BC Owner Builder Exam
Owner Builder Exam Study Questions
and Answers Graded 2025
At what depth of trench is shoring require / At what depth of an excavation is shoring
required? -Correct Answer ✔1.2 M or 4 Feet
How can shoring be done past 4 feet? -Correct Answer ✔This can be done with
purpose-built shoring, or, it is acceptable to
use plywood if it is properly constructed.
Which of the following is not an acceptable method for determining the correct grading
for a trench? -Correct Answer ✔experienced contractor says it's ok
Before a worker enters any excavation over 1.2 m (4 ft) in depth or, while in the
excavation,
approaches closer to the side or bank than a distance equal to the depth of the
excavation, the employer must ensure that the
sides of the excavation are -Correct Answer ✔(a) sloped as specified in writing by a
qualified registered professional,
(b) sloped at angles, dependent on soil conditions, which will ensure stable faces, but in
no case, may the slope or combination
of vertical cut and slope exceed that shown in Figure 20-1,
(c) benched as shown in Figure 20-2,
(d) supported as specified in writing by a professional engineer,
(e) supported in accordance with the minimum requirements of section 20.85, or
(f) supported by manufactured or prefabricated trench boxes or shoring cages, or other
effective means.
Which best describes the design principle of rain water deflection? -Correct Answer
✔Design and construction which stops water from ever entering
What lighting certifications are required in Canada? -Correct Answer ✔CSA safety
certification
What grit of sandpaper would get smoothest result? 150-180 etc. -Correct Answer ✔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 -Correct Answer ✔The vertical height shall not
exceed 3.7 M
BC Owner Builder Exam
,BC Owner Builder Exam
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 ✔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? -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 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? -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).
12. Who issues permits for a gas fireplace?
Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder program? -Correct
Answer ✔A new dwelling unit attached to building *newer*
than 10 years old
Who issues permits for a gas fireplace? -Correct Answer ✔The Safety Authority - Now
called Technical Safety BC
Can an owner builder take out his or her own electrical permit? -Correct Answer ✔Yes -
work up to 200A is allowed.
What types of Buildings that Can be Wired by Homeowners? -Correct Answer ✔You are
entitled to do electrical work in a fully detached residential dwelling that you occupy or
intend to occupy. Your
BC Owner Builder Exam
, BC Owner Builder Exam
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? -Correct
Answer ✔Spray-on or roll on dry foundation with 2inch (max) below grade
What is best practice for waterproofing on foundation? -Correct Answer ✔Spray or roll
12 inch above grade on dry surface
When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation? -Correct Answer ✔After Damp-
proofing
Where does one apply Damp-proofing Material -Correct Answer ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔Use an approved primer before installing
The distance from the gas vent to the roof must be... -Correct Answer ✔...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? -Correct
Answer ✔10 feet above grade
If a worker has no fall protection, at what height must a handrail be provided? -Correct
Answer ✔4 feet
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 ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔6 inches
BC Owner Builder Exam
Owner Builder Exam Study Questions
and Answers Graded 2025
At what depth of trench is shoring require / At what depth of an excavation is shoring
required? -Correct Answer ✔1.2 M or 4 Feet
How can shoring be done past 4 feet? -Correct Answer ✔This can be done with
purpose-built shoring, or, it is acceptable to
use plywood if it is properly constructed.
Which of the following is not an acceptable method for determining the correct grading
for a trench? -Correct Answer ✔experienced contractor says it's ok
Before a worker enters any excavation over 1.2 m (4 ft) in depth or, while in the
excavation,
approaches closer to the side or bank than a distance equal to the depth of the
excavation, the employer must ensure that the
sides of the excavation are -Correct Answer ✔(a) sloped as specified in writing by a
qualified registered professional,
(b) sloped at angles, dependent on soil conditions, which will ensure stable faces, but in
no case, may the slope or combination
of vertical cut and slope exceed that shown in Figure 20-1,
(c) benched as shown in Figure 20-2,
(d) supported as specified in writing by a professional engineer,
(e) supported in accordance with the minimum requirements of section 20.85, or
(f) supported by manufactured or prefabricated trench boxes or shoring cages, or other
effective means.
Which best describes the design principle of rain water deflection? -Correct Answer
✔Design and construction which stops water from ever entering
What lighting certifications are required in Canada? -Correct Answer ✔CSA safety
certification
What grit of sandpaper would get smoothest result? 150-180 etc. -Correct Answer ✔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 -Correct Answer ✔The vertical height shall not
exceed 3.7 M
BC Owner Builder Exam
,BC Owner Builder Exam
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 ✔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? -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 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? -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).
12. Who issues permits for a gas fireplace?
Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder program? -Correct
Answer ✔A new dwelling unit attached to building *newer*
than 10 years old
Who issues permits for a gas fireplace? -Correct Answer ✔The Safety Authority - Now
called Technical Safety BC
Can an owner builder take out his or her own electrical permit? -Correct Answer ✔Yes -
work up to 200A is allowed.
What types of Buildings that Can be Wired by Homeowners? -Correct Answer ✔You are
entitled to do electrical work in a fully detached residential dwelling that you occupy or
intend to occupy. Your
BC Owner Builder Exam
, BC Owner Builder Exam
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? -Correct
Answer ✔Spray-on or roll on dry foundation with 2inch (max) below grade
What is best practice for waterproofing on foundation? -Correct Answer ✔Spray or roll
12 inch above grade on dry surface
When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation? -Correct Answer ✔After Damp-
proofing
Where does one apply Damp-proofing Material -Correct Answer ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔Use an approved primer before installing
The distance from the gas vent to the roof must be... -Correct Answer ✔...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? -Correct
Answer ✔10 feet above grade
If a worker has no fall protection, at what height must a handrail be provided? -Correct
Answer ✔4 feet
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 ✔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? -Correct Answer ✔6 inches
BC Owner Builder Exam
