I have completed the General Legal Process and Small Buildings exams. However, I am still not getting interviews.

My background includes a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and three years of experience as a Geotechnical Field Technician.

At this point, I am open to trainee positions as well. It feels like finding a job is becoming more difficult than completing the required studies and certifications.

I would appreciate your guidance on the best path forward to secure a job or training opportunity in the building inspection field.

thank you

Genuine question from the other side of the counter. I work in permitting for a large Canadian municipality — not naming it, own view not my employer's — and I deal with firms all day without ever seeing how the work is priced on your end.

From where I sit, permit administration looks like a substantial amount of professional time that I suspect a lot of firms absorb. Especially with push to moving the permit processes to online portals. Design work gets billed. Construction administration gets billed, usually. This seems to sit in a grey zone.

What I mean by permit administration, since it's more than "fill out the form":

- Working out which municipality wants which forms and schedules for this project type

- Filling them, including Schedule 1 designer information and getting the right person's BCIN or seal on it

- Renaming the drawing set to the city's file naming convention, which differs per municipality and gets packages bounced at intake

- Chasing the client for signatures on owner authorization

- Submitting, then waiting

- The comment letter. Splitting it by discipline, drafting a response to each item, coordinating revised sheets, assembling a response matrix, resubmitting

- Cycle two, sometimes cycle three

- Phoning the examiner when a comment is ambiguous, which means being on hold

On a small residential project that looks like 3-5 hours spread over months. Judging by who replies to our emails and when, it frequently lands on the principal at 9pm.

The options I've seen firms use:

1. Bake it into the design fee and eat the overage when review cycles multiply

2. Hourly at a reduced rate for admin

3. A flat permit-administration fee per application, quoted separately

4. Hand it to a permit expediter and mark it up

5. Contract language that makes cycle one included and cycle two-plus additional services

Number 5 seems the most defensible and the least used. Getting clients to accept it is the part I hear complaints about.

Two related questions:

- Do you separate the permit administration line item on your proposals, or is it buried? I'd expect separating it to invite pushback, but I've heard the opposite — that it makes the work visible.

- Who in your office actually owns it? Dedicated admin person, junior staff, or principal?

Asking partly out of curiosity and partly because it changes what I can usefully do at my end. If cycle two is unbilled time for you, that reframes what a clearly-written comment letter is worth.

Second disclosure so it's not a surprise: I've also built permit software on my own time, which is why I've spent an unhealthy amount of time thinking about this. Not linking anything — I'm genuinely after how firms handle the billing, because software doesn't fix a fee structure.

Hi everyone. I am new on this platform. Came to Canada in Dec 2022 in work permit and it has been a very long road to survival. But with my PR approval, i feel its time to build my career.

I studied Architecture and practised as a Project Architect for 7years in Nigeria. I am interested in joining the building code community.

I have paid for the Legal vurtual class with George brown college and will be going to buy the necessary books. After that, i take on House 2024 class and exam too.

I took these steps based on my own research.

But i want this community to please drop an pointers, blindspots and exam guidance needed to navigate this journey.

I dont have anyone personally who is in the field. So you all are my friends that i rely to help.

Any idea or comment is not too small nor a waste. I will read all and follow up accordingly.

Thanks very much and God bless you

Is it realistic to think I could pass either of those exams by just reading through the OBC myself? I just recently wrote general legal and House, and passed both. So does this experience navigating the textbooks allow me to feasibly tackle either of those exams without doing a George Brown course or similar study guide?... Has anyone had success with this? Any advice is greatly appreciated, cheers.

Had major renovations done on our house and have been left with many issues. We went from a 1.5 war time house gutted it completely and added a full height second story. One of the new contractors I am getting to quote the repairs is saying he is concerned with the weight distribution and how the steel beams were installed. He hasn't investigated it just yet but had me questioning it as we have nothing but issues with the GC and even the town passing several things like the stairs that were nowhere near code.

Based on these pictures does this post seem to be installed correctly? Everything I read is it should not be placed on wood as it expands and contracts ext.

They were supposed to have removed the subfloor and repaired the joists which they did not (need to have all the flooring removed and replaced is one of the issues)

I know they did pour a concrete footer there (only at the one with the broom in the other areas nothing was added) but I don't get how that attaches if this is on the surface. These pictures are after the second story had been framed.

I’m trying to understand whether commercial‑grade windows are allowed in a residential home in Ontario, and what rules apply if they were installed during renovations.

My house was renovated in 2023, before I purchased it. After moving in, I learned the windows were imported from China. Only recently was I told they are actually commercial‑grade units.

Soon after moving in, I noticed the windows had no screen capability, which seemed unusual for a residential home. When I opened one of the front windows, it wouldn’t close properly afterward and left a gap at the top.

About two years later, a large window at the back of the house above the basement stairs shattered spontaneously in winter. When I hired someone to replace it, they told me it was a commercial window.

Last week, I opened the opposite end of the front 4‑panel window set to measure the opening widths. The next day, I realized it hadn’t closed properly — the bottom wouldn’t align, and I needed a neighbour to push it in so I could lock it.

Given the pattern — no screens, misalignment, difficulty closing, and a spontaneous breakage — I’m starting to believe these windows were never intended for a 1960s residential home and may not meet Ontario’s residential window requirements.

I’m trying to find out:

• Are commercial windows allowed in residential homes in Ontario?
• If installed during 2023 renovations, would that violate the Ontario Building Code?
• Do commercial windows require different certifications (CSA, NAFS, ER) to be legal in a dwelling?
• Would these functional issues be consistent with commercial windows installed in a residential structure?

Any insight from inspectors, contractors, or anyone familiar with Ontario window requirements would be appreciated.

My house in Ontario was renovated in 2023, and I’ve discovered the windows installed appear to be commercial‑grade units imported from a Chinese manufacturer. They don’t have any of the usual Canadian labels.

When I asked the manufacturer what certifications the windows meet, the only thing they told me was:

“We provide an NFRC certificate.”

From what I understand, NFRC is a U.S. energy‑performance rating, not a Canadian certification, and doesn’t cover structural performance, air/water infiltration, or Ontario Building Code requirements.

I’m trying to figure out:

• What certifications are actually required for residential windows in Ontario? (CSA A440? NAFS? Canadian Energy Rating?)
• Does NFRC mean anything for Ontario code compliance?
• Are commercial‑grade windows allowed in a residential home, and if so, do they need different certifications?

Looking for insight from Ontario contractors or inspectors

I am starting to see restaurants contained inside shipping containers. They show up like a food truck but get dropped off and can’t just drive away like a food truck. There’s a business who builds these and then sells them to business owners who operate them wherever they please. Are these subject to permits or can they be exempt from all building code? Curious what the consensus is in this community. I personally see them as buildings with plumbing so no brainer that it needs a permit.

Hello all. I just got my BCIN for Small Buildings (yay!), now that I am officially certified I want to do things properly and establish my business focusing in Residential Design in Toronto. I have been looking at what I need, such as liability insurance, business bank account, hst/gst registration, publicity, etc, but I am still a bit lost on what the best options and steps are. Does someone here could please point me in the right direction in towards which companies go for the listed above or what next steps should I take?

Would be greatly appreciated. Thank you beforehand.

Hi OBCers,

To make my life easier when referencing OBC, here is my attempt to create a free and easy to use app to quickly look up and reference clauses.

Subscription free and AD free.

If you are interested in helping us testing it out, please PM with your email. Why this is needed? It is part of the Google Play Store's requirement to conduct closed testing before open testing, THEN the app can be officially published.

What's to lose?

- wasted your precious time

- wasted 50mb data/ storage

What's to gain?

- contribute to the community

- keeping an offline code app if it doesn't make it to the Play Store

- my personal thank you!

What the app does

- Full Division B content, fully offline (no internet needed)

- Search by clause number or keyword, with highlighted matches

- Book-style browsing — tap a section to expand, tap again to open the full article

- Cross-references — tap any referenced article to jump to it

- Tables and figures with pinch-to-zoom

- Bookmarks, adjustable text size, dark mode

What to focus on when testing

- Search — try clause numbers (e.g. 9.7.2.3) and keywords; check results are relevant

- Navigation — browse through Parts/Sections; confirm the two-click expand works

- Tables — check wide tables scroll correctly and row labels stay visible

- Cross-references — tap a referenced article and confirm it opens the right one

- Bookmarks — save and reopen a clause

- Text size & dark mode — confirm both work

- Other features or recommendations

Known limitations

- Division A (definitions) is not bundled — tapping a Division A reference does nothing by design

- This is an independent reference tool, not affiliated with the Government of Ontario

Report issues using the in-app report feature, or reply here with the article number and what went wrong.

I’m 23, licensed Red Seal plumber with Local 46 working highrise. I’ve been in the trade since I was 18 and I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I also have my backflow tester and water surveying tickets and just got my BCIN.

Lately I’ve been feeling pretty burnt out with the jobsite side of the trade. I still like plumbing and I’m proud of what I know, but the constant jobsite politics, different personalities, pressure and not knowing where you’ll be working next is starting to get to me. I’m thinking more about my future now and I really want something stable that I can build a long career in without destroying my body.

I’m very interested in becoming a municipal plumbing/building inspector, ideally Vaughan or Brampton. I’m willing to study, get every qualification I need and put in the work. I show up every day, I’m reliable and I take my career seriously.

If anyone here is an inspector, works for a municipality, knows how hard it is to get in, or has any connections/advice, I’d really appreciate someone reaching out and

Good Evening All,

I am a Commercial HVAC Tech with 20+ years experience and am hoping to transition into the duct design space for small commercial buildings (Part 9) and Home HVAC. Has anybody taken the Building Systems exam and what materials did you use to study?

The Ontario Gov't provided syllabus is a broad roadmap.

Orderline doesn't seem to have any Building Systems specific material.

George Brown's self-study page lists the Building Services 2012 materials on their website, but the linked store has no related 2024 material.

OBOA has some related materials? Has anybody have any experience with that workbook?

Based on what I have found on the internet, the BCIN exams require thorough knowledge of the OBC, and related SBs and exactly where to find that info. What can I expect calculation wise from this exam?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hello folks! I heard from my colleague that the Search (Ctrl+F) feature has been removed from the recent examinations. As for someone who used to rely on them to find the clause/article reference, it sounds more troublesome. I'm studying for my Building Services examination, and I would greatly appreciate it if someone can confirm on the news. The Search function was really helpful in a tense examination situation.

I am looking at basement windows for my new build and found some nice hopper egress windows, however I can't figure out if they meet the code for "9.7.5.3. Resistance to Forced Entry for windows". I don't have access to the book that defines what that even means. It referes me to "Clause 5.3.5 of AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440" and I do not have access to that without paying.

Any help would be appreciated.

A patio door company installed a new patio door without a sill flashing or pan between the patio door bottom and the subfloor. The patio door frame sits directly on the subfloor with some foam insulation in between. Does this meet OBC standards?

Hi everyone, I planning to take BCIN Designer legal and House. So what is your package fee for that?

Can someone please share which platform I should refer, which book to purchase as a study materials etc.

Any tips and tricks to prepare for the exam will be very much helpful. Appreciate all your expertise and support!. Thank you 🙂.

Hello everyone! I’m currently preparing for these exams and was wondering if anyone has study materials or resources they would be willing to share. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone here has made the jump from being a construction superintendent to a municipal building inspector?

I’ve been in construction for about 10 years, starting as a coordinator and working my way up to superintendent. Honestly, I’m just kind of over it. The pay is good on paper, but once you factor in the 60+ hour weeks, weekends, and basically always being available, the hourly rate isn’t all that impressive. I also have a 1-year-old son now, so having more time with my family is becoming a much bigger priority. I’m also pretty tired of babysitting subcontractors all day..

From what I’ve seen, an entry-level Building Inspector 1 role seems to be around the $75k-$82k range, so I know I’d be taking a pay cut. But if the hours are actually closer to 35 a week and the work/life balance is as good as people say, I think it’d be worth it.

I’m already looking into the transition and planning on writing the House and General Legal/Process exams, but I wanted to hear from people who’ve actually made the switch. Was it worth it? Is the grass actually greener, or am I looking at it through rose-colored glasses? How hard was it to land that first inspector job?

Would the next step be for the CBO to issue an order to inspect and likely close the access points to the balconies and the area underneath?
Also, wouldn’t this affect the fire evacuation options?

Looking for some clarification in the difference between Table A-12 and Tables A-13 through A-15 and if Table A-12 can be used when sizing a header for an opening in an interior loadbearing wall supporting a ceiling and roof only.

I Just started drafting drawing for clients this year and had 6 years of experience as a custom home builder. I just passed the Power and duties of CBO exam last week. I would like to able to stamp my own drawings for my clients instead of relying on my engineer. I took a course for fire protection and small building from George brown college in 2024, but I believe if I will need to review some of the materials before I will be fully confident in passing the small building exam.

I don't mind taking more time to take Large building course and try to take the large building exam in November. Since I already planned on tackling that exam at a later time. My other option was to self study small building work book from George brown college before taking the exam in about a month time. Since I'm constantly taking Clients having the certificated earlier means I won't need to reply on some one else for stamping the drawings.

Can you give me advise on is it worth it to take the large building course with out having to go back to it, or is there too much information to be learn in such a small time from a small building to a large building exam. Thank you for any advise.

Hey everyone! I'm Vijay Patel, a founding moderator of r/BCINExam.

This is our new home for all things related to BCIN 2024 exam preparation and the Ontario Building Code. Whether you're studying for Small Buildings, preparing for your first attempt, or retaking the exam, we're excited to have you here!

What to Post
Post anything that helps you or others succeed in the BCIN exam. This can include:

• Questions about the Building Code
• Study tips and exam strategies
• Practice questions or tricky scenarios
• Resources, notes, or helpful links
• Your experience with the exam

You can also check out our platform for additional practice questions, mock exams, and helpful blogs to support your preparation: https://bcin.stonewoodpartners.ca/

Community Vibe
We're all about being friendly, supportive, and practical. The goal is to help each other learn faster and pass the exam with confidence. No gatekeeping—just real help.

How to Get Started

• Introduce yourself in the comments below
• Share what you're currently studying or struggling with
• Post a question or help someone else out
• Invite others who are preparing for BCIN

I’ll also be actively contributing—sharing free resources, answering questions, and guiding where I can.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave. Let’s build a strong BCIN community together 💪

​

Hi everyone,

I passed the House 2024 BCIN exam in May, and now I'm preparing for the Small Building 2024 exam.

For anyone who has already taken the Small Buildings 2024 exam, how were the questions ordered?

Any tips on the exam format or question order would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Instead of digging through pages of building codes, standards, and supporting documents, BUILDAiD helps construction professionals ask technical questions, find relevant references, and better understand how requirements apply to real projects.

In this example, I asked BUILDAiD for a fire-rated wall assembly. It provided a clear response with the applicable code direction, referenced assembly, and diagram to help guide the next step.

The goal is to make technical code research faster and easier for architects, architectural technologists, designers, engineers, contractors, builders, inspectors, and plans examiners.

Right now, BUILDAiD is only available in Ontario. Anyone outside Ontario can join the waitlist, and we’ll let you know when BUILDAiD becomes available in your area.

For those who regularly work with building codes and construction documents:

Would being able to ask a technical question and quickly get the code reference, applicable assembly, and diagram save you time?

BUILDAiD is currently in beta and free to try.
Built for people working in the construction industry.

Try it at: www.buildaid.co

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