The CSA A277 Standard is a Certification Standard (not a building code). This Standard is used to Certify a residential, commercial or industrial building for compliance to the building code it is required to comply with in the jurisdiction where the building will be sited. A277 can be used to Certify compliance with the Japanese Building Code, the UK Building Code, the National Building Code of Canada, the Ontario Building, the Alberta Code, etc.

In the case of Alberta, all homes must meet the Alberta Building Code and therefore, the A277 Standard. Whenever a home is constructed in a manufacturing facility for placement in Alberta, it must be confirmed for compliance to the Alberta Building Code by a modular label on each home Certifying compliance under the CSA A277 Standard.

Z240 MH is the CSA National Standard for Manufactured (Mobile) Home Construction. CSA Z240 MH is in effect a building code for manufactured (mobile) homes.

Alberta does not accept the Z240 MH Standard; therefore, any home constructed to this Standard cannot be sited in Alberta.

From a building inspection perspective, the Province of Alberta subordinates all building inspection responsibilities associated with the modules built in a manufacturing facility certified to produce homes/buildings to the CSA A277 Standard for Alberta to any inspection agency that is accredited to certify to the CSA Standard. The Certification Organizations; CSA, Intertek and Quality Auditing Institute (QAI) are currently accredited to perform compliance inspections.

To ensure the home has been built to the Albert Building Code (A277 Standard), the building inspector looks at the Label inside the door of the electrical panel to determine code compliance. If the Label is issued by one of the three noted accredited inspection agencies and it indicates CSA A277 Modular compliance, it is in compliance with the Alberta Building Code. If the Label indicates CSA Z240 MH Standard compliance, the home is a manufactured (mobile) home, and is not acceptable in Alberta.