BC Owner Builder UPDATED Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Order of inspections - Correct Answer- 1: forms, basement and crawlspace
2: Plumbing, dampproofing, foundation drainage , sanitary sewer, storm sewer, sump, water
service
3: plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas
4: framing inspection
5: insulation and vapour barrier
6: rainscreen/exterior finishs, drywall
7: building envelop inspection
8: final inspection
Which is not an acceptable method for determining the correct grading for a trench? - Correct
Answer- An experienced excavator says it's ok
At what depth is shoring required? - Correct Answer- 1.2m/4ft
Which best describes the principle of rain waterterm-0 deflection? - Correct Answer- Design
and construction that prevents water from ever entering
What lighting safety certifications are required in Canada? - Correct Answer- CSA safety
certification
What grit of sandpaper would get the smoothest result? - Correct Answer- Higher grit with
get a smoother finish
What is the maximum rise in a flight of stairs? - Correct Answer- The vertical height of any
flight of stairs should not exceed 3.7m
What is the minimum distance that a ladder must extend above a parapet wall or landing? -
Correct Answer- 3ft
,What heights are end dams to be on windows and door flashings? - Correct Answer- 25mm/1
inch
End dam use - Correct Answer- Stop water from coming in
When should you call for inspectors to make them efficient as possible? - Correct Answer-
Group inspectors together when possible and call when work is complete
When is an HRV required? - Correct Answer- Almost always
What can you build under the owner-builder HPO process? - Correct Answer- Single
detached home under a single title. Single dwelling attached to pre-existing building older
than 10 years. Single dwelling attached to a new non-residential building.
Who issues permits for a gas fireplace? - Correct Answer- Safety Authority (call Technical
Safe BC)
Can an owner builder take out their own electrical permit? - Correct Answer- Yes, up to 200A
What is the best way to apply asphalt waterproofing on a foundation? - Correct Answer-
Spray-on or roll on dry foundation with 2in. below grade
When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation? - Correct Answer- After damp-
proofing
What do you need to do when applying a peel and stick waterproof membrane foundation? -
Correct Answer- Use an approved primer before installing
What are gas meter installation requirements? - Correct Answer- The distance from the gas
vent to the roof must be greater than the overhang of the roof, nothing can be with in 1m
either side or 4.5m above a gas meter
When do you need to install a handrail or have fall protection? - Correct Answer- 10ft, 4ft if
no fall protection
, How high does a construction fence around a site need to be? - Correct Answer- 6ft
When installing the footer, it was dug down 2in. deeper than what the elevation should be.
What needs to happen? - Correct Answer- 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?
- Correct Answer- 6in.
What would cause a blister on a flat roof? - Correct Answer- Moisture trapped under roof
Water is backing up in a skylight, what do you do to fix it? - Correct Answer- Clear drainage
What needs to be done first when starting to install asphalt shingles on a roof? - Correct
Answer- Install eve protection
What kind of fastener can you use in a wood that has been treated with chromated copper
arsenate? - Correct Answer- Lumber manufacturer approved fastener
When should there be insulation under a basement slab? - Correct Answer- When there is in
floor heating
How deep should the control joint be in a concrete slab? - Correct Answer- 1/4 of the slab
What kind of insulation should be installed under slab? - Correct Answer- XPS
What kind of insulation has the least moisture permeability? - Correct Answer- XPS
When framing a header of a staircase where does the framer get the nailing pattern? - Correct
Answer- Use the BC code section 9 nailing pattern
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Order of inspections - Correct Answer- 1: forms, basement and crawlspace
2: Plumbing, dampproofing, foundation drainage , sanitary sewer, storm sewer, sump, water
service
3: plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas
4: framing inspection
5: insulation and vapour barrier
6: rainscreen/exterior finishs, drywall
7: building envelop inspection
8: final inspection
Which is not an acceptable method for determining the correct grading for a trench? - Correct
Answer- An experienced excavator says it's ok
At what depth is shoring required? - Correct Answer- 1.2m/4ft
Which best describes the principle of rain waterterm-0 deflection? - Correct Answer- Design
and construction that prevents water from ever entering
What lighting safety certifications are required in Canada? - Correct Answer- CSA safety
certification
What grit of sandpaper would get the smoothest result? - Correct Answer- Higher grit with
get a smoother finish
What is the maximum rise in a flight of stairs? - Correct Answer- The vertical height of any
flight of stairs should not exceed 3.7m
What is the minimum distance that a ladder must extend above a parapet wall or landing? -
Correct Answer- 3ft
,What heights are end dams to be on windows and door flashings? - Correct Answer- 25mm/1
inch
End dam use - Correct Answer- Stop water from coming in
When should you call for inspectors to make them efficient as possible? - Correct Answer-
Group inspectors together when possible and call when work is complete
When is an HRV required? - Correct Answer- Almost always
What can you build under the owner-builder HPO process? - Correct Answer- Single
detached home under a single title. Single dwelling attached to pre-existing building older
than 10 years. Single dwelling attached to a new non-residential building.
Who issues permits for a gas fireplace? - Correct Answer- Safety Authority (call Technical
Safe BC)
Can an owner builder take out their own electrical permit? - Correct Answer- Yes, up to 200A
What is the best way to apply asphalt waterproofing on a foundation? - Correct Answer-
Spray-on or roll on dry foundation with 2in. below grade
When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation? - Correct Answer- After damp-
proofing
What do you need to do when applying a peel and stick waterproof membrane foundation? -
Correct Answer- Use an approved primer before installing
What are gas meter installation requirements? - Correct Answer- The distance from the gas
vent to the roof must be greater than the overhang of the roof, nothing can be with in 1m
either side or 4.5m above a gas meter
When do you need to install a handrail or have fall protection? - Correct Answer- 10ft, 4ft if
no fall protection
, How high does a construction fence around a site need to be? - Correct Answer- 6ft
When installing the footer, it was dug down 2in. deeper than what the elevation should be.
What needs to happen? - Correct Answer- 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?
- Correct Answer- 6in.
What would cause a blister on a flat roof? - Correct Answer- Moisture trapped under roof
Water is backing up in a skylight, what do you do to fix it? - Correct Answer- Clear drainage
What needs to be done first when starting to install asphalt shingles on a roof? - Correct
Answer- Install eve protection
What kind of fastener can you use in a wood that has been treated with chromated copper
arsenate? - Correct Answer- Lumber manufacturer approved fastener
When should there be insulation under a basement slab? - Correct Answer- When there is in
floor heating
How deep should the control joint be in a concrete slab? - Correct Answer- 1/4 of the slab
What kind of insulation should be installed under slab? - Correct Answer- XPS
What kind of insulation has the least moisture permeability? - Correct Answer- XPS
When framing a header of a staircase where does the framer get the nailing pattern? - Correct
Answer- Use the BC code section 9 nailing pattern
