Do I Need Construction Inspections?

Required Inspections

Throughout the course of construction the Ontario Building code requires construction inspections by a Professional Engineer and/or an Architect. The requirements of these inspections depend on the use, occupancy and size of the building. These inspections ensure that construction is proceeding according to the design. Furthermore, Ontario Regulation 260/08 Performance Standards under the Professional Engineer’s Act reinforces the need for general inspections during construction.

Ontario Regulation 260/08, Part 1

(2) The following are prescribed as performance standards with respect to the general review of the construction of a building by a professional engineer as provided for in the building code:
1. The professional engineer, with respect to the matters that are governed by the building code, shall,
i. make periodic visits to the construction site to determine, on a rational sampling basis, whether the work is in general conformity with the plans and specifications for the building,
ii. record deficiencies found during site visits and provide the client, the contractor and the owner with written reports of the deficiencies and the actions that must be taken to rectify the deficiencies,
iii. review the reports of independent inspection and testing companies called for in the plans and specifications and which pertain directly to the work being reviewed,
iv. interpret plans and specifications in writing when requested to do so by the client, the contractor or the owner, and
v. review shop drawings and samples submitted by the contractor for consistency with the intent of the plans and specifications.

Ontario Building Code Section 1.1. Administration

1.1.1. Administration

1.1.1.1. Conformance with Administrative Requirements

(1) This Code shall be administered in conformance with the Act.

Section 1.2. Design and General Review

1.2.1. Design

1.2.1.1. Application

(1) Article 1.2.1.2. applies with respect to a building described in clause 11 (3) (a) or (b) of the Architects Act or subsection 12 (4) or clause 12 (5) (a) of the Professional Engineers Act.

1.2.1.2. Design by Architect or Professional Engineer

(1) Where the foundations of a building are to be constructed below the level of the footings of an adjacent building and within the angle of repose of the soil, as drawn from the bottom of the footings, the foundations shall be designed by a professional engineer.
(2) A sprinkler protected glazed wall assembly described in Article 3.1.8.18. of Division B shall be designed by a professional engineer.
(3) A shelf and rack storage system described in Section 3.16. of Division B shall be designed by a professional engineer.
(4) The time-based egress analysis for a shelf and rack storage system described in Sentence 3.16.1.7.(7) of Division B shall be prepared or provided by an architect or a professional engineer or a combination of both.
(5) The supporting framing structure and anchorage system for a tent occupying an area greater than 225 m² shall be designed by a professional engineer.
(6) A sign structure attached in any manner to a building shall be designed by an architect or a professional engineer or a combination of both where it is,

(a) a projecting sign that weighs more than 115 kg, or

(b) a roof sign that has any face that is more than 10 m².

(7) A projecting sign attached in any manner to a parapet wall shall be designed by an architect or a professional engineer or a combination of both.

1.2.2. General Review

1.2.2.1. General Review by Architect or Professional Engineer

(1) The construction, including, for greater certainty, enlargement or alteration, of every building or part of it described in Table 1.2.2.1. shall be reviewed by an architect or a professional engineer or a combination of both as set out in Column 3 of the Table.

TABLE 1.2.2.1.⁽⁴⁾
GENERAL REVIEW

Forming Part of Sentence 1.2.2.1.(1)

Item	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
▼	Building Classification by Major Occupancy(5)	Building Description	General Review by:
1.	Assembly occupancy only	Every building	Architect and professional engineer(1)
2.	Assembly occupancy and any other major occupancy except industrial	Every building	Architect and professional engineer(1)
3.	Care, care and treatment or detention occupancy only	Every building	Architect and professional engineer(1)
4.	Care, care and treatment or detention occupancy and any other major occupancyexcept industrial	Every building	Architect and professional engineer(1)
5.	Residential occupancy only other than retirement homes	Every building that exceeds 3 storeys in building height	Architect and professional engineer(1)
		Every building that exceeds 600 m² in gross area and that contains a residential occupancy other than a dwelling unit or dwelling units	Architect(2)
6.	Residential occupancy only other than retirement homes	Every building that exceeds 600 m² in gross area and contains a dwelling unit above another dwelling unit	Architect(2)
		Every building that exceeds 600 m² in building area, contains 3 or more dwelling units and has no dwelling unit above another dwelling unit	Architect(2)
7.	Residential occupancy other than retirement homes and any other major occupancyexcept assembly, care, care and treatment, detention or industrial occupancy	Every building that exceeds 600 m² in gross area or 3 storeys in building height	Architect and professional engineer(1)
7.1	Retirement home only	Every building	Architect and professional engineer(1)
7.2	Retirement home and any major occupancy except industrial	Every building	Architect and professional engineer(1)
8.	Business and personal services occupancy only	Every building that exceeds 600 m² in gross area or 3 storeys in building height	Architect and professional engineer(1)
9.	Business and personal services occupancy and any other major occupancy except assembly, care, care and treatment, detention or industrial occupancy	Every building that exceeds 600 m² in gross area or 3 storeys in building height	Architectandprofessional engineer(1)
10.	Mercantile occupancy only	Every building that exceeds 600 m² in gross area or 3 storeys in building height	Architectandprofessional engineer(1)
11.	Mercantile occupancy and any other major occupancy except assembly, care, care and treatment, detention or industrial occupancy	Every building that exceeds 600 m² in gross area or 3 storeys in building height	Architect and professional engineer(1)
12.	Industrial occupancy only and where there are no subsidiary occupancies	Every building that exceeds 600 m² in gross area or 3 storeys in building height	Architect or professional engineer(3)
13.	Industrial occupancy and one or more other major occupancies where the portion of the area occupied by one of the other major or subsidiary occupancies exceeds 600 m²	The non-industrial portion of every building	Architectandprofessional engineer(1)
		The industrial portion of every building	Architectorprofessional engineer(3)
14.	Industrial occupancy and one or more other major occupancies where no portion of the area occupied by one of the other major or subsidiary occupancies exceeds 600 m²	Every building that exceeds 600 m² in gross area or 3 storeys in building height	Architect or professional engineer(3)

Notes to Table 1.2.2.1.:

⁽¹⁾ An architect shall provide general review services within the practice of architecture and a professional engineer shall provide general review services within the practice of professional engineering.

⁽²⁾ An architect may engage a professional engineer to provide general review services within the practice of professional engineering.

⁽³⁾ Only a professional engineer may provide general review services within the practice of professional engineering.

⁽⁴⁾ Requirements for general review by an architect or a professional engineer or a combination of both for the construction, including, for greater certainty, enlargement or alteration, of a building are set out in the Architects Act and the Professional Engineers Act.

 ⁽⁵⁾ For purposes of Table 1.2.2.1., a retirement home is deemed to be a separate major occupancy.

(2) A person who intends to construct or have constructed a building or part of it required by Sentences (1) and (4) to (9) to be reviewed by an architect or a professional engineer or a combination of both, shall ensure that an architect, professional engineer or both are retained to undertake the general review of the construction of the building in accordance with the performance standards of the Ontario Association of Architects or the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, as applicable, to determine whether the construction is in general conformity with the plans, sketches, drawings, graphic representations, specifications and other documents that form the basis for the issuance of a permit under section 8 of the Act or any changes to it authorized by the chief building official.
(3) The architect, professional engineer or both who have been retained to undertake the general review of the construction of a building, shall forward copies of written reports arising out of the general review to the chief building official or registered code agency, as the case may be.
(4) Where the foundations of a building are to be constructed below the level of the footings of an adjacent building and within the angle of repose of the soil, as drawn from the bottom of the footings, the construction of the foundations shall be reviewed by a professional engineer.
(5) The construction of a sprinkler protected glazed wall assembly described in Article 3.1.8.18. of Division B shall be reviewed by a professional engineer.
(6) The construction of a shelf and rack storage system described in Section 3.16. of Division B shall be reviewed by a professional engineer.
(7) The construction of a supporting framing structure and anchorage system for a tent occupying an area greater than 225 m² shall be reviewed by a professional engineer.
(8) The construction of a sign structure shall be reviewed by an architect or a professional engineer or a combination of both, where the sign is,

(a) a ground sign that exceeds 7.5 m in height above the adjacent finished ground,

(b) a projecting sign that weighs more than 115 kg, or

(c) a roof sign that has any face that is more than 10 m².

(9) The construction of a projecting sign attached in any manner to a parapet wall shall be reviewed by an architect, professional engineer or a combination of both.

1.2.2.2. Restriction for General Review

(1) Only an architect may carry out or provide the general review of the construction of a building,

(a) that is constructed in accordance with a design prepared or provided by an architect, or

(b) in relation to services that are provided by an architect in connection with the design in accordance with which the building is constructed.

(2) Only a professional engineer may carry out or provide the general review of the construction of a building,

(a) that is constructed in accordance with a design prepared or provided by a professional engineer, or

(b) in relation to services that are provided by a professional engineer in connection with the design in accordance with which the building is constructed.

1.2.2.3. Demolition of a Building

(1) The applicant for a permit respecting the demolition of a building shall retain a professional engineer to undertake the general review of the project during demolition, where,

(a) the building exceeds 3 storeys in building height or 600 m² in building area,

(b) the building structure includes pre-tensioned or post-tensioned members,

(c) it is proposed that the demolition will extend below the level of the footings of any adjacent building and occur within the angle of repose of the soil, as drawn from the bottom of such footings, or

(d) explosives or a laser are to be used during the course of demolition.