Student Awards
It is that time of year again where we are accepting Student Award applications.
The Student Awards are being offered to increase access to Association educational programs and help interested individuals become building and plumbing officials.
For details about the Student Awards program, or to apply for a Student Award, please click here.
The deadline to apply for a Student Award is February 28, 2025.
Lunch & Learn – January 16, 2025
Please join Ken Kunka on Thursday, January 16, for our 2025 kick-off Lunch and Learn session on Roof Top Occupancies. Please forward any questions or suggestions by January 13, 2025, to kkunka@boabc.org.
Recommended reading for our next session:
- 2024 BC Building Code – 3.3.1.3 Means of Egress, 3.8.5.1 Adaptable Dwelling Units, 9.5.2.3. Apartment Buildings,
- Rooftop enclosures – 3.2.1.1., 3.2.2.14., 9.10.4.4.
- Original 2018 BCBC proposed code changes to rooftop enclosures and occupancies – BCBC2018-R204-RT
- BC Code Appeal – Storeys in Building Height – Rooftop Structures – BCAB#1921
- Building and Plumbing Code Interpretation – Roof-top Service Room for Townhouse unit – File No: 18-0295 (2018)
For previous Lunch and Learns, please refer to Lunch & Learn Webinars
Member Registration: Click Here
CPD Eligibility: 1 point – Category A4 (automatically uploaded when you register)
CPD Opportunity – Gas-Engine Heat Pumps
With rising energy costs and tighter energy efficiency standards, northern BC communities are looking for solutions to reduce GHG emissions as well as operating costs, all while maintaining building comfort.
Learn how Yanmar’s air-source heat pumps, powered by natural gas can help your customers throughout northern BC.
- Proven in BC & Alberta at temperatures below -30c to -40c
- Waste heat recovery reduces/eliminates defrost cycle while maintaining space heating, lowering consumption
- Single phase connectivity – uses 90% less electricity than electric heat pumps avoiding peak demand, rate spikes, etc.
- Increases electrification availability
- Standard heat pump operation & installation
- Ideal for retrofits as well as new construction
Two webinars this January 2025 :
- January 16, 2025 at 8:00 am PST
- January 21, 2025 at 11:00 am PST
To join, please email your preferred date to savingenergy@png.ca to receive a Teams presentation link.
CPD Eligibility: You will need to self-report these points – 1 point/hour under Category A4
Upcoming Price Increase for ICC Exams – Effective January 1, 2025
The fee for building code qualification exams is increasing to $295 (+GST) effective January 1, 2025. This adjustment reflects fee increases from the International Code Council, which is contracted to deliver exams for the Association.
This adjustment does not affect the current price of the building official in-training exams.
CPD Opportunity – CASA Education Series
The Building Officials’ Association of BC is collaborating with the Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association to offer three professional development sessions focused on what building and plumbing officials should know about sprinkler system design and installation.
Each session is being offered online and is a full-day in length, which includes a one-hour lunch break, and other breaks at the instructor’s discretion. Qualified officials will earn (5) points of continuing education credit for each session attended.
The cost to register is $125 per session, or you can register for all three sessions for $350. The registration links are provided below.
The instructor for these sessions is James Hook, who is the Manager of Codes and Technical standards at the Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association. James attended BCIT for Mechanical drafting and has been in fire protection since 2001 as a designer, and has spent 18 years as the senior plans’ examiner with the City of Vancouver. James started with CASA in August of 2024, and will be sitting on numerous NFPA and NRC committees in the coming months.
Pumps for Fire Protection
Explore general fire pump design requirements in NFPA 20: The Standard for the installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection. This program will include a detailed walkthrough of fire pump sizing, design and layout of a fire pump. Understand how to read and interpret a fire pump curve / water supply curve, review high rise requirements including defining high rise and very tall buildings. It will also guide participants on the proper acceptance testing / commissioning of fire pumps, and the corresponding test records that capture these initial test activities, and their importance for ongoing inspection, test and maintenance requirements.
Date: January 30, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm PST
CPD Eligibility: 5 points – Category A3 (you will need to self-report these points)
Cost: $125 plus GST
Registration: Click Here
Acceptance Testing / Commissioning of Sprinkler Systems / Fire Protection System
This seminar will provide attendees with information on how to properly conduct the Acceptance Testing, Commissioning of Sprinkler Systems, Standpipe Systems and Fire Pumps.
Fire sprinklers, standpipes and fire pumps are installed in stages, and in some jurisdictions across Canada inspections are required during the construction of the building. The standards provide guidance and details on what tests need to be required and documented to ensure the installation has been installed according to the appropriate NFPA standards. This seminar will review the proper acceptance tests and commissioning requirements that must take place before the systems are approved and placed into proper operation. It will also point out and show examples of proper testing procedures, and sample test records.
Date: February 11, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm PST
CPD Eligibility: 5 points – Category A3 (you will need to self-report these points)
Cost: $125 plus GST
Registration: Click Here
Sprinkler System Plan Review
Examining fire sprinkler shop drawings, cut sheets and hydraulic calculations is a primary duty of the authority having jurisdiction. This course will provide a method of reviewing plans and other fire sprinkler documents that is efficient and thorough. Attendees will learn what documents to accept to start a review, what steps to take through the fire sprinkler design and systems review, and how to have confidence while reviewing hydraulic calculations. This course applies current codes and standards to fire sprinkler systems from the initial site plan review, through the construction documents, to the as-built drawings. Significant time on how to effectively communicate deficiencies to the design professional. Students will receive a handout that provides detailed checklists with expert commentary that is useful to the fire sprinkler plan reviewer for years to come. Attendees must bring a copy of NFPA 13 to class.
Date: February 25, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm PST
CPD Eligibility: 5 points – Category A3 (you will need to self-report these points)
Cost: $125 plus GST
Registration: Click Here
Sprinkler Bundle (includes all three courses above)
CPD Eligibility: 15 points – Category A3 (you will need to self-report these points)
Cost: $350 plus GST
Registration: Click Here
New User’s Guide Available for the 2020 Edition of the National Energy Code for Buildings
The new User’s Guide – National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) 2020 is now available. The guide provides practical guidance, examples and calculations to help users understand provisions in the NECB 2020.
The guide is available for free, in electronic format, through the National Research Council of Canada’s (NRC’s) Publications Archive, and for purchase in printed format from the NRC’s Virtual Store.
The guide is a useful reference for anyone involved in building design, construction or regulation. It provides valuable insights into the NECB’s provisions and offers practical examples to help users navigate energy-efficient design. The guide is particularly useful for educators and trainers working with students as well as professionals. We encourage you to share this with your network.
This is the first in a series of user’s guides that will be released soon.
National Model Codes Public Review
The Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) is continuing the consultation on the proposed changes for the 2025 National Construction Codes and is inviting the public to take part.
The public review will run from October 21 to December 19, 2024. Those interested in participating in the review can access the proposed changes on the CBHCC’s website and provide feedback.
The public review is an opportunity for all Canadians to participate in the code development process. We strongly encourage our industry partners and stakeholders to participate in the 2025 National Construction Codes consultation series.
Following the public review, all comments will be considered by the relevant code development committees, and recommendations on the proposed changes will be made to the CBHCC. If approved, the changes will be included in the 2025 editions of the National Model Codes.
As we work towards increased harmonization of the construction codes, these consultations are also an opportunity for the Province to receive your feedback on proposed changes that we intend to adopt in future editions of BC Codes.
For more information, please contact the CBHCC at CBHCCSecretary-SecretaireCCHCC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
CPD Offerings – Cascadia Windows & Doors
Cascadia Windows & Doors is offering these 6 different 1 hour sessions with various dates to select from at no charge.
CPD Eligibility: 1 point per webinar under Category A4 (you will need to self report this point)
Details for each individual session, including registration can be found in the links below:
Building Rehabilitation from Restoration to Innovation: Leveraging Rehabilitation ‘Lessons Learned’ to Drive Adoption of High-Performance Building Envelope Products
Building envelope rehabilitation projects offer valuable insights into the real-world performance of building designs and products over time and highlight key opportunities to increase the overall performance of buildings in the future—both rehabs and new construction.
- January 15, 2025
- February 13, 2025
- March 20, 2025
- April 17, 2025
- May 29, 2025
- June 18, 2025
- July 24, 2025
- August 19, 2025
Closing the Gap: Leveraging Cladding Attachments to Deliver High-Performance Exterior Wall Assemblies
Jurisdictions across North American continue to transition beyond ASHRAE standards for exterior wall assemblies, instead adopting a more comprehensive building energy performance standard (BEPS) approach to envelope design.
- January 17, 2025
- February 4, 2025
- March 6, 2025
- April 10, 2025
- May 14, 2025
- June 3, 2025
- July 10, 2025
- August 7, 2025
2024 Code Update Training
In accordance with the Association’s Administrative Agreement with the Province, all qualified officials must complete code update training to maintain their qualifications. This training must be completed before April 15, 2025.
The requirement to complete code update training applies to all qualified building and plumbing officials, including all building and plumbing officials in-training (i.e. BOIT or POIT) and anyone who obtains level one building or plumbing official qualification prior to September 3, 2024, must complete Code Update Training. For example, if you pass one of the level 1 exams based on the 2018 BCBC and then write the other level 1 exam based on the 2024 BCBC, you will still be required to complete the 2024 Code Update Training.
Training requirements for qualified officials:
- Building: qualified building officials must complete the building code update training only
- Plumbing: qualified plumbing officials must complete the plumbing code update training only
- Building & Plumbing: anyone who is dual qualified as both a building and plumbing official must complete building and plumbing code update training
| Building (includes Energy) & Plumbing – Register now | $375 plus GST |
| Building Only (includes Energy) – Register now | $325 plus GST |
| Plumbing Only – Register now | $125 plus GST |
| Energy Only – Register now | $125 plus GST |
Registration is also open to non-members by clicking here.
CPD Eligibility: CPD points will need to be self-reported by logging into your member portal. You will need to self-report these points under Category A2 once you have completed all of the components that you registered for, along with submitting the Certificate(s) of Completion as proof.
| Building (includes Energy) & Plumbing | 6.5 points |
| Building Only (includes Energy) | 5 points |
| Plumbing Only | 1.5 points |
| Energy Only | 1.5 points |
- Please note: These courses have been approved by BC Housing for CPD points for Licensed Builders.
Update: New seminar videos explain significant changes in the 2020 National Model Codes
The Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) has developed a set of twelve informational videos on the significant changes that were introduced into the 2020 National Model Codes. BC Codes 2024 are largely based on the National Codes 2020 with some BC-specific variations.
With nearly 400 technical changes introduced in the 2020 editions of Canada’s National Model Codes, the series of informational videos are intended to help code users understand the provisions and impacts on the most significant technical changes.
The videos cover changes related to important topics including accessibility, encapsulated mass timber construction, energy efficiency and more. To access the library of videos, visit the CBHCC’s website: https://cbhcc-cchcc.ca/en/seminars/
Please note that the Province has some code variations related to energy efficiency (Section 9.36), accessibility, encapsulated mass timber construction, and is still reviewing the adoption of requirements for large farm buildings and home-type care facilities.
