The Canadian Standards Association (operating as CSA Group) Technical Subcommittee on digital infrastructure and health technologies is pleased to inform you that Public Review of the first edition of CSA Z8005 Digital infrastructure and digital health technologies in health care facilities is now underway.

The public review draft is now live on the CSA Group public review site until September 30, 2023.  • English: https://publicreview.csa.ca/Home/Details/5026

CSA is encouraging you to spread the word as we welcome the involvement of all interested parties. We would very much appreciate any feedback by September 30, 2023.

In March of 2022, CSA Group released the 5th edition of CSA Z317.13, Infection control during construction, renovation, and maintenance of health care facilities in English. This important standard has continued its growth through the advancement of technologies and techniques that are in use throughout Canada. The French version is expected to follow later this year.

There are many changes in the 2022 edition of the standard including changes to performance leak testing requirements of both HEPA filtered vacuums and construction air handling units (CAHUs). There has been additional information added regarding planning and implementing plumbing system shutdowns in existing buildings and maintaining plumbing system quality for new construction. There are also new requirements for accessing ceiling spaces in occupied spaces when performing maintenance tasks. One area of notable change to the standard has been a complete reorganization of the clause referencing new construction which will make the many new requirements contained in this section easier to locate.

Link to access the IFHE Digest for 2023

The 23 articles in the 97-page 2023 IFHE Digest offer in-depth coverage of healthcare engineering expertise, good practice, and technology, over a range of topics including decarbonisation, cutting-edge departmental design, infection control via optimum ventilation, and the representation of women in healthcare engineering.  There is also plenty of information about the IFHE itself, including a review of 27th IFHE Congress that took place in Toronto last year, and a look ahead to the 28th Congress in Cape Town in October 2024.

A recent research project at the CSA Group has resulted in the release of a report entitled Deployment of Health Care Facility Digital Infrastructure in Canada. Under the guidance of a CSA Advisory Panel, the research was conducted by H.H. Angus & Associates Ltd. The report looks at the current landscape of digital infrastructure in healthcare in Canada, provides a gap analysis of the current situation and a series of recommendations for anybody embarking on a project with a digital component. It should prove to be a valuable resource for planners, designers, facilities managers and information technology providers as they work to improve these vital systems in our healthcare buildings. The report is available for download at https://www.csagroup.org/article/research/deployment-of-health-care-facility-digital-infrastructure-in-canada/