Owner Builder Exam Frequently Tested Questions
& Verified Answers
What lighting certifications are required in Canada? - ✔✔CSA safety certification
What grit of sandpaper would get smoothest result? 150-180 etc. - ✔✔The higher the grade,
the smoother the finish. When finishing a surface, you typically start with a low grit and
work up to a high grit.
What is the maximum rise in a flight of stairs?
a. The vertical height any flight stairs - ✔✔The vertical height shall not exceed 3.7 M
What is the minimum distance that a ladder must extend above a parapet wall or landing? -
✔✔3 feet
If you have a 4m ladder, how far from the wall does the base of the ladder have to be? -
✔✔74 degrees or 4:1 ratio. So 4 m ladder, needs to be 1 m away.
What heights are end dams to be on window and door flashings? - ✔✔25 mm / 1 inch (from
BCBC)
When to call for inspections and how to make them efficient as possible? - ✔✔Group
together when possible and call when work is complete
When is an HRV required? - ✔✔Almost always:
"Effective December ϭε, ϮϬϭκ residential dwelling units, such as houses, apartments and
secondary suites will be required to have
a principal ventilation system that exhausts air from bathrooms and kitchens and supplies fresh
air to bedrooms and living areas
,[ε.ϯϮ.ϯ.ϯ."
"Some small dwelling units in mild climates are permitted to supply fresh air through passive
vents [9.32.3.4.(6)], but for most
dwelling units exhaust and supply will require a mechanical fan"
What can you build under the owner-builder HPO process? - ✔✔Single detached home
under a single title. One single dwelling unit in or attached to a pre-existing building older than
10 years (includes
the addition of a unit to convert a detached home to a duplex, or conversion of a duplex to
triplex, or conversion of non -residential space
to a dwelling unit). One single dwelling unit in or attached to a new non-residential building
(one only per building, such as a caretaker suite
or home built above a family-run store).
12. Who issues permits for a gas fireplace?
Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder program? - ✔✔A new
dwelling unit attached to building *newer*
than 10 years old
Who issues permits for a gas fireplace? - ✔✔The Safety Authority - Now called Technical
Safety BC
Can an owner builder take out his or her own electrical permit? - ✔✔Yes -work up to 200A is
allowed.
What types of Buildings that Can be Wired by Homeowners? - ✔✔You are entitled to do
electrical work in a fully detached residential dwelling that you occupy or intend to occupy.
Your
dwelling may not contain a suite. Fully detached dwellings are buildings that are designed for
single family use only.
,You are not allowed to do electrical work in or on any buildings if:
ͻ you do not live in or intend to live in the dwelling,
ͻ any part of the building includes a separate self-contained suite or occupancy,
ͻ the building, or any part of the building is being used to provide rental income, or
ͻ the building, or any part of the building is used for commercial purposes.
What is the best practice to apply asphalt waterproofing on a foundation? - ✔✔Spray-on or
roll on dry foundation with 2inch (max) below grade
What is best practice for waterproofing on foundation? - ✔✔Spray or roll 12 inch above
grade on dry surface
When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation? - ✔✔After Damp-proofing
Where does one apply Damp-proofing Material - ✔✔Exterior damp-proofing shall be applied
from finished ground level to the top of the exterior of the footing.
What do you need to do when applying a peel and stick waterproof membrane foundation? -
✔✔Use an approved primer before installing
The distance from the gas vent to the roof must be... - ✔✔...greater than the overhang of
the roof. Nothing (no gas appliance exhaust vents) within
1m either side and 4.5 meters above. Any powered air intake must not be within 3 meters.
When do you need to install a handrail, or have worker wear fall protection? - ✔✔10 feet
above grade
If a worker has no fall protection, at what height must a handrail be provided? - ✔✔4 feet
, How high does a construction fence around a site needs to be? - ✔✔6 feet
When installing the footer, it was dug down 2 inches deeper then what the elevation should be.
What needs to happen? - ✔✔Install the footing form at proper elevation and fill with extra
concrete
When installing flashing for a roof valley how much do the asphalt shingles need to overlap it? -
✔✔6 inches
What would cause a Blister on a flat roof? - ✔✔Moisture trapped under roof
Water is backing up in a skylight what do you do to fix it? - ✔✔Clear drainage
What needs to be done first when starting to install asphalt shingles on a roof? - ✔✔Install
eve protection
What kind of fastener can you use in a wood that had been treated with chromated copper
arsenate (pressure treated wood)? - ✔✔Lumber manufacturer approved fastener
When should there be insulation under a basement slab? - ✔✔When there is in-floor heating
or above the frost line
How deep should the control joint be in a concrete slab? - ✔✔1/4 of the slab
What can be done to eliminate differential shrinkage? - ✔✔Control joints
How can you apply a control joint in concrete without a plastic tool something etc? - ✔✔Saw
cut
& Verified Answers
What lighting certifications are required in Canada? - ✔✔CSA safety certification
What grit of sandpaper would get smoothest result? 150-180 etc. - ✔✔The higher the grade,
the smoother the finish. When finishing a surface, you typically start with a low grit and
work up to a high grit.
What is the maximum rise in a flight of stairs?
a. The vertical height any flight stairs - ✔✔The vertical height shall not exceed 3.7 M
What is the minimum distance that a ladder must extend above a parapet wall or landing? -
✔✔3 feet
If you have a 4m ladder, how far from the wall does the base of the ladder have to be? -
✔✔74 degrees or 4:1 ratio. So 4 m ladder, needs to be 1 m away.
What heights are end dams to be on window and door flashings? - ✔✔25 mm / 1 inch (from
BCBC)
When to call for inspections and how to make them efficient as possible? - ✔✔Group
together when possible and call when work is complete
When is an HRV required? - ✔✔Almost always:
"Effective December ϭε, ϮϬϭκ residential dwelling units, such as houses, apartments and
secondary suites will be required to have
a principal ventilation system that exhausts air from bathrooms and kitchens and supplies fresh
air to bedrooms and living areas
,[ε.ϯϮ.ϯ.ϯ."
"Some small dwelling units in mild climates are permitted to supply fresh air through passive
vents [9.32.3.4.(6)], but for most
dwelling units exhaust and supply will require a mechanical fan"
What can you build under the owner-builder HPO process? - ✔✔Single detached home
under a single title. One single dwelling unit in or attached to a pre-existing building older than
10 years (includes
the addition of a unit to convert a detached home to a duplex, or conversion of a duplex to
triplex, or conversion of non -residential space
to a dwelling unit). One single dwelling unit in or attached to a new non-residential building
(one only per building, such as a caretaker suite
or home built above a family-run store).
12. Who issues permits for a gas fireplace?
Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder program? - ✔✔A new
dwelling unit attached to building *newer*
than 10 years old
Who issues permits for a gas fireplace? - ✔✔The Safety Authority - Now called Technical
Safety BC
Can an owner builder take out his or her own electrical permit? - ✔✔Yes -work up to 200A is
allowed.
What types of Buildings that Can be Wired by Homeowners? - ✔✔You are entitled to do
electrical work in a fully detached residential dwelling that you occupy or intend to occupy.
Your
dwelling may not contain a suite. Fully detached dwellings are buildings that are designed for
single family use only.
,You are not allowed to do electrical work in or on any buildings if:
ͻ you do not live in or intend to live in the dwelling,
ͻ any part of the building includes a separate self-contained suite or occupancy,
ͻ the building, or any part of the building is being used to provide rental income, or
ͻ the building, or any part of the building is used for commercial purposes.
What is the best practice to apply asphalt waterproofing on a foundation? - ✔✔Spray-on or
roll on dry foundation with 2inch (max) below grade
What is best practice for waterproofing on foundation? - ✔✔Spray or roll 12 inch above
grade on dry surface
When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation? - ✔✔After Damp-proofing
Where does one apply Damp-proofing Material - ✔✔Exterior damp-proofing shall be applied
from finished ground level to the top of the exterior of the footing.
What do you need to do when applying a peel and stick waterproof membrane foundation? -
✔✔Use an approved primer before installing
The distance from the gas vent to the roof must be... - ✔✔...greater than the overhang of
the roof. Nothing (no gas appliance exhaust vents) within
1m either side and 4.5 meters above. Any powered air intake must not be within 3 meters.
When do you need to install a handrail, or have worker wear fall protection? - ✔✔10 feet
above grade
If a worker has no fall protection, at what height must a handrail be provided? - ✔✔4 feet
, How high does a construction fence around a site needs to be? - ✔✔6 feet
When installing the footer, it was dug down 2 inches deeper then what the elevation should be.
What needs to happen? - ✔✔Install the footing form at proper elevation and fill with extra
concrete
When installing flashing for a roof valley how much do the asphalt shingles need to overlap it? -
✔✔6 inches
What would cause a Blister on a flat roof? - ✔✔Moisture trapped under roof
Water is backing up in a skylight what do you do to fix it? - ✔✔Clear drainage
What needs to be done first when starting to install asphalt shingles on a roof? - ✔✔Install
eve protection
What kind of fastener can you use in a wood that had been treated with chromated copper
arsenate (pressure treated wood)? - ✔✔Lumber manufacturer approved fastener
When should there be insulation under a basement slab? - ✔✔When there is in-floor heating
or above the frost line
How deep should the control joint be in a concrete slab? - ✔✔1/4 of the slab
What can be done to eliminate differential shrinkage? - ✔✔Control joints
How can you apply a control joint in concrete without a plastic tool something etc? - ✔✔Saw
cut
