The Canadian air filtration industry is shaped by domestic regulations and international standards alike. You’ll need to navigate the likes of ASHRAE guidelines, CSA mandates, and environmental laws from both sides of the border to keep your operations compliant.
Fab-Tex is a trusted manufacturer of custom industrial and commercial air filters, and we work closely with our clients to deliver filtration solutions that meet performance demands, align with sector-specific regulations, and support long-term reliability. Whether you’re upgrading an existing system or building out new operations, Fab-Tex helps you protect your people and equipment while staying fully compliant.
ASHRAE Standards set the Benchmark
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air, Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) publishes globally recognized ventilation and filtration guidelines. In Canada, two of the most widely referenced standards are:
- ASHRAE 62.1: Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality in commercial and institutional buildings
- ASHRAE 62.2: Governing air quality in residential spaces
Both establish minimum ventilation and filtration requirements to maintain healthy indoor air quality.
In response to recent public health events, ASHRAE 241, 2023 was introduced to address the control of infectious aerosols. This specification contains recommendations for higher ventilation rates and filters rated MERV 13+ or HEPA, especially in high-risk areas such as:
- Hospitals and healthcare clinics
- Schools
- Office buildings
- Recreation centres
- Airports and public transit hubs
- Highrise residential buildings
While ASHRAE standards aren’t laws on their own, they are frequently adopted into Canadian building codes. For example, LEED green building certifications in Canada require compliance with ASHRAE 62.1 recommendations.
CSA Standards: Sector-Specific Compliance in Canada
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) creates guidelines tailored to Canadian industries. For air filtration regulation, CSA features prominently in healthcare and long-term care environments.
- CSA Z317.2:24 governs HVAC systems in hospitals, requiring HEPA filters in sterile zones (like operating rooms and pharmacies) and setting minimum MERV ratings for key spaces. It also emphasizes air changes, pressure balancing, and filtration efficiency to manage infection control.
- CSA Z8004:22 is a newer standard directed toward long-term care homes. It highlights the use of high-efficiency filters while cautioning against technologies that lack scientific validation, such as antimicrobial coatings.
Outside of healthcare, air filtration standards are generally dictated by provincial building codes and workplace safety regulations. CSA best practices remain a valuable reference, especially in industries like pharmaceuticals and clean manufacturing.
Environmental Emissions Governed by Provincial & Federal Regulations
If your air filtration system exhausts outdoors, such as those in paint booths or dust collection systems, you’ll need to comply with environmental emissions regulations.
- Most provincial guidelines, including Ontario’s, require filters to capture at least 95% of particulate emissions.
- The U.S. EPA standard, often mirrored in Canada, sets this bar even higher at 98% efficiency.
Common setups include:
- Paint booths: Exhaust filters typically use fiberglass or polyester arrestor pads, sometimes paired with a secondary stage for better capture rates.
- Powder coating booths: High-efficiency cartridge filters are used to both capture and reclaim powder.
- Dust collection systems in sectors like cement, grain, or wood processing must align with permitted emissions levels. These systems often require maintenance records and pressure monitoring to stay compliant and avoid penalties.
Fire and Building Code Considerations
Even when not explicitly labeled as filtration standards, fire codes play a critical role in how filters are selected and maintained, especially in high-risk environments.
Codes referencing NFPA 33 (Spray Application Using Flammable or Combustible Materials) outline the need for:
- Non-combustible filters
- Regular maintenance to prevent dangerous material buildup
- Explosion protection for combustible dust systems (e.g., in woodworking or metal processing), including spark arrestors or flameless venting
In applications where air is recirculated indoors, many building codes now recommend filters rated MERV 13 or higher to increase occupant safety.
Choosing the Right Filter for the Right Code
Whether you’re designing a filtration system for a hospital, paint booth, or industrial facility, your choices must align with applicable standards:
- ASHRAE for indoor air quality and infectious control
- CSA for healthcare and long-term care requirements
- Environmental and fire codes for emission and safety compliance
For sensitive sectors like food processing, pharma, or clean manufacturing, HEPA-level filtration is non-negotiable. Ensuring regulatory alignment isn’t just about compliance; it’s a commitment to health, safety, and operational excellence.
Get Expert Help to Navigate Compliance Needs
At Fab-Tex, we specialize in custom engineered air filters built for Canadian industries. Whether you’re upgrading an existing system or designing for a new facility, we can help you meet the latest ASHRAE, CSA, and environmental standards, without compromising performance or efficiency.
Contact Fab-Tex today to speak with our filtration experts or request a custom quote tailored to your industry’s needs.