Guide to the Letters of Assurance - BC CODES

1 Guide to the Letters of Assurance in the Building Code 2006 . December, 2010. edition 5a Building & Safety Standards Branch Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General Province of British Columbia Guide to the Letters OF Assurance . BC BUILDING CODE 2006 . FOREWORD. 1. PURPOSE OF THE Guide . 2. DEFINED TERMS IN THE Letters OF Assurance . 3. SCOPE OF Letters OF Assurance . 4. THE COMMUNITY CHARTER, AND OTHER MEANS OF ACHIEVING. ACCOUNTABILITY. 5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR Letters OF Assurance . 6. HOW TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT Letters OF Assurance .

2 7. DEALING WITH CHANGES IN REGISTERED PROFESSIONALS OF RECORD. AFTER A BUILDING PERMIT IS ISSUED. 8. DESIGN AND FIELD REVIEW CONDUCTED BY DIFFERENT REGISTERED. PROFESSIONALS OF RECORD. 9. APPLICATION OF Letters OF Assurance TO PART 9 BUILDINGS. 10. APPLICATION OF Letters OF Assurance TO GEOTECHNICAL CONDITIONS. 11. APPLICATION OF Letters OF Assurance TO BUILDING ALTERATIONS AND. TENANT IMPROVEMENTS. 12. APPLICATION OF Letters OF Assurance TO PHASED BUILDING PERMITS. AND PHASED OCCUPANCIES. 13. APPLICATION OF Letters OF Assurance TO PART 10 REQUIREMENTS.

3 14. APPLICATION OF Letters OF Assurance TO CIVIL WORKS. 15. ANCHORAGE AND SEISMIC RESTRAINT. 16. ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. 17. USE OF PROFESSIONAL SEAL. GLOSSARY. AHJ Authority Having Jurisdiction BCBC British Columbia Building Code 2006 . CRP Coordinating Registered Professional LOA Letters of Assurance RPR Registered Professional of Record RP Registered Professional SRP Supporting Registered Professional Guide to the Letters of Assurance in the BC Building Code 2006 . Foreword This Guide to the Letters of Assurance in the BC Building Code 2006 is jointly endorsed by the Architectural Institute of BC and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC, and was developed with the cooperation and assistance of the Building Officials' Association of BC, the Union of BC Municipalities, and the Building and Safety Standards Branch of the Province of British Columbia.

4 Questions relating to this Guide should be addressed to the Building and Safety Standards Branch Questions relating to professional practice of engineers or architects should be directed respectively to: Peter Mitchell, Director, Professional Practice and Ethics Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC. 200 4010 Regent Street Burnaby, BC V5C 6N2. Telephone: 604 430-8035. Fax: 604 430-8085. Email: Maura Gatensby, MAIBC. Director of Professional Services Architectural Institute of BC. Suite 100 440 Cambie Street Vancouver, BC V6B 2N5.

5 Telephone: 604 683-8588. Fax: 604 683-8568. Email: PURPOSE OF THE Guide . The purpose of this Guide to Letters of Assurance in the BC Building Code 2006 (BCBC 2006 ) is to foster the appropriate and consistent use and application of BCBC 2006 Letters of Assurance . It provides guidance on: The scope and intent of BCBC 2006 Letters of Assurance , Roles and responsibilities of persons executing Letters of Assurance , When and how Letters of Assurance should be completed. This Guide provides guidance only on BCBC 2006 requirements for Letters of Assurance .

6 It does not address scope of practice or other issues for which the regulatory bodies for registered professionals, the AIBC and the APEGBC, are responsible. Readers should be aware that there are additional requirements in the Architects Act and the Engineers and Geoscientists Act that determine when and on what type of projects such registered professionals are required by law to provide services. edition 5 December, 2010 1 of 30. Guide to the Letters of Assurance in the BC Building Code 2006 . DEFINED TERMS IN THE Letters OF Assurance .

7 Letters of Assurance , otherwise known as Schedules A, B, C-A and C-B, are legal accountability documents under Section in Part 2 of Division C of the BCBC 2006 . All italicized words in the Letters of Assurance are defined terms in the BCBC 2006 and have the same meaning set out in that regulation. SCOPE OF Letters OF Assurance . BCBC 2006 Requirements for Design and Field Review Section in Part 2 of Division C of the BCBC 2006 specifies when Letters of Assurance are required. Professional Design and Review Application 1) The requirements of this Subsection apply to a) buildings within the scope of Part 3 of Division B, b) buildings within the scope of Part 9 of Division B that are designed with common egress systems for the occupants and require the use of firewalls according to Article of Division A, or c) the following, in respect of buildings within the scope of Part 9 of Division B other than buildings described in Clause (b), i)

8 Structural components that are not within the scope of Part 9 of Division B (See Appendix A.), ii) geotechnical conditions at building sites that fall outside the scope of Part 9 of Division B, iii) sprinkler systems designed to NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems , or iv) standpipe and hose systems designed to NFPA 14, Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems . BCBC 2006 Letters of Assurance apply to all Part 3 buildings. Letters of Assurance do not apply to Part 9 buildings, except for Part 9 buildings or their components that fall within the scope of Subsection in Part 2 of Division C.

9 Chapter 9 of this Guide ( Application of Letters of Assurance to Part 9 Buildings ) provides information and guidance on aspects of Part 9 projects to which Letters of Assurance may apply. Chapter 11 of this Guide ( Application of Letters of Assurance to Building Alterations ) provides information on the application of BCBC 2006 Letters of Assurance to alterations and tenant improvements to existing buildings. Alterations to existing buildings, including tenant improvements, will require Letters of Assurance if the work involves components that fall within the scope of Subsection in Part 2 of Division C.

10 Chapter 12 of this Guide ( Application of Letters of Assurance to Phased Building Permits and Occupancies ) provides information on the application of BCBC 2006 Letters of Assurance to phased building permits and phased occupancies. edition 5 December, 2010 2 of 30. Guide to the Letters of Assurance in the BC Building Code 2006 . What Are Letters of Assurance Letters of Assurance are legal accountability documents that are required under the BCBC 2006 , intended to clearly identify the responsibilities of key players in a construction project.