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A note about PDF's  Some documents on this website are in PDF format and require a PDF reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5.0 or higher, or the most recent version of another PDF reader, you can download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Letters of Assurance
Letters of Assurance are uniform, mandatory documents intended to clearly identify the responsibilities of key individuals in a building project.
Building Access Handbook
The Building Access Handbook outlines building requirements for persons with disabilities. The handbook features illustrations and commentary. It is suggested that users begin with the index, and use it to navigate the handbook.
B.C. Snow Loads
Notice
We regret that due to the inability to ensure the data in the Snow Load Table was accurate, it has been discontinued.
Snow load information for most locations should be obtained from the authority having jurisdiction (local government) concerned. Contact information for local governments in BC is available at CivicNet BC.
Where climatic data is not provided by the authority having jurisdiction, Appendix C of the BC Building Code can be used.
Snow load information, and other climatic data, is also available from the National Climate Data and Information Archive operated by Environment Canada. Environment Canada need only be consulted when neither the authority having jurisdiction nor Appendix C provides the needed data.
Radon
Radon is a colourless, odourless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the environment, coming from the natural breakdown of uranium in soils and rocks. It typically enters a building through openings in the foundation, such as sumps, wall and floor joints, or where pipes and other connections penetrate the floor or a below-grade wall.
Under a proposed national guideline, a test for radon in indoor air showing over 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³) indicates a need for remedial action to lower radon levels. A becquerel (Bq) is a standard unit of radioactive measurement. The current national guideline is 800 Bq/m³ (20 pCi/l).
The BC Building Code has two options for minimizing the entry of soil gases, such as radon, into homes - installing a plastic vapour barrier below the foundation slab, or construction of an under-slab ventilation system. Testing for radon after remediation measures or when new construction is completed is advised, given the proposed national guideline reducing the tolerance levels for radon.
Read an excerpt from the 2006 BC Building Code on soil gas provisions (including radon)
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