BCIN Small building Exam Syllabus (2024) – Ontario Building Code (OBC)
- Vijay Patel
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
The BCIN Small building Exam covers the following sections of the Ontario Building Code (OBC) 2024.
Division A – Compliance, Objectives and Functional Statements, as follows:
Part 1- Compliance:
except 1.3.3.1A. Application of Part 2
Part 2 – Objectives
Part 3 – Functional Statements
Division B – Acceptable Solutions, as follows:
Part 1 – General:
Part 2 – Farm Buildings, only:
2.1.1. Scope
2.1.2. Application
2.1.4. Classification of Farm Buildings by Major Occupancy
Part 3 – Fire Protection, Occupant Safety and Accessibility, only:
3.1. General, only:
3.1.4.7. Heavy Timber Construction
3.1.5.1. Noncombustible Materials
3.1.5.5. Combustible Cladding on Exterior Walls
3.1.5.15.(2)(e) Foamed Plastic Insulation
3.1.8.4. Determination of Ratings and Classifications
3.1.8.10. Installation of Fire Dampers
3.1.8.14. Hold- Open Devices
3.1.9.4.(4) Combustible Piping Penetrations
3.1.10. Firewalls
3.1.12.1. Determination of Ratings
3.1.13.4. Light Diffusers and Lenses
3.1.17.1. Occupant Load Determination
3.1.20.1. Clearance to Buildings
3.2. Building Fire Safety, only:
3.2.1. General
3.2.2.1. Application
3.2.2.3. Exceptions to Structural Fire Protection
3.2.2.4. Buildings with Multiple Major Occupancies
3.2.2.5. Applicable Building Height and Area
3.2.2.6. Multiple Major Occupancies
3.2.2.7. Superimposed Major Occupancies
3.2.2.8. Exceptions for Major Occupancies
3.2.2.9. Crawl Spaces
3.2.2.10. Streets
3.2.2.11. Exterior Balconies
3.2.2.12. Exterior Passageways
3.2.2.13. Occupancy on Roof
3.2.2.14. Rooftop Enclosures
3.2.2.15. Storeys below Ground
3.2.2.16. Heavy Timber Roof Permitted
3.2.2.17. Roof Assemblies and Mezzanines in Gymnasiums, Swimming Pools, Arenas and Rinks
3.2.2.18. Automatic Sprinkler System Required
3.2.2.54. Group C, up to 3 Storeys
3.2.2.62. Group D, up to 3 Storeys
3.2.2.64. Group D, up to 2 Storeys
3.2.2.68. Group E, up to 3 Storeys
3.2.2.70. Group E, up to 2 Storeys
3.2.2.80. Group F, Division 2, up to 2 Storeys
3.2.2.87. Group F, Division 3, up to 2 Storeys
3.2.2.89. Group F, Division 3, 1 Storey
3.2.3. Spatial Separation and Exposure Protection:
except 3.2.3.2.(3) Area of Exposing Building Face
except 3.2.3.11. Low Fire Load, One Storey Building
except 3.2.3.13. Protection of Exit Facilities
except 3.2.3.14. Wall Exposed to Another Wall
except 3.2.3.15. Wall Exposed to Adjoining Roof
except 3.2.3.16. Protection of Soffits
except 3.2.3.17. Canopy Protection for Vertically Separated Openings
except 3.2.3.18. Covered Vehicular Passageway
3.2.4. Fire Alarm and Detection Systems:
except 3.2.4.1. Determination of Requirement for a Fire Alarm System
except 3.2.4.8.(9) Annunciator and Zone Indication
except 3.2.4.9.(6) Electrical Supervision
except 3.2.4.23. Two-Way Voice Communication Systems
3.2.5. Provisions for Fire Fighting, only:
3.2.5.8. Standpipe Systems
3.2.5.9. Standpipe System Design
3.2.5.12. Automatic Sprinkler Systems
3.2.5.13. Combustible Sprinkler Piping
3.2.5.14. Sprinklered Service Space
3.2.5.15. Fire Department Connections
3.2.7.8. Emergency Power for Fire Alarm Systems
3.2.7.10. Protection of Electrical Conductors
3.2.8.1.(1) Application
3.2.8.1.(2) Application
3.2.8.2.(1) Exceptions to Special Protection
3.2.8.2.(2) Exceptions to Special Protection
3.2.8.2.(3) Exceptions to Special Protection
3.2.8.2.(5) Exceptions to Special Protection
3.2.8.2.(6) Exceptions to Special Protection
3.2.8.3. Sprinklers
3.2.8.4. Vestibules
3.2.8.5. Protected Floor Space
3.2.8.6. Draft Stops
3.2.8.7. Mechanical Exhaust System
3.2.8.8. Combustible Content Limits
3.2.9. Testing of Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems
3.3. Safety Within Floor Areas, only:
3.3.1.4.(4) Public Corridor Separations
3.3.1.5. Egress Doorways
3.3.1.9.(6) Corridors
3.3.1.21. Exhaust Ventilation and Explosion Venting
3.3.1.22. Janitors’ Rooms
3.3.1.26. Welding and Cutting
3.3.2.2.(1) Fire Separations
3.3.2.2.(2) Fire Separations
3.3.2.7. Doors
3.3.2.16. Storage Rooms
3.3.6. Design of Hazardous Areas
3.4. Exits, only:
3.4.1.6.(1) Restricted Use of Horizontal Exits
3.4.2.5.(1) Location of Exits
3.4.6.10. Horizontal Exits
3.4.6.15. Revolving Doors
3.4.6.16.(2) Door Release Hardware
3.4.6.16.(5) Door Release Hardware
3.4.7. Fire Escapes
3.5. Vertical Transportation, only:
3.5.2.2. Barrier-Free Design
3.5.3. Fire Separations
3.6. Service Facilities, only:
3.6.2.5. Storage of Combustible Refuse and Recycling
3.6.2.7. Electrical Equipment Vaults
3.6.3. Vertical Service Spaces and Service Facilities
3.6.4.3. Plenum Requirements
3.7. Health Requirements, only:
3.7.4. Plumbing Facilities:
except 3.7.4.3. Plumbing Fixtures for Assembly Occupancies
except 3.7.4.4. Plumbing Fixtures for Care, Care and Treatment or Detention Occupancies
3.7.5. Health Care Facility Systems
3.7.6. Food Premises
3.8. Barrier-Free Design
3.10. Self-Service Storage Buildings
3.11. Public Pools
3.12. Public Spas
3.14. Tents and Air-Supported Structures
3.15. Signs
3.16. Shelf and Rack Storage Systems
Part 4 – Structural Design, only:
4.1. Structural Loads and Procedures, only:
4.1.2.1. Loads and Effects
4.1.5.3. Full and Partial Loading
4.1.5.14. Loads on Guards and Handrails
4.1.5.17. Firewalls
4.2. Foundations:
except 4.2.3.8. Steel Piles
except 4.2.3.9. High Strength Steel Tendons
except 4.2.4.10. Permafrost
except 4.2.4.11. Swelling and Shrinking Soils
except 4.2.4.12. Expanding and Deteriorating Rock
except 4.2.4.13. Construction on Fill
except 4.2.7. Deep Foundations
4.3. Design Requirements for Structural Materials
Part 5 – Environmental Separation:
except 5.4. Air Leakage
except 5.7. Surface and Ground Water
except 5.8. Sound Transmission
Part 6 – Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning, only:
6.2. Design and Installation, only:
6.2.1.5.(1) Installation Standards
6.3.2.9. Supply, Return, Intake and Exhaust Air Openings
6.3.2.10.(7) Exhaust Ducts and Outlets
Part 7 – Plumbing, only:
7.1. General, only:
7.1.2.2. Storm Drainage Systems
7.2. Materials and Equipment, only
7.2.10.7A. Temperature Control Devices
7.2.10.7B. Showers
7.4. Drainage Systems, only:
7.4.10.4. Hydraulic Loads from Roofs or Paved Surfaces
7.6. Potable Water Systems, only:
7.6.1.7. Relief Valves
7.6.4. Water Efficiency
Part 9 – Housing and Small Buildings
Part 11 – Renovation, only:
11.5. Compliance Alternatives, including Compliance Alternatives listed in Tables
Tables 11.5.11.-C, 11.5.1.1.-D/E, and 11.5.1.1.-F. which cross-reference requirements in the remainder of the “Small Building” syllabus.
Part 12 – Resource Conservation
Division C – Administrative Provisions, only:
Part 1 – General, only:
1.1. Application
1.2. Design and General Review, only:
1.2.1. Design
1.3. Permits and Inspections, only:
13.1.1. Requirement for Permits
1.3.1.4. Permits Under Section 10 of the Act
1.3.1.5. Conditional Permits
1.3.2.1. Permit Posting
1.3.2.2. Documentation on Site
1.3.3.1. Occupancy Permit – General
1.3.3.2. Conditions for Residential Occupancy
1.3.3.3. Notification
1.3.3.4. Occupancy Permit – Certain Buildings of Residential Occupancy
1.3.5.1. Prescribed Notices
1.3.5.2. Additional Notices
1.3.6.1. Application
Part 2 – Alternative Solutions, Disputes, Rulings and Interpretations, only:
2.1. Alternative Solutions
2.4. Rulings and Interpretations
Supplementary Standards
The following Supplementary Standards may be covered in the exam:
Supplementary Standard SA-1 – Objectives and Functional Statements Attributed to the Acceptable Solutions
Supplementary Standard SB-1 – Climatic and Seismic Data
Supplementary Standard SB-2 – Fire Performance Ratings
Supplementary Standard SB-3 – Fire and Sound Resistance Tables
Supplementary Standard SB-7 – Guards for Housing and Small Buildings
Supplementary Standard SB-9 – Requirements for Soil Gas Control
Supplementary Standard SB-10 – Energy Efficiency Requirements
Supplementary Standard SB-12 – Energy Efficiency for Housing
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What actually is the "Small Building" exam?
It is an official licensing exam for people in Ontario (like designer firms, plans examiners, and building inspectors) who want to prove they understand the provincial building laws. Passing it allows you to legally design or inspect small commercial properties, strip malls, small apartment buildings, and mixed-use structures.
2. Looking at this syllabus, do I need to memorize all of this?
Absolutely not. The exam is completely open-book. No one expects you to memorize specific clause numbers or exact safety clearances. Instead, the exam tests your speed and navigation skills. Think of the exam as a race: you need to look at a question, figure out the hidden keyword, and know exactly which section of your Code book to flip to before your time runs out.
3. Why does the syllabus say "except" next to some topics?
This is actually great news for your study schedule! When the syllabus says something like “Foundations: except 4.2.7. Deep Foundations,” it means the examiners have promised not to ask you any questions about deep foundations. You can completely cross those skipped topics out in your notes and save your energy for the parts that are on the test.
4. What is the difference between this and the "House" exam?
The "House" exam focuses strictly on single-family homes and basic wooden framing. The "Small Buildings" syllabus takes it a step further. It includes everything in a house plus small commercial realities—like wheelchair accessibility (Barrier-Free design), public washrooms, commercial kitchen fire hazards, and what happens when a building has a store on the main floor and apartments upstairs.
5. What are the "Supplementary Standards" listed at the bottom?
The main Building Code book doesn't have room for every single chart, so the government publishes separate booklets called "Supplementary Standards" (labeled SB-1, SB-2, etc.). For example, SB-1 lists the official winter weather data for every town in Ontario, and SB-7 contains the safety rules for deck guards. The exam will force you to look into these separate booklets, so make sure you have them bound or printed out.
6. What format is the test, and how many questions are there?
Type: 100% Multiple Choice.
Length: 70 questions.
Time Limit: 3 Hours (180 minutes).
Passing Score: 70% (You must get at least 49 questions right).
7. Why do so many people fail this exam on their first try?
It is almost never because they didn't understand the concepts; it's almost always because they ran out of time. You have less than 2.5 minutes per question. If you get stuck on a difficult math question or a confusing sentence and spend 10 minutes looking for it, you’ve put your whole exam at risk.
8. Can I take the exam online from my home?
Yes! You can book the exam online through Humber Polytechnic. A live proctor will watch you through your webcam to make sure everything is fair. If you take it online, you are allowed to use a digital PDF version of the Building Code, which means you can use Ctrl + F to search for words quickly during the test.
9. Can I bring a physical book to a test center instead?
Yes, if you prefer writing at a physical test center, you can bring the official, paper Ontario Building Code Compendium (Volume 1 and Volume 2). You are allowed to heavily customize your books before walking in: you can use colored plastic page tabs, highlight text, and write small reference notes in the margins.
10. What is the best way to study for this without losing my mind?
Reading the Building Code cover-to-cover like a novel is a recipe for sleep. The absolute best way to study is to find practice exams online. Actively trying to answer mock questions and timing yourself as you look up the answers is the only way to build the muscle memory and speed required to pass.
Official Reference
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