HOME OWNER GENERAL CONTRACTING EXAM B.C.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
/ At what depth of trench is shoring require / At what depth of an excavation is shoring
required? - Answer-1.2 Meters or 4 feet
/.Which of the following is not an acceptable method for determining the correct grading
for a trench? - Answer-An experienced excavator says it's ok
/.Which best describes the design principle of rain water deflection? - Answer-Design
and construction that prevents water from ever entering
/.What lighting certifications are required in Canada? - Answer-CSA safety certification
/.What grit of sandpaper would get smoothest result? (/etc.) - 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? - Answer-3.7 meters or 12.14 feet
/.What is the minimum distance that a ladder must extend above a parapet wall or
landing? - Answer-3 feet
/.If you have a 4m ladder, how far from the wall does the base of the ladder have to be?
- 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? - Answer-25 mm / 1
inch (from BCBC)
/.When to call for inspections and how to make them efficient as possible? - Answer-
Group together when possible and call when work is complete
/.When is an HRV required? - 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 - 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? - Answer-Safety Authority → now call
Technical Safety BC
/.Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder program? -
Answer-New dwelling unit attached to building *newer* than 10 years old
/.Can an owner builder take out his or her own electrical permit? - Answer-Yes - work up
to 200A is allowed.
/.Under what condition can an Owner Builder pull an electrical permit? - 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? - Answer-
Spray-on or roll on dry foundation with 2inch (max) below grade
/.When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation - Answer-After damp-proofing
/.Best practice for waterproofing on foundation - 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? - Answer-Use an approved primer before installing
/.What is the distance of the gas vent to the roof in relation to the overhang? - 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? -
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? - Answer-3.5m radius
/.When do you need to install a handrail, or have worker wear fall protection - Answer-
3m or 10 feet above grade
/.If a worker has no fall protection, at what height must a handrail be provided? -
Answer-4 feet.
,/.What regulation outlines the order for fall protection? - Answer-Occupational Health &
Safety Regulation Part 11: Fall Protection
/.How high does a construction fence around a site needs to be - Answer-6 feet
/.When installing the footer, it was dug down 2 inches deeper then what the elevation
should be. What needs to happen? - 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 - Answer-6 inches
/.What would cause a Blister on a flat roof? - Answer-Moisture trapped under roof
/.What would cause a blister on a gravel or ballast roof? - Answer-Moisture trapped
under roof
/.Water is backing up in a skylight what do you do to fix it? - Answer-a. Remove caulking
from skylight
b. Drill drain holes
c. Clear drainage
d. Other
Answer: C
/.What needs to be done first when starting to install asphalt shingles on a roof? -
Answer-a. Law one row of shingles
b. Install roof vents
c. Install roof edge
d. Install eve protection
Answer D
/.What kind of fastener can you use in a wood that had been treated with chromated
copper arsenate (pressure treated wood)? - Answer-a. Lumber manufacturer approved
fastener
b. Stainless steel only
c. Hot dipped Galvanized only
d. Ceramic coated only
Answer:A
, /.When should there be insulation under a basement slab? - Answer-a. When there is in
floor heating or above frost line
b. No insulation is needed
Answer A
/.How deep should the control joint be in a concrete slab? - Answer-a. 1/4 of the slab
b. 1/2 of the slab
c. 3/8 of the slab
d. 7/8 of the slab
Answer: A
/.What can be done to eliminate differential shrinkage? - Answer-A: Control Joints
/.What kind of insulation should be installed under slab? - Answer-a. Eps
b. Spray foam
c. XPS
d. Other
Answer : c
/.Kind of insulation types has the least moisture permeability? - Answer-a. Eps extruded
poly styrene
b. XPS
c. Fiber glass insulation
d. 6 mil poly
Answer: B
/.When framing a header of a staircase, the framer needs to know the nailing pattern.
Where does he get it? - Answer-a. Go the framing foreman and ask him
b. Use the manufacturer approved nailing pattern
c. Use the BC code section 9 nailing pattern for the header
d. Other
Answer C
/.When framing an engineered flooring system for a residential house, what information
is required to fasten the two double joists carrying the stair headers? - Answer-a. Check
the nailing specs in section 9 of the Canadian Building Code and fasten accordingly
b. Check the specs on the blueprints and fasten accordingly
c. Check the specs on the manufacturer's drawings and fasten accordingly
d. Check with the framing foreman who knows the proper nailing specs and fasten
accordingly
Answer A
/.What document must the owner submit to WorkSafe BC prior to starting construction?
- Answer-a. Proof of insurance coverage
b. Copy of building permit
c. Notice of project
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
/ At what depth of trench is shoring require / At what depth of an excavation is shoring
required? - Answer-1.2 Meters or 4 feet
/.Which of the following is not an acceptable method for determining the correct grading
for a trench? - Answer-An experienced excavator says it's ok
/.Which best describes the design principle of rain water deflection? - Answer-Design
and construction that prevents water from ever entering
/.What lighting certifications are required in Canada? - Answer-CSA safety certification
/.What grit of sandpaper would get smoothest result? (/etc.) - 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? - Answer-3.7 meters or 12.14 feet
/.What is the minimum distance that a ladder must extend above a parapet wall or
landing? - Answer-3 feet
/.If you have a 4m ladder, how far from the wall does the base of the ladder have to be?
- 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? - Answer-25 mm / 1
inch (from BCBC)
/.When to call for inspections and how to make them efficient as possible? - Answer-
Group together when possible and call when work is complete
/.When is an HRV required? - 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 - 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? - Answer-Safety Authority → now call
Technical Safety BC
/.Which of the following is not allowed under the HPO owner-builder program? -
Answer-New dwelling unit attached to building *newer* than 10 years old
/.Can an owner builder take out his or her own electrical permit? - Answer-Yes - work up
to 200A is allowed.
/.Under what condition can an Owner Builder pull an electrical permit? - 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? - Answer-
Spray-on or roll on dry foundation with 2inch (max) below grade
/.When is the appropriate time to backfill a foundation - Answer-After damp-proofing
/.Best practice for waterproofing on foundation - 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? - Answer-Use an approved primer before installing
/.What is the distance of the gas vent to the roof in relation to the overhang? - 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? -
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? - Answer-3.5m radius
/.When do you need to install a handrail, or have worker wear fall protection - Answer-
3m or 10 feet above grade
/.If a worker has no fall protection, at what height must a handrail be provided? -
Answer-4 feet.
,/.What regulation outlines the order for fall protection? - Answer-Occupational Health &
Safety Regulation Part 11: Fall Protection
/.How high does a construction fence around a site needs to be - Answer-6 feet
/.When installing the footer, it was dug down 2 inches deeper then what the elevation
should be. What needs to happen? - 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 - Answer-6 inches
/.What would cause a Blister on a flat roof? - Answer-Moisture trapped under roof
/.What would cause a blister on a gravel or ballast roof? - Answer-Moisture trapped
under roof
/.Water is backing up in a skylight what do you do to fix it? - Answer-a. Remove caulking
from skylight
b. Drill drain holes
c. Clear drainage
d. Other
Answer: C
/.What needs to be done first when starting to install asphalt shingles on a roof? -
Answer-a. Law one row of shingles
b. Install roof vents
c. Install roof edge
d. Install eve protection
Answer D
/.What kind of fastener can you use in a wood that had been treated with chromated
copper arsenate (pressure treated wood)? - Answer-a. Lumber manufacturer approved
fastener
b. Stainless steel only
c. Hot dipped Galvanized only
d. Ceramic coated only
Answer:A
, /.When should there be insulation under a basement slab? - Answer-a. When there is in
floor heating or above frost line
b. No insulation is needed
Answer A
/.How deep should the control joint be in a concrete slab? - Answer-a. 1/4 of the slab
b. 1/2 of the slab
c. 3/8 of the slab
d. 7/8 of the slab
Answer: A
/.What can be done to eliminate differential shrinkage? - Answer-A: Control Joints
/.What kind of insulation should be installed under slab? - Answer-a. Eps
b. Spray foam
c. XPS
d. Other
Answer : c
/.Kind of insulation types has the least moisture permeability? - Answer-a. Eps extruded
poly styrene
b. XPS
c. Fiber glass insulation
d. 6 mil poly
Answer: B
/.When framing a header of a staircase, the framer needs to know the nailing pattern.
Where does he get it? - Answer-a. Go the framing foreman and ask him
b. Use the manufacturer approved nailing pattern
c. Use the BC code section 9 nailing pattern for the header
d. Other
Answer C
/.When framing an engineered flooring system for a residential house, what information
is required to fasten the two double joists carrying the stair headers? - Answer-a. Check
the nailing specs in section 9 of the Canadian Building Code and fasten accordingly
b. Check the specs on the blueprints and fasten accordingly
c. Check the specs on the manufacturer's drawings and fasten accordingly
d. Check with the framing foreman who knows the proper nailing specs and fasten
accordingly
Answer A
/.What document must the owner submit to WorkSafe BC prior to starting construction?
- Answer-a. Proof of insurance coverage
b. Copy of building permit
c. Notice of project
