What is CSA S250?
CSA S250:20 — Mapping of Underground Utility Infrastructure is Canada's national standard for how underground utilities must be recorded and depicted on maps and digital records. The 2020 edition (second edition) supersedes the 2011 original and expands accepted data-collection technologies.
Current Edition: 2020 (Second Edition) • Supersedes: 2011 Original • Focus: Positional accuracy classes, attributes, and record-keeping/lineage
Scope
Underground Infrastructure
Sets mapping requirements for underground infrastructure at or below grade (not overhead plant).
All Utility States
Applies to proposed, existing, abandoned in place, retired, or reserved-for-future-use utilities and their appurtenances.
Future Availability
Aims to ensure accurate capture of utility location and characteristics and to make this information available for future projects.
Who It's For
Municipalities
Surveyors
Utility Owners
Contractors
Anyone who creates or uses underground utility records
Where Does CSA S250 Apply?
National Standard
Across Canada as a voluntary consensus standard that becomes contractually or policy-mandatory when referenced by an owner, municipality, or program.
Note: It's a CSA standard, not a law by itself.
Program Examples
Ontario's Building Broadband Faster Act guideline explicitly references CSA S250 accuracy expectations for newly installed or exposed plant.
Impact: Driving finer 3D positional accuracy in submissions.
Industry Adoption
Canadian damage-prevention groups and utilities promote S250 to improve accuracy, reliability, and record maintenance.
Goal: Reducing utility strikes through better records.
How It Fits with SUE and "As-Builts"
CSA S250 Role
CSA S250 = how Canada wants underground utilities mapped and documented (accuracy classes, attributes, lineage).
Canadian Standard
Defines the mapping requirements and accuracy expectations for Canadian utility infrastructure projects.
Integration with ASCE
Pair it with ASCE 38-22 (investigation & Quality Levels) and ASCE 75-22 (data recording & exchange).
Complete Chain
Using S250 with 38/75 gives you a complete investigation-to-handover chain. Owner policies commonly position S250 as complementary to ASCE standards.
Complete Standards Integration
Investigation
How to investigate existing utilities
Mapping
How Canada wants utilities mapped
Exchange
How to record & exchange data
Practical Takeaway for Your Project
Implementation Strategy
Adopt CSA S250 as the governance standard for digitizing all utilities (legacy and new/relocated). Require S250 accuracy classes and attributes on every feature, then display those governed layers in your field/visualization tools.
Benefits
- • Decision-grade maps for field crews
- • Auditable "source of truth" for design
- • Reliable records for operations
- • Reduced utility strikes
Implementation
- • Apply to all utility types and states
- • Enforce accuracy class requirements
- • Maintain comprehensive attributes
- • Preserve lineage documentation
2020 Edition Updates
Expanded Data-Collection Technologies
The 2020 edition expands accepted data-collection technologies beyond traditional surveying methods.
LiDAR
Advanced laser scanning technology for precise measurements
Total Station
Electronic/optical surveying instruments for positioning
Video Records
Supplemental visual documentation for verification
Need Help Implementing CSA S250?
Contact us to learn how our Visual Ground Disturbance System can help you comply with CSA S250 standards and improve your Canadian utility mapping processes.