Library of climate resources

This is a collection of links to climate datasets, tools, guidance and related resources. The sources include the federal government, provincial and territorial governments, national professional organizations, climate consortia and established international organizations. It can be useful for impact, vulnerability and risk assessments, and for adaptation planning.

Refine your search using the search filters. You can also type up to 5 keywords in the search bar.

Explanation of the different resource types
  • data product - downloadable climate dataset
  • tool - builds on a dataset with further analyses and/or visualization
  • guidance - provides direction on the use of climate information or on conducting climate-related assessments
  • codes and standards - guidance and best practice documents for climate resilient design
  • additional resources include educational and awareness-raising material, impact assessments and scientific syntheses

Showing 1 - 9 of 9 results
  • CSA PLUS 4013:19 Technical guide: Development, interpretation, and use of rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) information: Guideline for Canadian water resources practitioners (Opens in a new Window)

    This guideline has been designed for professionals with a role in the planning, design, management, inspection, and regulation of stormwater, drainage, wastewater, and flood management systems. It is not a design text book, but rather a resource for understanding the derivation, and application in water system planning and design, of rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) information. CSA updated relevant parts of the document to reflect the latest scientific understanding of climate change and how to incorporate climate change into the formulation and application of IDF information. As such, work was undertaken to update Chapters 5 and Chapter 6 of this document.
    Organization:
    CSA Group, Standards Council of Canada
    Resource formats:

    CSA W204:19 Flood Resilient Design for New Residential Communities (Opens in a new Window)

    The purpose of this Standard is to provide compliance criteria and guidance on the design of flood-resilient new residential communities as it relates to greenfield development. This Standard covers the following considerations: a) design for resilience to address extreme weather events and operational uncertainties; b) storm sewer system design (minor drainage system considerations); c) street design (major overland drainage system considerations); d) sanitary sewer design (wastewater drainage system considerations); e) wastewater pumping station design; and f) considerations for preservation of natural infrastructure and low impact development measures.
    Organization:
    CSA Group, Standards Council of Canada
    Resource formats:

    CSA Z32-21, Electrical safety and essential electrical systems in health care facilities (Opens in a new Window)

    This standard applies to essential electrical systems and electrical installations in health care facilities. It helps to protect patients and staff by addressing electrical shock hazards associated with critical electrical systems as well as other aspects of electrical safety, such as fires and interference with proper operation. It ensures that health care facilities safely continue to function in times of catastrophic events such as those brought on by climate change. Clause 6 provides emergency power guidelines to ensure electrical power is continuously provided to the health care facility systems where the interruption of electrical power can jeopardize the safety of patients, staff and visitors.
    Organization:
    CSA Group, Standards Council of Canada
    Resource formats:

    CSA Z8000-18, Canadian health care facilities (Opens in a new Window)

    This standard provides requirements and guidance for the planning, design, and construction of Canadian health care facilities. It addresses crucial aspects of health care facility design and management with the goal of ensuring that facilities safely support medical care and treatment, and essential infrastructure continues to function in times of catastrophic events such as those brought on by climate change. Clause 6 lists requirements for site design criteria, which includes examination of the climate, snow and wind studies, sun and shade studies, environmental site assessments, flood risk analysis, and other hazards. Clause 7 provides requirements for catastrophic event management involving the role of the health care facility and the services provided, including assessing the utility needs of the health care facility and contingency plans or backups in case of temporary or extended periods of loss.
    Organization:
    CSA Group, Standards Council of Canada
    Resource formats:

    CSA Z8002-19, Operation and maintenance of Health Care Facilities (Opens in a new Window)

    This Standard sets out a framework for the operation and maintenance of a health care facility and provides requirements for the essential elements of an Operation and Maintenance program. It applies to buildings and architectural systems, site elements related to the building and its functions, systems, equipment, and services, as well as organizational policies and procedures. Continuity management is addressed in Clause 7 in the event of catastrophic events such as those brought on by climate change. The standard requires that each facility shall develop, implement, evaluate, maintain, and continually improve an emergency and continuity management program that includes plans for prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery in case of emergencies (natural, human-caused, or technological incidents that can occur anytime and anywhere).
    Organization:
    CSA Group, Standards Council of Canada
    Resource formats:

    W200-18 Design of bioretention systems (Opens in a new Window)

    This Standard provides requirements and recommendations for the design of bioretention systems intended for the management of urban stormwater runoff. The following types of bioretention systems are covered by this Standard: a) bioretention with underdrain and with no underdrain; b) biofilters (impermeable liner); and c) bioretention planters and bioretention bump-outs (curb extensions). The following sub-types of bioretention systems are not covered by this Standard: a) bioswales; b) tree trenches or pits; and c) rain gardens. Design and performance criteria considers the following: a) volume reduction criteria; b) water quality improvement criteria.
    Organization:
    CSA Group
    Resource formats:

    W201-18 Construction of bioretention systems (Opens in a new Window)

    This Standard covers the construction considerations for bioretention systems. This Standard covers the following items: a) roles and responsibilities; b) contract documentation; c) construction sequencing; d) erosion and sediment control for bioretention systems; e) construction documentation; f) material supply and handling; g) installation considerations; h) landscape materials and maintenance; i) construction warranty maintenance; and j) assumption protocols.
    Organization:
    CSA Group
    Resource formats:

    Z317.2-19, Special requirements for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in health care facilities (Opens in a new Window)

    This standard applies to the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of HVAC systems in health care facilities. It includes commissioning, operational, maintenance, and monitoring requirements for HVAC systems that will reduce the risk of transmission of infection among building occupants, including patients, staff, and visitors. Clause 6 sets requirements for catastrophic event management for events such as those brought on by climate change. It requires that the health care facility develop and maintain contingency plans for the HVAC system in relation to a catastrophic event, or combination of events, that could reasonably be expected for its location. It includes backups in the case of temporary or extended periods of loss, as well as provisions for surge capacity, i.e., management of situations where there is a significant increase in the number of patients due to a disaster or other cause.
    Organization:
    CSA Group, Standards Council of Canada
    Resource formats:

    Z800-18 Guideline on basement flood protection and risk reduction (Opens in a new Window)

    The Guideline was prepared to assist relevant stakeholders in the mitigation of basement flood risk for new and existing National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) Part 9 residential buildings. Development of the Guideline was motivated both by current basement flood risk and by the potential for increased risk in many regions of Canada under changing climate conditions. This Guideline covers measures to reduce the risks of basement flooding, and to mitigate the adverse effects on property, public safety, and public health in case of a flood event. It covers existing, new, rebuilt, and renovated houses in rural and urban settings. This Guideline covers all types of ground-related houses, with or without basements, that are considered Part 9 buildings according to the National Building Code (NBC) including a) detached houses; b) semi-detached houses; and c) row houses. Recommendations made in this Guideline are generally appropriate for houses serviced by gravity- based storm, sanitary, combined, or third pipe systems. The types of flood hazards addressed by the measures described in this Guideline are a) overland flooding associated with precipitation events and resulting in the accumulation/ponding of rainwater and/or snow melt in and around ground-related houses; b) storm and sanitary sewer backwater (surcharge); c) infiltration flooding (groundwater seepage); d) plumbing and drainage failures, including failure of sump systems and sewer lateral failure; and e) flooding associated with improper installation of basement flood risk-reduction technologies (see Annex A).
    Organization:
    CSA Group
    Resource formats:


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More resources from the Canadian Centre for Climate Services

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