Home Owner General Contracting Exam
B.C. UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
At what depth of trench is shoring require / At what depth of an excavation is shoring required? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 1.2 Meters or 4 feet
Which of the following is not an acceptable method for determining the correct grading for a
trench? - CORRECT ANSWER - An experienced excavator says it's ok
Which best describes the design principle of rain water deflection? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Design and construction that prevents water from ever entering
What lighting certifications are required in Canada? - CORRECT ANSWER - CSA safety
certification
What grit of sandpaper would get smoothest result? (/etc.) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The higher the grit, the finer/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? - CORRECT ANSWER - 3.7 meters or
12.14 feet
What is the minimum distance that a ladder must extend above a parapet wall or landing? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 3 feet
If you have a 4m ladder, how far from the wall does the base of the ladder have to be? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 75 degrees = 1 horizontal to 4 vertical so 1m. 4:1 ratio
,What heights are end dams to be on window and door flashings? - CORRECT ANSWER -
25 mm / 1 inch (from BCBC)
When to call for inspections and how to make them efficient as possible? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Group together when possible and call when work is complete
When is an HRV required? - CORRECT ANSWER - Almost always:
"Effective December 19, 2014 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 [9.32.3.3.]" "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 - CORRECT ANSWER -
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).
Who issues permits for a gas fireplace? - CORRECT ANSWER - Safety Authority → now
call Technical Safety BC
Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder program? - CORRECT
ANSWER - New dwelling unit attached to building *newer* than 10 years old
Can an owner builder take out his or her own electrical permit? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes - work up to 200A is allowed.
Under what condition can an Owner Builder pull an electrical permit? - CORRECT
ANSWER - When the Owner Builder will be performing electrical rough-in only.
,Up to 200A 170V
What is the best practice to apply asphalt waterproofing on a foundation? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Spray-on or roll on dry foundation with 2inch (max) below grade
When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation - CORRECT ANSWER - After
damp-proofing
Best practice for waterproofing on foundation - CORRECT ANSWER - Spray or roll 12
inch above grade on dry surface)
What do you need to do when applying a peel and stick waterproof membrane foundation? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Use an approved primer before installing
What is the distance of the gas vent to the roof in relation to the overhang? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The distance from the gas vent to the roof must be greater than the overhang
of the roof.
What is the distance of anything (like gas appliance vents) from the gas meter? - CORRECT
ANSWER - . Nothing (no gas appliance exhaust vents) within 1m either side and 4.5
meters above
What is the distance of a fan powered intake from a gas meter? - CORRECT ANSWER -
3.5m radius
When do you need to install a handrail, or have worker wear fall protection - CORRECT
ANSWER - 3m or 10 feet above grade
If a worker has no fall protection, at what height must a handrail be provided? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 4 feet.
, What regulation outlines the order for fall protection? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Occupational Health & Safety Regulation Part 11: Fall Protection
How high does a construction fence around a site needs to be - CORRECT ANSWER -6
feet
When installing the footer, it was dug down 2 inches deeper then what the elevation should be.
What needs to happen? - CORRECT ANSWER - a. Install the footing form at proper
elevation and fill with extra concrete
b. Install the footing form at proper elevation and fill with 2inch of dirt then with concert (no
extra)
c. Dig down 10 more inches and fill with extra concert, to increase size of footer so it can with
stand the extra weight
d. Install footer at lower elevation and fill with concert no extra
Answer is A
When installing flashing for a roof valley how much do the asphalt shingles need to overlap it -
CORRECT ANSWER - 6 inches
What would cause a Blister on a flat roof? - CORRECT ANSWER - Moisture trapped
under roof
What would cause a blister on a gravel or ballast roof? - CORRECT ANSWER - Moisture
trapped under roof
Water is backing up in a skylight what do you do to fix it? - CORRECT ANSWER - a.
Remove caulking from skylight
b. Drill drain holes
c. Clear drainage
d. Other
Answer: C
B.C. UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
At what depth of trench is shoring require / At what depth of an excavation is shoring required? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 1.2 Meters or 4 feet
Which of the following is not an acceptable method for determining the correct grading for a
trench? - CORRECT ANSWER - An experienced excavator says it's ok
Which best describes the design principle of rain water deflection? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Design and construction that prevents water from ever entering
What lighting certifications are required in Canada? - CORRECT ANSWER - CSA safety
certification
What grit of sandpaper would get smoothest result? (/etc.) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The higher the grit, the finer/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? - CORRECT ANSWER - 3.7 meters or
12.14 feet
What is the minimum distance that a ladder must extend above a parapet wall or landing? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 3 feet
If you have a 4m ladder, how far from the wall does the base of the ladder have to be? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 75 degrees = 1 horizontal to 4 vertical so 1m. 4:1 ratio
,What heights are end dams to be on window and door flashings? - CORRECT ANSWER -
25 mm / 1 inch (from BCBC)
When to call for inspections and how to make them efficient as possible? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Group together when possible and call when work is complete
When is an HRV required? - CORRECT ANSWER - Almost always:
"Effective December 19, 2014 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 [9.32.3.3.]" "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 - CORRECT ANSWER -
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).
Who issues permits for a gas fireplace? - CORRECT ANSWER - Safety Authority → now
call Technical Safety BC
Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder program? - CORRECT
ANSWER - New dwelling unit attached to building *newer* than 10 years old
Can an owner builder take out his or her own electrical permit? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes - work up to 200A is allowed.
Under what condition can an Owner Builder pull an electrical permit? - CORRECT
ANSWER - When the Owner Builder will be performing electrical rough-in only.
,Up to 200A 170V
What is the best practice to apply asphalt waterproofing on a foundation? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Spray-on or roll on dry foundation with 2inch (max) below grade
When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation - CORRECT ANSWER - After
damp-proofing
Best practice for waterproofing on foundation - CORRECT ANSWER - Spray or roll 12
inch above grade on dry surface)
What do you need to do when applying a peel and stick waterproof membrane foundation? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Use an approved primer before installing
What is the distance of the gas vent to the roof in relation to the overhang? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The distance from the gas vent to the roof must be greater than the overhang
of the roof.
What is the distance of anything (like gas appliance vents) from the gas meter? - CORRECT
ANSWER - . Nothing (no gas appliance exhaust vents) within 1m either side and 4.5
meters above
What is the distance of a fan powered intake from a gas meter? - CORRECT ANSWER -
3.5m radius
When do you need to install a handrail, or have worker wear fall protection - CORRECT
ANSWER - 3m or 10 feet above grade
If a worker has no fall protection, at what height must a handrail be provided? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 4 feet.
, What regulation outlines the order for fall protection? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Occupational Health & Safety Regulation Part 11: Fall Protection
How high does a construction fence around a site needs to be - CORRECT ANSWER -6
feet
When installing the footer, it was dug down 2 inches deeper then what the elevation should be.
What needs to happen? - CORRECT ANSWER - a. Install the footing form at proper
elevation and fill with extra concrete
b. Install the footing form at proper elevation and fill with 2inch of dirt then with concert (no
extra)
c. Dig down 10 more inches and fill with extra concert, to increase size of footer so it can with
stand the extra weight
d. Install footer at lower elevation and fill with concert no extra
Answer is A
When installing flashing for a roof valley how much do the asphalt shingles need to overlap it -
CORRECT ANSWER - 6 inches
What would cause a Blister on a flat roof? - CORRECT ANSWER - Moisture trapped
under roof
What would cause a blister on a gravel or ballast roof? - CORRECT ANSWER - Moisture
trapped under roof
Water is backing up in a skylight what do you do to fix it? - CORRECT ANSWER - a.
Remove caulking from skylight
b. Drill drain holes
c. Clear drainage
d. Other
Answer: C
