CSA Z317.1-2026

Special requirements for plumbing installations in health care facilities

Preface This is the seventh edition of CSA Z317.1, Special requirements for plumbing installations in health care facilities . It supersedes the previous editions published in 2021, 2016, 2009, 1999, 1988, and 1978. This Standard, part of a series of standards related to health care facility (HCF) engineering, is intended to assist HCFs to manage the potential risks associated with plumbing installation and maintenance. This Standard acknowledges that its application is more favourable to new construction and can be challenging for an existing facility. The following are the major changes to this edition: a) new clauses to address climate resilience, sustainability programs, energy management, and HCF design for small and remote communities; b) updates to annexes on supplemental disinfection technologies, measures, and testing (Annexes B, C, and D); c) updates to Clause 9and the rest of the Standard to use the term “business continuity” instead of “catastrophic event management”; d) revisions and additions to harmonize this Standard with CSA Z8000 and CSA Z317.2, including the expanded definition for HCF (Annex A); e) new requirements for construction, including selection of materials, delivery, storage and handling of piping, and charging of plumbing systems (Clause 4.2); f) new and expanded clauses for infection prevention and control measures (Clauses 4.5.2.4, 4.5.2.5, 4.5.2.10,4.5.2.11, and 4.5.2.14); g) new clauses for dialysis plumbing requirements (Clauses 6.3.6, 6.4, and 7.5.3.8); h) expanded guidance for hot water systems, including arrangement of distribution systems (Clause 6.3.3.5), redundancy (Clause 6.3.3.8), mixing valves (Clause 6.3.3.17), and stagnation (Clause 6.3.3.23); i) expanded requirements for reverse osmosis (Clause 6.4.4); j) updated guidance for other human waste disposal provisions and hoppers (Clause 8.3); k) updated guidance for hand hygiene sinks including harmonization and coordination with CSA Z8000 (Clause 8.4.2); l) a new clause on removal of stagnant water for showers (Clause 8.5.1.2); m) new clauses for plumbing fixtures, including janitorial closet (Clause 8.4.5), bottle-filling-only stations (Clause 8.9), ice and water machines/dispensers (Clause 8.10), and dialysis wall boxes (Clause 8.11); and n) updated guidance on hot water temperatures (Table 1). CSA Group acknowledges that the development of this Standard was made possible, in part, by the financial support of the governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon, as administered by Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC), as well as by the financial support of Standards Council of Canada. This Standard was prepared by the Subcommittee on Plumbing in Health Care Facilities, under the jurisdiction of the Technical Committee on Health Care Facilities and the Strategic Steering Committee on Health and Well-being, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee. This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group. Scope 1.1 General This Standard addresses the special requirements of plumbing systems pertinent to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of health care facilities (HCFs). This Standard specifies requirements for the following in HCFs: a) water supply systems, including domestic cold water systems and hot water systems; b) plumbing fixtures and fittings; c) drainage systems; d) risk management; e) monitoring and maintenance of water systems; f) infection control; g) business continuity planning; h) specialized water systems (e.g., reverse osmosis, deionized, distilled); i) hydraulic fire protection systems; j) environmental sustainability; and k) appropriate climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience measures. Note: Special requirements for plumbing systems apply in HCFs because of the need to protect occupants of the facility and the adjacent surroundings from a) infectious diseases; b) hazards created by improper temperatures, leaks, and inadequate drainage; and c) adverse conditions created by the failure or improper operation of plumbing systems. 1.2 Supplemental requirements This Standard supplements the relevant standards and other applicable requirements for plumbing systems, fixtures, and fittings in general building applications. Notes: 1) Relevant plumbing standards for plumbing fixtures and fittings can be found in the National Plumbing Code of Canada, adopted provincial/territorial plumbing codes, or both; local codes and bylaws; and other communications from authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). 2) Applicable requirements for plumbing systems are also contained in the National Building Code of Canada. 1.3 Intended use This Standard is not intended to preclude the use of design concepts and the adoption of construction, installation, operations, and maintenance procedures more stringent than those specified in this Standard and in the documents listed in Clause 2. 1.4 Exclusions This Standard does not apply to medical gas systems. Note: See CSA Z7396.1 for pipelines for medical gases, medical vacuum, medical support gases, and anaesthetic gas scavenging systems. 1.5 Class of HCFs This Standard applies to all Class A, Class B, Class C-1, and Class C-2 HCFs, unless specifically noted otherwise. Note: Some requirements may be waived for critical HCF classes as determined by the application of engineering principles and in consultation with the administrator and the AHJ. 1.6 Retrofitting of existing systems The requirements of this Standard apply to the retrofitting of existing systems when a) an existing HCF is i) extended; or ii) undergoing material alteration or repair; and b) the multidisciplinary team determines that the plumbing in the existing facility is adversely affected. 1.7 Terminology In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application. 1.8 Units of measurement The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.