Civil Engineering Association

A large size blast event in a city environment can affect a number of buildings. This new standard will help emergency management personnel improve preparedness for blast events and provide guidelines to evaluate these buildings for their safety and serviceability before they can be reoccupied. CSA S851 applies to blast incidents and provides emergency response authorities information to assist in developing suitable standard operating procedures incorporating criteria for post-blast safety inspection and assessment.
This Guideline specifies procedures for the assessment of the safety of the structural and architectural components of a building affected by a blast event.1.2This Guideline does not contain procedures for assessing all post-blast hazards or pre-existing risks, but they should be considered.1.3The principles and criteria of post-blast assessment may be incorporated into existing emergency response protocols.1.4In this Guideline, should is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Guideline; and can is used to express possibility or capability.