Ten free practice questions on building services, energy efficiency and water efficiency, for the Ontario Building Code (BCIN) exams House 2024 and Small Buildings 2024, which the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) sets and Humber Polytechnic delivers. We group the Part 9 material both exams share into seven study units of our own, and this is Unit F. These are original questions written by TicketPrep from the 2024 Building Code and MMAH's syllabi, not questions from an exam. Each has four options and one correct answer, as every question in our bank does, and each is labelled with the exam or exams whose syllabus it is on. Answer each one before opening the explanation. No account, no email.
01The questions
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Two identical detached houses each get a gas-fired storage water heater. For house 1 the designer has taken the site's spectral response acceleration Sa(0.2) as 0.48; for house 2, as 0.62. Under Div. B 9.31.6.2., which heaters must be secured to the structure to resist overturning?
- Neither heater, since the rule covers only heating appliances.
- Only the heater in house 1.
- Both heaters, whatever the Sa(0.2) value.
- Only the heater in house 2.
Show the answer
D. Correct. Div. B 9.31.6.2.(3) ties the restraint to the site's Sa(0.2): above 0.55, the service water heater is fastened to the structure so it cannot tip over. House 2 (0.62) is over that value; house 1 (0.48) is not.
Why not the others
A. Service water heaters have their own seismic rule in Div. B 9.31.6.2.(3): where Sa(0.2) exceeds 0.55 they are secured to the structure, so the heater in house 2 must be.
B. This reverses the trigger. Securing is required where Sa(0.2) exceeds 0.55 (Div. B 9.31.6.2.(3)), which is house 2 at 0.62, not house 1 at 0.48.
C. Div. B 9.31.6.2.(3) is conditional: it applies only where Sa(0.2) is greater than 0.55. House 1 at 0.48 is below it, so only house 2 needs the heater secured under this Sentence.
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; Div. B 9.31.6.2.(3)
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A small Part 9 community recreation building has a public shower room with six shower heads served by one temperature control, and a public washroom with three lavatories. Which arrangement meets the water efficiency rules of Div. B 7.6.4.1.?
- Each lavatory has an automatic shut-off device; the shower heads have ordinary manual controls only.
- Each shower head and each lavatory has a device that stops the flow automatically when not in use.
- Each shower head has an automatic shut-off device; the lavatories have lever faucets that stay on until closed.
- Only the shared temperature control has an automatic shut-off device, serving all six heads together.
Show the answer
B. Correct. Div. B 7.6.4.1.(1) requires an automatic shut-off device at each lavatory in a washroom for public use, and Sentence (3) requires one at each shower head where several heads in a public showering facility share one temperature control.
Why not the others
A. The shower heads are caught too: six heads in a public showering facility on one temperature control each need an automatic shut-off device (Div. B 7.6.4.1.(3)).
C. Lavatories in a washroom for public use need a device that shuts the water off automatically when not in use (Div. B 7.6.4.1.(1)); a faucet that runs until someone closes it does not meet that.
D. The rule is per head: where multiple heads share one temperature control, each shower head gets its own automatic shut-off device (Div. B 7.6.4.1.(3)), and each lavatory needs one as well (Sentence (1)).
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; Div. B 7.6.4.1.(1) and (3)
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A designer is laying out the heating-season mechanical ventilation for a detached house with six bedrooms. How may the system be designed under Div. B 9.32.3.1.?
- Use the prescriptive rules, adding fan capacity for each extra bedroom.
- Use the prescriptive rules, sizing the fan from the 5-bedroom row.
- Design it to the good practice of CAN/CSA-F326-M, or to Part 6.
- Rely on openable windows, as fan ventilation is optional above five bedrooms.
Show the answer
C. Correct. The prescriptive route in the rest of Subsection 9.32.3. is open only to dwelling units with 5 or fewer bedrooms (Div. B 9.32.3.1.(1)(b)). With six bedrooms the system follows CAN/CSA-F326-M good practice or Part 6 (Clauses (a) and (c)).
Why not the others
A. There is no extrapolation beyond 5 bedrooms: Div. B 9.32.3.1.(1)(b) limits the prescriptive route to 5 or fewer, and the system must instead follow CAN/CSA-F326-M good practice or Part 6.
B. The prescriptive rules of Subsection 9.32.3. stop at 5 bedrooms (Div. B 9.32.3.1.(1)(b)), so a six-bedroom house cannot borrow the 5-bedroom fan size; it goes to CAN/CSA-F326-M good practice or Part 6.
D. A house with power and a heating system needs heating-season mechanical ventilation (Div. B 9.32.1.2.(1)(b)); above 5 bedrooms it is designed to CAN/CSA-F326-M good practice or Part 6, not dropped.
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; Div. B 9.32.3.1.(1); Div. B 9.32.1.2.(1)
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A split-level house has a family room level 600 mm below the adjacent main level, and the main level has a return-air inlet. Does the family room level need its own return-air inlet under Div. B 9.33.6.12.?
- Yes; every floor level of a dwelling unit needs its own.
- No; it is within 900 mm of an adjacent level that has one.
- No; return-air inlets are needed only on levels with bedrooms.
- No; one return-air inlet serves the whole dwelling unit.
Show the answer
B. Correct. Div. B 9.33.6.12.(2) asks for a return-air inlet on each floor level of a dwelling unit, except a level less than 900 mm above or below an adjacent level that has one. 600 mm qualifies for the exception.
Why not the others
A. That is the general rule, but Div. B 9.33.6.12.(2) excepts a level less than 900 mm from an adjacent level that has a return-air inlet, which is the case here at 600 mm.
C. Bedrooms are not the test. Div. B 9.33.6.12.(2) works by floor level; this one is excused only because it is within 900 mm of an adjacent level with an inlet.
D. Div. B 9.33.6.12.(2) normally calls for one per floor level; this level is excused only by the 900 mm exception, not by a one-per-unit rule.
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; Div. B 9.33.6.12.(2)
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A detached house has a 13-riser stair down to an unfinished basement that serves only this dwelling unit. The basement has a walk-out door to the back yard at its foot. How must the stair lighting be switched under Div. B 9.34.2.3.?
- With one switch at the head, as the stair serves one dwelling unit.
- With one switch at the head, as the basement is unfinished.
- With 3-way switches at the head and foot, as it leads outside.
- With no switch, as a basement stair needs only a lighting outlet.
Show the answer
C. Correct. Div. B 9.34.2.3.(2) requires 3-way switches at the head and foot for a dwelling-unit stair with 4 or more risers. The single-switch exception in Sentence (3) is lost here because the basement leads to an outside entrance.
Why not the others
A. Serving one dwelling unit is necessary but not enough for the exception in Div. B 9.34.2.3.(3): the walk-out door to the outside rules it out, so 3-way switches are needed.
B. Being unfinished is only one condition of the single-switch exception in Div. B 9.34.2.3.(3); the basement must also have no outside entrance or built-in garage at the foot of the stair, and this one has a walk-out door.
D. Every stairway is lighted (Div. B 9.34.2.3.(1)), and with 13 risers this one needs 3-way switching at the head and foot (Sentence (2)).
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; Div. B 9.34.2.3.(1), (2) and (3)
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An inspector checks the domestic hot water storage tank of a new house on a non-recirculating system. The tank has heat traps; the outlet pipe is insulated for its first 1.0 m and the inlet pipe is bare. What does Div. B 12.3.1.4. require?
- Nothing more; insulating the first 1.0 m of outlet pipe is enough.
- Insulate the first 2.5 m of outlet pipe; the inlet may stay bare.
- Insulate the outlet's first 2.5 m and the trap-to-tank inlet.
- Nothing; this pipe insulation applies only to recirculating systems.
Show the answer
C. Correct. On a non-recirculating system, Div. B 12.3.1.4.(2) and (3) call for RSI 0.62 or better on the first 2.5 m of outlet piping and on the inlet pipe between the heat trap and the tank.
Why not the others
A. 1.0 m falls short: Div. B 12.3.1.4.(2) requires the first 2.5 m of outlet piping to be insulated, and Sentence (3) adds the inlet between heat trap and tank.
B. The outlet length is right, but Div. B 12.3.1.4.(3) also requires the inlet between the heat trap and the tank to be insulated to RSI 0.62.
D. It is the reverse: Div. B 12.3.1.4.(2) and (3) are written for tanks serving non-recirculating systems, which is this case.
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; Div. B 12.3.1.4.(1), (2) and (3)
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Building to a Zone 1 prescriptive package with a high-efficiency gas furnace, a builder proposes the above-grade walls of package A1 with the attic ceiling of package A3, and no heat recovery ventilator because the furnace is so efficient. What does SB-12 allow?
- Mixing is allowed within one table, but the HRV may not be omitted.
- Both, if a fan-depressurization test meets the airtightness target.
- Neither; packages may not be mixed, and an HRV or ERV is required.
- Mixing is not allowed, but a gas-heated house may omit the HRV.
Show the answer
C. Correct. Components may not be drawn from different packages, even within one table (Note A-3.1.1.), and SB-12 3.1.1.1.(16) requires a heat or energy recovery ventilator on the dwelling unit's ventilation system whatever the heating type.
Why not the others
A. The HRV point is right, but mixing is not allowed even inside one table (Note A-3.1.1.): one package is followed as a whole.
B. Airtightness credit only permits listed substitutions (SB-12 3.1.1.4.); it does not allow mixing packages or dropping the HRV or ERV required by SB-12 3.1.1.1.(16).
D. Mixing is indeed barred, but SB-12 3.1.1.1.(16) requires an HRV or ERV whatever the heating type, gas included (Note A-3.1.1.1.(16)).
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; SB-12 3.1.1.1.(16); Note A-3.1.1.; Note A-3.1.1.1.(16)
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A one-storey Part 9 retail store, gas heated and used year-round, follows SB-10 Division 5. Its gross exterior wall area, grade to top of ceiling, is 150 m², with 66 m² of vertical fenestration, and it has no skylights. How is its building envelope handled?
- Division 5 applies unchanged, as it sets no fenestration limit.
- The envelope must meet Division 3, not the Division 5 table.
- Division 5 applies unchanged, as only skylight area is limited.
- The envelope must meet an SB-12 prescriptive compliance package.
Show the answer
B. Correct. 66 / 150 = 0.44, so fenestration is 44 % of the gross exterior wall. Where it is more than 40 % (or skylights more than 3 % of the ceiling), SB-10 Div. 5 1.1.1.1. sends the envelope to SB-10 Div. 3 1.1.2.1.
Why not the others
A. It does set one: 66 / 150 = 44 %, which is over the 40 % share in SB-10 Div. 5 1.1.1.1., so the envelope must meet Division 3 instead.
C. Both are limited in SB-10 Div. 5 1.1.1.1.: fenestration over 40 % of the wall, or skylights over 3 % of the ceiling. Here 66 / 150 = 44 %, so the envelope moves to Division 3.
D. SB-12 packages are for Part 9 residential buildings. A Part 9 store over the fenestration limit takes its envelope from Division 3 of SB-10 (SB-10 Div. 5 1.1.1.1.).
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; SB-10 Div. 5 1.1.1.1.; SB-10 Div. 1 1.1.1.3.
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To cut scalding risk, a builder sets the thermostat of a new electric storage-type service water heater in a detached house to store water at 50 °C. Does the setting comply with Div. B 9.31.6.1A.?
- It complies; the Article sets no storage temperature for electric tanks.
- It complies; the setting lies within the delivered-water band.
- It does not comply; the tank must be set to store at 60 °C or more.
- It does not comply; the tank must be set to store at 49 °C or less.
Show the answer
C. Correct. Div. B 9.31.6.1A. sets two rules: hot water delivered to the dwelling unit stays within a 45 °C to 60 °C band, and an electric storage-type heater is set to store at no less than 60 °C. The builder's storage setting is below that minimum, so it fails, even though it would be an acceptable delivery temperature.
Why not the others
A. The Article does set one: Div. B 9.31.6.1A. gives an electric storage-type service water heater a minimum set storage temperature of 60 °C, which this setting does not reach.
B. The delivered-water band (45 °C to 60 °C) is a separate rule. Div. B 9.31.6.1A. also gives an electric storage-type heater its own minimum storage setting, which the builder's setting misses.
D. 49 °C is the outlet cap for shower valves (Div. B 7.2.10.7B.(4)), not a storage setting. For an electric storage-type heater Div. B 9.31.6.1A. works the other way: the setting must be at least 60 °C.
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; Div. B 9.31.6.1A.; Div. B 7.2.10.7B.(4)
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A pressure tank connected to the water system of a house is marked by its maker as tested to 2 400 kPa. Under Div. B 7.6.1.7., what is the highest pressure its relief valve arrangement may allow in the tank?
- 550 kPa
- 1 100 kPa
- 1 200 kPa
- 2 400 kPa
Show the answer
B. Correct. Div. B 7.6.1.7.(1) caps the pressure in the tank at whichever is lower: 1 100 kPa, or half of the pressure the tank was tested to. Half of 2 400 kPa = 1 200 kPa; the lower of 1 100 kPa and 1 200 kPa is 1 100 kPa.
Why not the others
A. This halves the fixed limit. Div. B 7.6.1.7.(1) takes the lesser of 1 100 kPa and one-half the tank's test pressure; half of 2 400 kPa is 1 200 kPa, so the lesser is 1 100 kPa.
C. This is one-half of the test pressure, but Div. B 7.6.1.7.(1) takes the lesser of that figure and 1 100 kPa, so the limit is 1 100 kPa.
D. The test pressure is not an allowed operating pressure. Div. B 7.6.1.7.(1) limits the tank to the lesser of 1 100 kPa and half the test pressure (1 200 kPa): 1 100 kPa.
Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit F: Building services, energy and water efficiency; Div. B 7.6.1.7.(1)
02Answer key
| Question | Answer | Our sub-topic | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | D | Sub-topic F-1.01 | House and Small Buildings |
| Q2 | B | Sub-topic F-1.02 | House and Small Buildings |
| Q3 | C | Sub-topic F-2.01 | Small Buildings only |
| Q4 | B | Sub-topic F-3.01 | Small Buildings only |
| Q5 | C | Sub-topic F-4.01 | House and Small Buildings |
| Q6 | C | Sub-topic F-5.01 | House and Small Buildings |
| Q7 | C | Sub-topic F-5.02 | House and Small Buildings |
| Q8 | B | Sub-topic F-5.03 | Small Buildings only |
| Q9 | C | Sub-topic F-1.01 | House and Small Buildings |
| Q10 | B | Sub-topic F-1.02 | House and Small Buildings |
03What Unit F covers
Unit F gathers the services: plumbing facilities in Section 9.31 and the parts of Part 7 and Part 3 that the syllabi add, ventilation in Section 9.32 with carbon monoxide alarms, the Part 6 installation standards, heating and air conditioning in Section 9.33, lighting outlets and electrical facilities in Section 9.34, and energy and water efficiency in Part 12, SB-12 for housing and SB-10 for other buildings. The Small Buildings syllabus takes in more of this unit than the House syllabus does: ventilation and SB-10, for example, are on the Small Buildings list only, and each question below says which exam it belongs to.
MMAH publishes, for each exam, the list of Building Code Parts, Sections and Articles it covers, but not how many questions any of them gets. Unit F, its nine sub-topics below and the right-hand column are TicketPrep's own: the column is how many questions our bank holds on each sub-topic, Standard and Advanced together, not a count from an exam. Our timed mocks draw 4 of their 70 questions from Unit F for House and 7 for Small Buildings; those weights are ours too.
| Our sub-topic | In our bank |
|---|---|
| F-1.01 Plumbing facilities in Part 9 (9.31) | 5 |
| F-1.02 Part 7 and Part 3 health provisions referenced (Part 7 slices, 3.7.2, 3.7.4) | 7 |
| F-2.01 Ventilation in Part 9, including carbon monoxide alarms (9.32) (Small Buildings only) | 6 |
| F-2.02 Part 6 installation standards and air openings referenced (6.2, 6.3) | 3 |
| F-3.01 Heating and air-conditioning systems, design temperatures, air ducts, piping, venting (9.33) | 12 |
| F-4.01 Lighting outlets, emergency lighting and electrical facilities (9.34) | 4 |
| F-5.01 Part 12 energy efficiency and water efficiency (12.1-12.4) | 6 |
| F-5.02 Energy efficiency for housing (SB-12) | 6 |
| F-5.03 Energy efficiency requirements for other buildings (SB-10) (Small Buildings only) | 3 |
04What the questions turn on
Water heaters and pressure
A storage water heater has a minimum storage temperature even though the water delivered to fixtures has its own band, and in higher seismic zones it has to be strapped so it cannot tip. A pressure tank's relief arrangement is capped at the lower of a fixed value and half its test pressure.
Ventilation, returns and switching
The prescriptive ventilation route has a bedroom limit, and larger houses are designed to a standard or to Part 6. A split level close enough to the next level can share its return-air inlet. Stair lighting needs switches at both ends once there are enough risers, and an outside door at the foot of the stair removes the single-switch exception.
Energy efficiency is a package, not a menu
Under SB-12 a house built to a prescriptive package takes all of its components from that one package, and a heat or energy recovery ventilator is required whatever the furnace. For other buildings under SB-10, the share of wall area taken up by windows decides which compliance path the envelope follows.
05The other units
Both exams pass at 70 per cent of the whole paper, with no minimum for any topic, so a strong unit can make up for a weak one, but only by so much: on 70 questions, 49 right is the pass line. Each of our units has its own page of free questions:
The BCIN exam practice test page describes the full question bank. How these questions are written and checked: how our questions are made. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it. TicketPrep is not affiliated with MMAH, Humber Polytechnic or the National Research Council of Canada, and no Building Code text is reproduced here: the questions cite Article numbers and explain the requirement in their own words.