Evidence register

    Old house source ledger

    Every primary source this site relies on, in one filterable table — including the limits of each source. A source that supports a general statement rarely supports a claim about an individual property.

    What sources does OldHouses.ca rely on?

    Primary Canadian publishers only: Health Canada, CMHC, Natural Resources Canada, the National Research Council, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, and provincial safety authorities and regulators. Each entry below records the date the link was checked, what the source supports, and what it cannot establish about a specific home.

    Showing 12 of 12 sources.

    Primary sources used on OldHouses.ca with jurisdiction, publisher, date checked and limits
    TopicJurisdictionPublisher and sourceCheckedWhat it supportsWhat it does not establishPages using it
    RadonCanada (federal)Health CanadaRadon — Government of CanadaFederal health guidance on radon in indoor air and the recommended approach to long-term testing in homes.The radon level in any particular house. Only a long-term test in that home measures it.
    AsbestosCanada (federal)Health CanadaHealth risks of asbestosFederal health information on asbestos exposure and the role of qualified assessment before disturbing suspect materials.Whether a specific material in a specific home contains asbestos. Only laboratory analysis of a sample taken by a qualified person can.
    Vermiculite insulationCanada (federal)Health CanadaVermiculite insulation containing amphibole asbestosFederal guidance on vermiculite loose-fill insulation and handling precautions.That vermiculite present in a given attic contains amphibole asbestos; sampling and analysis are required.
    Lead paintCanada (federal)Health CanadaLead-based paintFederal health information on lead-based paint in homes and safe-handling considerations.Whether painted surfaces at an address contain lead. Testing by a qualified person or accredited lab is required.
    Construction codesCanada (model codes; adopted provincially)National Research Council CanadaCodes CanadaThat Canada publishes model construction and electrical codes that provinces and territories adopt, with amendments and their own effective dates.Which code edition applied to a specific house when it was built or altered. That depends on the adopting jurisdiction and the permit date.
    Housing and home conditionCanada (federal)Canada Mortgage and Housing CorporationCMHC — housing information for consumersGeneral federal housing guidance on buying, maintaining and renovating homes.Condition, value or insurability of any individual property.
    Home insuranceCanada (federal consumer information)Financial Consumer Agency of CanadaHome insuranceHow home insurance works in Canada and what buyers can ask an insurer.Any individual insurer's underwriting rules for older homes. Those are set company by company.
    Electrical safety and permitsOntarioElectrical Safety AuthorityElectrical Safety Authority (Ontario)Who regulates electrical work in Ontario and how electrical permits and certificates of inspection are handled.The wiring condition or permit history of a specific home without a records request.
    Technical safety permitsBritish ColumbiaTechnical Safety BCTechnical Safety BCProvincial permitting and licensing for electrical and gas work in British Columbia.Whether past work at an address was permitted; a records search is required.
    Safety codes and permitsAlbertaGovernment of AlbertaSafety codes and permitsHow building, electrical, gas and plumbing permits are administered in Alberta.The permit history of any address without a search through the permit issuer.
    Construction regulationQuébecRégie du bâtiment du QuébecRégie du bâtiment du QuébecContractor licensing and building regulation in Québec.Whether a specific contractor's past work at an address was licensed or inspected.
    Energy efficiency and retrofitsCanada (federal)Natural Resources CanadaEnergy efficiency for homesFederal information on home energy evaluations, insulation and heating retrofits.The energy performance or retrofit history of an individual home.