from clay or shale
This Standard specifies the minimum requirements for brick made from fired clay or shale, to be used as structural and/or facing components in masonry. It provides requirements for testing, freeze-thaw durability, finish, texture, colour, compressive strength, absorption, efflorescence, size, warpage, and out-of-square.
This standard is largely directed towards brick producers; however, designers and specifiers should be aware of the manufacturing procedures, product tolerances and grades outlined within.
CSA A165 SERIES-14 – CSA Standards on concrete masonry units
This Series consists of three Standards:
(a) CSA A165.1, Concrete block masonry units: covers concrete block masonry units suitable for loadbearing and nonloadbearing applications. It provides minimum requirements for compressive strength, concrete type, moisture content, and other physical properties.
(b) CSA A165.2, Concrete brick masonry units: covers both hollow and solid concrete brick units. The Standard recognizes two grades of units; Grade I (masonry exposed to the weather), and Grade II (for interior applications or masonry not exposed to the weather). It provides minimum requirements for compressive strength, water absorption, and moisture content.
(c) CSA A165.3, Prefaced concrete masonry units: covers concrete masonry units prefaced during manufacturing. It provides requirements for resistance to aging, thermal shock, and freeze-thaw cycling. The requirements for the physical properties of the base unit are covered by CSA A165.1 or CSA A165.2, as applicable.
This standard is largely directed towards concrete brick and block producers; however, designers and specifiers should be aware of the manufacturing procedures, product tolerances and grades outlined within.
CSA A179-14 – Mortar and grout for unit masonry
This Standard specifies requirements for mortar (Type S or N) for use in bedding, jointing, and bonding of masonry units; and grout (fine or coarse) for use in filling core, cell, or cavity space in unit masonry construction.
This standard is largely directed towards masonry contractors as well as manufacturers of masonry mortars and grouts. The Standard also provides guidance for designers and specifiers with respect to how mortar and grout should be specified, as well as for on-site quality control procedures.
Other Relevant Codes and Standards
CAN/CSA-B354.1-04 (R2011) – Portable Elevating Work Platforms
This Standard provides the minimum requirements for the design, manufacture, remanufacture, rebuild/recondition, testing, performance, inspection, training, maintenance, and safe operation of aerial platforms (elevating work platforms).
CSA S850-12 – Design and assessment of buildings subjected to blast loads
This Standard provides criteria for the analysis, design, and assessment buildings to resist blast loading.
Building Codes
The Canada Masonry Design Centre is active in areas of energy, fire safety, and structural design at the National and the Provincial levels. Click here to scroll down for more info on the National Building Code of Canada.
Comparing Canadian and US Standards
Many similarities exist between Canadian and American masonry construction materials as well as design and construction practices. However, several key differences have been identified in relation to each country’s respective masonry design standard, namely CSA S304-14 (R2019) Design of Masonry Structures in Canada, and TMS 402/602-16 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures in the USA. As both standards have been derived from the same pool of research, this has raised questions over the accuracy, degree of conservatism, and overall economy associated with each standard.
A collaborative Canadian-American research initiative was undertaken to study the design requirements within the two standards and determine areas where improvement and increased harmonization may be possible. This project, dubbed the CANUS Masonry Standard Harmonization Project, was only made possible through a collaborative effort coordinated by CMDC and a team of dedicated researchers, designers, and industry representatives from the Canadian and American masonry industries.
The review of the CSA S304-14 and TMS 402-16 design standards revealed that methodologies used by both standards for computing reinforced masonry element resistances are generally similar in nature. Certain key nuances were however identified that cause masonry designed using Canadian standards to be more conservative than the US counterparts. Key findings of this initiative, including a summary of opportunities for improvement focusing on the Canadian standard, are included in the project report published by CSA Group.
This project was funded by the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) foundation, Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA), Canada Masonry Design Centre (CMDC), and Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group), For more information about this research, please click here to read the report.
ASTM Standards
ASTM standards are often referenced for standard testing methods and specifications for a wide range of materials and other topics relating to masonry construction. Many ASTM standards are referenced within CSA masonry standards in order to promote consistency in testing methods for materials in Canada and the US. CMDC will also occasionally refer to ASTM documents for guidance, where no other information exists within CSA documentation.
Certain masonry materials, such as calcium silicate masonry units and natural stone masonry units, do not have their own CSA standard. In such cases, the CSA masonry design or construction standard will often reference the applicable ASTM standard. Some materials have “competing” CSA and ASTM standards (e.g., CSA A82 and ASTM C67 both set out requirements for fired clay brick). In cases where both CSA and ASTM standards exist for a masonry material, they MUST NOT be assumed to be the same or equivalent. CSA standards have been developed specifically to work together and in conjunction with the National Building Code of Canada. ASTM standards must only be used for Canadian construction under the conditions set out by the NBCC and as referenced by the applicable CSA Standards.
Below is a list of ASTM standards that are useful for masonry construction, many of which are directly referenced by CSA standards:
ASTM A82 – Standard Specification for Steel Wire, Plain, for Concrete Reinforcement
ASTM A123 – Standard Specification for Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings on Iron and Steel Products
ASTM A153 – Standard Specification for Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware
ASTM A307 – Standard Specification for Carbon Steel Bolts, Studs, and Threaded Rod 60 000 PSI Tensile Strength
ASTM A416 – Standard Specification for Steel Strand, Uncoated Seven-Wire for Prestressed Concrete
ASTM A421 – Standard Specification for Uncoated Stress-Relieved Steel Wire for Prestressed Concrete
ASTM A580 – Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Wire
ASTM A722 – Standard Specification for Uncoated High-Strength Steel Bars for Prestressing Concrete
ASTM A780 – Standard Practice for Repair of Damaged and Uncoated Areas of Hot-Dip Galvanized Coatings
ASTM A1064 – Standard Specification for Carbon-Steel Wire and Welded Wire Reinforcement, Plain and Deformed, for Concrete
ASTM C33 – Standard Specifications for Concrete Aggregates
ASTM C34 – Standard Specification for Structural Clay Load-Bearing Wall Tile
ASTM C56 – Standard Specification for Structural Clay Nonloadbearing Tile
ASTM C67 – Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Brick and Structural Clay Tile
ASTM C73 – Standard Specification for Calcium Silicate Brick (Sand-Lime Brick)
ASTM C90 – Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units
ASTM C97 – Standard Test Methods for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone
ASTM C99 – Standard Test Method for Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone
ASTM C140 – Standard Methods of Sampling and Testing Concrete Masonry Units and Related Units
ASTM C170 – Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone
ASTM C207 – Standard Specification for Hydrated Lime for Masonry Purposes
ASTM C216 – Standard Specification for Facing Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made from Clay of Shale)
ASTM C270 – Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry
ASTM C331 – Standard Specifications for Lightweight Aggregates for Concrete Masonry Units
ASTM C426 – Standard Test Method for Linear Drying Shrinkage of Concrete Masonry Units
ASTM C494 – Standard Specification for Chemical Admixtures for Concrete
ASTM C503 – Standard Specification for Limestone Dimension Stone
ASTM C516 – Standard Specification for Vermiculite Loose Fill Thermal Insulation
ASTM C549 – Standard Specification for Perlite Loose Fill Insulation
ASTM C568 – Standard Specification for Limestone Dimension Stone
ASTM C615 – Standard Specification for Granite Dimension Stone
ASTM C616 – Standard Specification for Quartz-Based Dimension Stone
ASTM C629 – Standard Specification for Slate Dimension Stone
ASTM C652 – Standard Specification for Hollow Brick (Hollow Masonry Units Made from Clay or Shale)
ASTM C666 – Standard Test Method for Resistance of Concrete to Rapid Freezing and Thawing
ASTM C744 – Standard Specification for Prefaced Concrete and Calcium Silicate Masonry Units
ASTM C880 – Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Dimension Stone
ASTM C920 – Standard Specification for Elastomeric Joint Sealants
ASTM C979 – Standard Specification for Pigments for Integrally Colored Concrete
ASTM C1006 – Standard Test Method of Splitting Tensile Strength Masonry Units
ASTM C1019 – Standard Method of Sampling and Testing Grout
ASTM C1072 – Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Masonry Flexural Bond Strength
ASTM C1167 – Standard Specification for Clay Roof Tiles
ASTM C1242 – Standard Guide for Selection, Design, and Installation of Dimension Stone Anchoring Systems
ASTM C1299 – Standard Guide for Use in Selection of Liquid-Applied Sealants
ASTM C1314 – Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Masonry Prisms
ASTM C1324 – Standard Test Method for Examination and Analysis of Hardened Masonry Mortar
ASTM C1329 – Standard Specification for Mortar Cement
ASTM C1354 – Standard Test Method for Strength of Individual Stone Anchorages in Dimension Stone
ASTM C1357 – Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Masonry Bond Strength
ASTM C1364 – Standard Specification for Architectural Cast Stone
ASTM C1489 – Standard Specification for Lime Putty for Structural Purposes
ASTM C1526 – Standard Specification for Serpentine Dimension Stone
ASTM C1527 – Standard Specification for Travertine Dimension Stone
ASTM C1528 – Standard Guide for Selection of Dimension Stone
ASTM C1892 – Standard Test Methods for Strength of Anchors in Masonry
ASTM E4 – Standard Practices for Force Calibration and Verification of Testing Machines
ASTM E72 – Standard Test Methods of Conducting Strength Tests of Panels for Building Construction
ASTM E119 – Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
ASTM E336 – Standard Test Method for Measurement of Airborne Sound Insulation in Buildings
ASTM E413 – Classification for Rating Sound Insulation
ASTM E488 – Standard Test Methods for Strength of Anchors in Concrete Elements
ASTM E514 – Standard Test Method for Water Penetration and Leakage Through Masonry
ASTM E518 – Standard Test Methods for Flexural Bond Strength of Masonry
ASTM E519 – Standard Test Method of Diagonal Tension (Shear) in Masonry Assemblages
National Building Code of Canada
Building designed by Part 4
Any medium or large masonry project, as well as small ones in some circumstances, are required to undergo a structural design that follows Part 4 of the National Building Code of Canada.
This is the default compliance pathway in the NBCC, where meeting Part 9 eligibility requirements can be verified to bypass these more thorough checks.
Part 9 Buildings – Residential
Part 9 of the National Building Code of Canada offers a prescriptive compliance pathway, meant for relatively simple structures where a full structural design outlined in Part 4 is not required.
Structures meeting the scope limitations of Part 9 contain provisions that mimic various CSA Standards such as Type N mortar proportion mix design, or cold weather protection requirements for example.
The material standards including for concrete block or clay brick are also referenced by Part 9.
Designing in accordance with Part 9 does not necessarily require the use of CSA S304-14: Design of masonry structures, however there may be aspect of the project that fall beyond what is covered by Part 9 that may require that a structural engineer be retained. Not all residential projects with within Part 9.
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