At a framing inspection of a house, the inspector finds the loadbearing exterior stud walls built with studs grade-stamped Utility. What should the inspector conclude under Div. B Table 9.3.2.1.?

They fail: Utility grade is accepted only in non-loadbearing stud walls.

They pass: any grade-stamped lumber, Utility included, may be used for studs.

They pass if the stud spacing is closed up to 300 mm on centre.

They pass: grade limits cover joists, rafters and beams, not loadbearing studs.

A designer is preparing drawings for a house in a small township that is not listed in SB-1 Table 2. Two listed towns lie on either side of it, about the same distance away, and their ground snow loads differ by 0.6 kPa. What does SB-1 advise for finding the township's climatic values?

Ask Environment and Climate Change Canada for values for the site.

Interpolate between the two towns' values in proportion to distance.

Use the value of whichever listed town lies nearer to the site.

Use the higher of the two values, which SB-1 requires for unlisted sites.

A homeowner plans a 42 m² deck of one storey with no roof, its joist undersides 550 mm above finished ground, fastened to the house with a ledger. The designer wants shallow footings rather than the depths of Div. B Table 9.12.2.2. When is that permitted?

Only if it is shown that movement between deck and house will do no harm.

Always, since the deck is under 55 m² and its joists are under 600 mm high.

Always, since the deck is not of masonry or masonry veneer construction.

Only if the ledger is sized to carry the deck's full load to the house.

Instead of drain tile, a house's foundation is to be drained by a granular layer of crushed stone under and around the footings. What does Div. B Subsection 9.14.4. require of that layer?

At least 125 mm under the footings and 300 mm past their outer edge, drained to a sump.

At least 100 mm under the footings and 300 mm past their outer edge, drained to a sump.

At least 125 mm under the footings and 150 mm past their outer edge, drained to a sump.

At least 300 mm under the footings and 125 mm past their outer edge, drained to a sump.

Beneath the front porch of a house, a basement cold room measures 2.4 m by 4.2 m clear between foundation walls. The porch is a reinforced concrete slab bearing only on those walls, with no interior supports, and will not carry vehicles. Which provision applies to the porch slab?

Section 9.40 applies: at least 125 mm thick, with 10 M bars at 200 mm or less each way.

Section 9.16 applies: a 75 mm slab placed on at least 100 mm of granular material.

A Part 4 design is required, because the 4.2 m length exceeds the 2.5 m span limit.

Section 9.40 applies: at least 100 mm thick, with 10 M bars at 300 mm or less each way.

On a project whose foundations are designed under Section 4.2, which of these activities calls for field review on a continuous basis, rather than only as required?

Placing engineered fill that will support the foundation units.

Placing concrete for the basement floor-on-ground slab.

Building the shallow strip footings and the column pads for the building.

Excavating and dewatering the site before the footings are formed.

A masonry chimney flue in a house is built to serve nothing but a masonry fireplace. What does the code require about a cleanout opening near the base of that flue?

None; the cleanout rule exempts this kind of flue.

One is required, with a metal frame and tight metal door.

One is required, kept 150 mm from combustible material.

One is required only if the chimney is over 12 m high.

BCIN Exam Questions: Structure, Foundations and Masonry

Ten free practice questions on structure, site work, foundations and masonry, 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 D. 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

Direct response · Sub-topic D-1.01 · House and Small Buildings

At a framing inspection of a house, the inspector finds the loadbearing exterior stud walls built with studs grade-stamped Utility. What should the inspector conclude under Div. B Table 9.3.2.1.?
1. They fail: Utility grade is accepted only in non-loadbearing stud walls.
2. They pass: any grade-stamped lumber, Utility included, may be used for studs.
3. They pass if the stud spacing is closed up to 300 mm on centre.
4. They pass: grade limits cover joists, rafters and beams, not loadbearing studs.
Show the answer

A. Correct. Div. B 9.3.2.2.(1) sends visually graded lumber other than joists, rafters, trusses and beams to Table 9.3.2.1., which lists Utility only for non-loadbearing stud walls. Loadbearing studs need Stud, Standard or No. 2 grade, so these studs must be replaced.

Why not the others

B. A grade stamp is required (Div. B 9.3.2.1.(1)), but the stamped grade must also suit the end use. Div. B Table 9.3.2.1. limits Utility to non-loadbearing walls, so these loadbearing studs fail.

C. Div. B Table 9.3.2.1. has no spacing trade-off; it sets a minimum grade by use. Utility is listed only for non-loadbearing walls, so closer spacing does not make these loadbearing studs acceptable.

D. It is the other way round. Div. B 9.3.2.2.(1) applies Table 9.3.2.1. to visually graded lumber other than joists, rafters, trusses and beams, and that table sets studs in loadbearing walls above Utility grade.

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; Div. B 9.3.2.2.(1), Div. B Table 9.3.2.1., Div. B 9.3.2.1.(1)
Calculation · Sub-topic D-1.02 · House and Small Buildings

A lean-to porch roof is added to a detached house in Barrie. The porch roof's entire width is 3.6 m. SB-1 Table 2 lists Barrie's ground snow load Ss as 2.5 kPa and its rain load Sr as 0.4 kPa. What specified snow load applies to the porch roof under Div. B 9.4.2.2.?
1. 1.13 kPa
2. 1.53 kPa
3. 1.78 kPa
4. 2.90 kPa
Show the answer

B. Correct. Div. B 9.4.2.2.(1) takes S = Cb x Ss + Sr, and Cb drops from 0.55 to 0.45 because the porch roof's whole width is no more than 4.3 m. S = 0.45 x 2.5 + 0.4 = 1.125 + 0.4 = 1.525, about 1.53 kPa, which is above the 1 kPa floor of Div. B 9.4.2.2.(2).

Why not the others

A. This is 0.45 x 2.5 = 1.13 kPa with the rain load left out. Div. B 9.4.2.2.(1) adds Sr: 0.45 x 2.5 + 0.4 = 1.53 kPa.

C. This uses Cb = 0.55 (0.55 x 2.5 + 0.4 = 1.78 kPa), the factor for ordinary roofs. A roof whose entire width is 4.3 m or less takes 0.45 under Div. B 9.4.2.2.(1), giving 1.53 kPa.

D. This adds Ss and Sr with no roof factor (2.5 + 0.4 = 2.90 kPa). Div. B 9.4.2.2.(1) multiplies Ss by Cb, here 0.45 for a roof no wider than 4.3 m: 0.45 x 2.5 + 0.4 = 1.53 kPa.

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; Div. B 9.4.2.2.(1), (2); SB-1 Table 2
Direct response · Sub-topic D-1.04 · House and Small Buildings

A designer is preparing drawings for a house in a small township that is not listed in SB-1 Table 2. Two listed towns lie on either side of it, about the same distance away, and their ground snow loads differ by 0.6 kPa. What does SB-1 advise for finding the township's climatic values?
1. Interpolate between the two towns' values in proportion to distance.
2. Use the value of whichever listed town lies nearer to the site.
3. Ask Environment and Climate Change Canada for values for the site.
4. Use the higher of the two values, which SB-1 requires for unlisted sites.
Show the answer

C. Correct. Div. B 9.4.1.1.(3) takes Part 9 location data from SB-1, and SB-1 explains that it cannot list every municipality, advises against interpolating from Table 2 for unlisted places, and notes that Environment and Climate Change Canada will provide recommended values for such locations.

Why not the others

A. SB-1 cautions against interpolating from Table 2 for a place it does not list, because local terrain and other effects can make the result misleading. It points the designer to Environment and Climate Change Canada for values at that location.

B. SB-1 offers no nearest-town shortcut; local effects can differ between nearby places. It directs designers to Environment and Climate Change Canada for recommended values at unlisted places.

D. SB-1 sets no such rule. It advises against interpolating from Table 2 for a place it does not list and refers designers to Environment and Climate Change Canada for recommended values for the site.

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; SB-1 Table 2 and SB-1
Scenario · Sub-topic D-2.01 · House and Small Buildings

A homeowner plans a 42 m² deck of one storey with no roof, its joist undersides 550 mm above finished ground, fastened to the house with a ledger. The designer wants shallow footings rather than the depths of Div. B Table 9.12.2.2. When is that permitted?
1. Only if it is shown that movement between deck and house will do no harm.
2. Always, since the deck is under 55 m² and its joists are under 600 mm high.
3. Always, since the deck is not of masonry or masonry veneer construction.
4. Only if the ledger is sized to carry the deck's full load to the house.
Show the answer

A. Correct. Div. B 9.12.2.2.(7) frees a one-storey, roofless deck of no more than 55 m² with joists no more than 600 mm above the ground from the depth table, but an attached deck qualifies only where it can be shown that differential movement will do the house no harm. 42 m² and 550 mm fit, so the ledger connection is what must be justified.

Why not the others

B. Area, height, storeys and the lack of a roof all fit Div. B 9.12.2.2.(7), but the exemption also needs the deck to be free-standing unless it is shown that differential movement will not harm the structure it is attached to. This deck is fastened with a ledger.

C. The masonry exclusion belongs to the building and accessory-building exemptions of Div. B 9.12.2.2.(6). The deck exemption is Div. B 9.12.2.2.(7), whose added condition concerns attachment: an attached deck needs proof that differential movement will do no harm.

D. How the ledger is sized is a framing question, not a condition of the depth exemption. Div. B 9.12.2.2.(7) asks instead whether it can be shown that differential movement between the deck and the house will not harm the house; the deck's area, height, single storey and lack of a roof already fit.

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; Div. B 9.12.2.2.(7), (6), Div. B Table 9.12.2.2.
Direct response · Sub-topic D-2.03 · House and Small Buildings

Instead of drain tile, a house's foundation is to be drained by a granular layer of crushed stone under and around the footings. What does Div. B Subsection 9.14.4. require of that layer?
1. At least 100 mm under the footings and 300 mm past their outer edge, drained to a sump.
2. At least 125 mm under the footings and 150 mm past their outer edge, drained to a sump.
3. At least 125 mm under the footings and 300 mm past their outer edge, drained to a sump.
4. At least 300 mm under the footings and 125 mm past their outer edge, drained to a sump.
Show the answer

C. Correct. Div. B 9.14.4.2.(1) lays the granular material at least 125 mm deep beneath the footing and at least 300 mm beyond the outer edge of the footings, and Div. B 9.14.4.3.(1) grades the excavation bottom so the whole layer drains to a sump meeting Div. B 9.14.5.2.

Why not the others

A. 100 mm is the granular depth under a floor-on-ground (Div. B 9.16.2.1.(1)). A granular drainage layer used in place of tile is at least 125 mm deep beneath the footing (Div. B 9.14.4.2.(1)).

B. 150 mm falls short of the reach Div. B 9.14.4.2.(1) sets: the granular layer runs at least 300 mm beyond the outer edge of the footings, as well as at least 125 mm beneath them.

D. This swaps the two figures. Div. B 9.14.4.2.(1) puts at least 125 mm of granular material beneath the footing and carries it at least 300 mm beyond the footings' outer edge, and Div. B 9.14.4.3.(1) drains it to a sump.

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; Div. B 9.14.4.2.(1), Div. B 9.14.4.3.(1), Div. B 9.16.2.1.(1)
Direct response · Sub-topic D-3.02 · House and Small Buildings

At a final inspection of a detached house, the inspector measures how far the exterior concrete foundation wall rises above the finished ground along the rear of the house. What is the least height above finished ground that the code requires of an exterior foundation wall?
1. 100 mm
2. 150 mm
3. 300 mm
4. 450 mm
Show the answer

B. Correct. Exterior foundation walls extend at least 150 mm above finished ground level (Div. B 9.15.4.6.(1)). Grading that brings the ground closer to the top of the wall than this is a deficiency.

Why not the others

A. 100 mm is the least thickness of a footing (Div. B 9.15.3.8.(1)), a different element. An exterior foundation wall extends at least 150 mm above finished ground (Div. B 9.15.4.6.(1)).

C. 300 mm comes from Div. B 9.15.4.3.(2)(d): a wall rising no more than 300 mm above finished ground and backfilled on both sides counts as laterally supported at the top. It is a ceiling for that case, not the minimum projection, which is 150 mm.

D. 450 mm is the clearance between structural wood and the ground below it in a termite locality (Div. B 9.3.2.9.(1)(a)), a separate rule. The foundation wall itself needs 150 mm above finished ground (Div. B 9.15.4.6.(1)).

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; Div. B 9.15.4.6.(1); Div. B 9.15.3.8.(1), 9.15.4.3.(2)(d), 9.3.2.9.(1)(a)
Scenario · Sub-topic D-3.03 · House and Small Buildings

Beneath the front porch of a house, a basement cold room measures 2.4 m by 4.2 m clear between foundation walls. The porch is a reinforced concrete slab bearing only on those walls, with no interior supports, and will not carry vehicles. Which provision applies to the porch slab?
1. Section 9.16 applies: a 75 mm slab placed on at least 100 mm of granular material.
2. A Part 4 design is required, because the 4.2 m length exceeds the 2.5 m span limit.
3. Section 9.40 applies: at least 100 mm thick, with 10 M bars at 300 mm or less each way.
4. Section 9.40 applies: at least 125 mm thick, with 10 M bars at 200 mm or less each way.
Show the answer

D. Correct. Section 9.40 covers a reinforced slab over a basement cold room that bears only on the foundation walls around it, where the clear span in the shortest direction is 2.5 m or less (Div. B 9.40.1.1.(1)); 2.4 m qualifies. The slab is at least 125 mm thick (Div. B 9.40.1.4.(2)), with 10 M bars no more than 200 mm apart each way (Div. B 9.40.1.4.(3)).

Why not the others

A. Section 9.16 is for floors placed on the ground that carry no superstructure load (Div. B 9.16.1.1.(1)); a slab suspended over a cold room is a structural slab covered by Section 9.40.

B. The 2.5 m limit is measured along the shortest dimension of the slab (Div. B 9.40.1.1.(1)(b)). The 2.4 m width is within it, so the 4.2 m length does not send the slab to Part 4.

C. Neither figure matches Section 9.40: the slab is at least 125 mm thick and its 10 M bars are no more than 200 mm apart in each direction (Div. B 9.40.1.4.(2), (3)).

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; Div. B 9.40.1.1.(1), (2), (3), Div. B 9.40.1.4.(2), (3); Div. B 9.16.1.1.(1)
Calculation · Sub-topic D-3.05 · House and Small Buildings

An unheated crawl space extends under the whole of a house with 135 m² of floor area and is to be ventilated by natural means. What minimum total unobstructed vent area is required?
1. 0.135 m²
2. 0.27 m²
3. 0.45 m²
4. 0.54 m²
Show the answer

B. Correct. Natural ventilation of an unheated crawl space needs at least 0.1 m² of unobstructed vent area for every 50 m² of floor area (Div. B 9.18.3.1.(2)): 135 / 50 × 0.1 = 0.27 m², distributed evenly on opposite sides of the building (Div. B 9.18.3.1.(3)).

Why not the others

A. This is half of the requirement, as if it were split between the two opposite sides and only one side reported. The total is 0.1 m² per 50 m² of floor area: 135 / 50 × 0.1 = 0.27 m² (Div. B 9.18.3.1.(2)), shared between the opposite sides.

C. 135 / 300 = 0.45 m² uses the 1/300 ratio that applies to roof-space vents over insulated ceilings (Div. B 9.19.1.2.(1)). Crawl spaces have their own rule: 0.1 m² per 50 m², or 0.27 m² here.

D. This doubles the area for vents on both sides. The 0.1 m² per 50 m² figure is the total for the crawl space (Div. B 9.18.3.1.(2)), divided between opposite sides; it is not needed on each side: 0.27 m².

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; Div. B 9.18.3.1.(1) to (3); Div. B 9.19.1.2.(1)
Direct response · Sub-topic D-3.06 · House and Small Buildings

On a project whose foundations are designed under Section 4.2, which of these activities calls for field review on a continuous basis, rather than only as required?
1. Placing concrete for the basement floor-on-ground slab.
2. Building the shallow strip footings and the column pads for the building.
3. Excavating and dewatering the site before the footings are formed.
4. Placing engineered fill that will support the foundation units.
Show the answer

D. Correct. Continuous field review is required while deep foundation units are built, while retaining structures are installed or removed (with the backfilling that goes with them) and while engineered fills that will support foundation units are placed (Div. B 4.2.2.3.).

Why not the others

A. A floor-on-ground is not one of the activities Div. B 4.2.2.3. names for continuous review; that list covers deep foundation units, retaining structures and engineered fills supporting foundation units.

B. Shallow foundation units are reviewed as required, unless the chief building official directs otherwise (Div. B 4.2.2.3.); continuous review is kept for items such as engineered fill under foundation units.

C. Excavating, dewatering and related work are in the as-required group (Div. B 4.2.2.3.); continuous review applies to items such as placing engineered fill that will support foundation units.

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; Div. B 4.2.2.3.
Direct response · Sub-topic D-4.02 · House and Small Buildings

A masonry chimney flue in a house is built to serve nothing but a masonry fireplace. What does the code require about a cleanout opening near the base of that flue?
1. One is required, with a metal frame and tight metal door.
2. None; the cleanout rule exempts this kind of flue.
3. One is required, kept 150 mm from combustible material.
4. One is required only if the chimney is over 12 m high.
Show the answer

B. Correct. Div. B 9.21.4.7.(1) calls for a cleanout with a metal frame and tight metal door near the base of a chimney flue, but excepts a flue built to serve a masonry fireplace.

Why not the others

A. That describes the cleanout Div. B 9.21.4.7.(1) requires for other chimney flues. A flue built to serve a masonry fireplace is excepted from it.

C. The 150 mm figure is the clearance for cleanout openings where they exist (Div. B 9.21.5.1.(2)). A flue serving a masonry fireplace needs no cleanout under Div. B 9.21.4.7.(1).

D. 12 m is the upper height limit for chimneys covered by Section 9.21 (Div. B 9.21.1.1.(1)(a)), not a cleanout trigger. A fireplace flue is excepted from the cleanout rule (Div. B 9.21.4.7.(1)).

Source: 2024 Ontario Building Code, our Unit D: Structure, site, foundations and masonry; Div. B 9.21.4.7.(1); Div. B 9.21.5.1.(2); Div. B 9.21.1.1.(1)(a)

02Answer key

Question	Answer	Our sub-topic	Exam
Q1	A	Sub-topic D-1.01	House and Small Buildings
Q2	B	Sub-topic D-1.02	House and Small Buildings
Q3	C	Sub-topic D-1.04	House and Small Buildings
Q4	A	Sub-topic D-2.01	House and Small Buildings
Q5	C	Sub-topic D-2.03	House and Small Buildings
Q6	B	Sub-topic D-3.02	House and Small Buildings
Q7	D	Sub-topic D-3.03	House and Small Buildings
Q8	B	Sub-topic D-3.05	House and Small Buildings
Q9	D	Sub-topic D-3.06	House and Small Buildings
Q10	B	Sub-topic D-4.02	House and Small Buildings

Want the rest of Unit D?

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03What Unit D covers

Unit D runs from the ground up to the top of the chimney: materials and their grades, structural requirements and specified loads, the Part 4 loads and foundation rules that Part 9 refers to, SB-1 climatic and seismic data, excavation and backfill, dampproofing, waterproofing and soil gas control with SB-9, drainage, footings and foundation walls, slabs and the reinforced slabs of Section 9.40, columns, crawl spaces, masonry and ICF walls, chimneys and flues, and fireplaces. It is the second-largest unit on both exams in our mock, and a good share of its questions are calculations: snow loads from SB-1 values, vent areas, footing and wall dimensions.

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 D, its 16 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 18 of their 70 questions from Unit D for House and 15 for Small Buildings; those weights are ours too.

Our sub-topic	In our bank
D-1.01 Materials, systems and equipment (9.3)	7
D-1.02 Structural requirements, specified loads, deflections, foundation conditions (9.4)	6
D-1.03 Part 4 loads and structural materials referenced (4.1, 4.3)	4
D-1.04 Climatic and seismic data (SB-1)	3
D-2.01 Excavation and backfill (9.12)	4
D-2.02 Dampproofing, waterproofing and soil gas control (9.13, SB-9)	8
D-2.03 Foundation and surface drainage (9.14)	7
D-3.01 Footing and foundation application, general requirements and footings (9.15.1-9.15.3)	8
D-3.02 Foundation walls, support of joists and beams, parging (9.15.4-9.15.6)	7
D-3.03 Floors-on-ground and reinforced concrete slabs (9.16, 9.40)	6
D-3.04 Columns (9.17)	6
D-3.05 Crawl spaces (9.18)	5
D-3.06 Part 4 foundations referenced (4.2)	9
D-4.01 Masonry and ICF walls not in contact with the ground (9.20)	24
D-4.02 Masonry and concrete chimneys and flues (9.21)	11
D-4.03 Fireplaces (9.22)	9

04What the questions turn on

Snow load: the formula, the factor and the floor

A snow-load question gives you the site's ground snow and rain loads and expects you to choose the right basic roof factor for the roof's width, then check the result against the minimum the Code sets. Narrow roofs use the lower factor. Where a town is not listed, the answer is to ask for site values, not to average two neighbours.

Below grade: drainage, footings and walls

Footing depth, the granular drainage layer and the height of the foundation wall above finished ground each have a minimum that a question can test directly. Decks have their own exemption from the footing-depth table, but an attached deck gets it only when movement between deck and house is shown to do no harm.

Grades, cold rooms, crawl spaces and flues

Lumber grades are tied to the use of the member, so a grade that is fine in a partition can fail in a loadbearing wall. A reinforced slab over a cold room has its own Section with a span limit. Crawl-space vent area scales with floor area, and a flue that serves only a masonry fireplace is excused from the cleanout rule.

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.