Building
Information
BURNABY PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Occupancy Certificates for New
Buildings
The purpose of this brochure is to explain to owners, professionals and
contractors the requirements for obtaining occupancy certificates for new
buildings other than single and two-family dwellings.
“This information is provided for convenience only and is not in substitution of applicable City Bylaws or Provincial or
Federal Codes or laws. You must satisfy yourself that any existing or proposed construction or other works complies
with such Bylaws, Codes or other laws."
The Burnaby Building Bylaw states that no person shall occupy a building until an occupancy
certificate has been issued by the building inspector. The purpose of this brochure is to explain
to owners, professionals and contractors the procedure and requirements for obtaining
occupancy certificates for new buildings other than single and two family dwellings. The
information included in this brochure is a summary of the information in the Appendix of the
current edition of the B.C. Building Code and a sample occupancy demonstration/witnessing
flowchart is attached to this brochure for reference.
It is the responsibility of the Coordinating Registered Professional (CRP) to ensure that the
project is completed and tested; and that no further construction activity will affect the operation
of any fire and life systems before submitting an application to the building inspector for an
occupancy certificate. The building inspector will only carry out the Final Occupancy Inspection
after he or she has received a complete submission from the CRP. Final Occupancy Inspection
in this brochure has the same meaning as the “Coordinated Final AHJ Review” in the Appendix
of the Code.
Documentation required for occupancy certificate application
The CRP of the project must sign the Occupancy Certificate Application Form and submit all the
required documentation listed on the Occupancy Certification Application Form in a binder with
a cover index to the building inspector for review at least
5 working days prior to the Final
Occupancy Inspection.
The current edition of the B.C. Building Code provides Letters of Assurance for the principal
members of the design team, referred to as Registered Professionals of Record (RPR).
Frequently, other engineers, referred to as Specialty Engineers, are employed by a RP to
Occupancy Certificates for New Buildings
1
Revised: 2012 December 17
address certain elements of the design and/or field reviews. The RPR will often require the
Specialty Engineer, upon whom he/she relies, to provide assurance in the form of Schedule S to
the RP before RPR will provide assurance to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) in the form
of Schedule B and C-B. The RPR may, at his discretion, submit Schedules S upon which he
has relied to the CRP to be included in the submission to the building inspector. It must be
noted that responsibilities identified in Schedules B and C-B rest with the RPR and these
Schedules will not be accepted by the AHJ with any deletions or additions.
The CRP will be responsible for completeness and accuracy of the documentation submitted
including but not limited to ensuring that the name of the RPR on the individual Schedule C is
the same as that on the respective Schedules B.
It is the responsibility of the CRP in conjunction with the RPRs to determine the best method to
demonstrate to the building inspector that the fire and life safety systems have been coordinated
for the project. The CRP will submit a copy of the test protocol and procedures for the fire and
life safety systems to the building inspector together with all the other documentation as listed
on the application form.
Demonstration of coordinated fire & life safety systems
Coordinated Final Consultant Review
The CRP is responsible for organizing the “Coordinated Final Consultant Review” of the
functional test of the coordinated fire and life safety systems prior to the submission of the
Occupancy Certificate Application Form. The CRP must confirm on the Occupancy Certificate
Application Form that such a test has been performed to his/her satisfaction. In order to make
the most efficient use of City staff resources it is important that such a test been completed prior
to the Final Occupancy Inspection by the building inspector.
Coordinated Final AHJ Review (Final Occupancy Inspection)
The role of the CRP is to organize the “Coordinated Final AHJ Review” according to the protocol
and procedures submitted to the Building Inspector. The CRP will record any deficiencies
identified at the test and monitor the RPR’s field review of the corrective actions by the
subtrades.
The role of the building inspector in the “Coordinated Final AHJ Review” is to witness the test of
the fire and life systems according to the protocol and procedures submitted by the CRP. It is
not the role of the building inspector to conduct the test.
Occupancy Certificate
After the completion of all outstanding requirements the Building Inspector will issue an
Occupancy Certificate. The Building Inspector may issue a provisional occupancy approval with
a condition that some minor deficiencies that are not related to fire and life safety be corrected
within a specified time frame.
Further Information
Further information concerning Occupancy Certificate please contact the Building Department at
604-294-7130.
Occupancy Certificates for New Buildings
2
Revised: 2012 December 17
Div. C Appendix of Current Building Code
Item 4.0 Sample Occupancy Demonstration/Witnessing Flowchart
DEVELOP TESTING PROTOCOL/PROCEDURE (Design Stage)
CRP/RPRs develop Testing Demonstration/Witness Protocol
- Issue to Authorities Having Jurisdiction & Contractor
DOCUMENTATION SUBMISSION
Contractor/Sub-trades submit/deliver all appropriate documentation to CRP/RPRs, including:
- The original Contractor’s Materials and Test Certificate for the sprinkler system
- Fire Pump Flow Test Certificate(s)
- Back Flow Prevention Certificate(s)
- Emergency generator commissioning and verification reports
- The original Certificate of Verification for the fire alarm system
- Appendix “A” to the fire alarm verification report
- ULC Certificate for Protective Signaling Service
- Other documentation, as appropriate
CONTRACTOR DEMONSTRATION – CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE
Contractor & Sub-trades
(Mechanical, Electrical, Elevator, Sprinkler, Fire Alarm, etc.) as appropriate
COORDINATED FINAL CONSULTANT REVIEW
DEMONSTRATION/WITNESSING
CRP/RPRs
(Architect, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Sprinkler Engineer, Equivalency
Consultant, etc.) as appropriate
OCCUPANCY SUBMISSION DOCUMENTS
CRP to collect all submission documents, including Schedule C-Bs from RPRs, and submit to
AHJ in a complete package
COORDINATED FINAL AHJ REVIEW
DEMONSTRATION/WITNESS
Contractor, Sub-trades, CRP/RPR’s demonstrate to AHJ
(Building, Fire, Mechanical, Electrical and Sprinkler)
OCCUPANCY PERMIT ISSUED
Q:\Brochures-Bulletins & Zoning Information\Brochures\Current\Occupancy Certificates for New Buildings\Occupancy REV 2012 DEC 17.doc
(Attachment – Occupancy Certificate Application)
Occupancy Certificates for New Buildings
3
Revised: 2012 December 17
Reset Form
OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE
APPLICATION
Building Department
4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC V5G 1M2
Phone: 604-294-7130
Fax: 604-294-7986
www.burnaby.ca/building
The complete package including all the documentation listed below shall be submitted in a binder with a cover index to
the District Building Inspector a minimum five (5) working days prior to the Final Occupancy Inspection. This
documentation should be reviewed with the District Building Inspector for any additional items that may have developed
during construction.
Project Address:
Project Name:
Building Number:
Building Permit No.:
LETTERS OF ASSURANCE - PRIME CONSULTANTS
Discipline
Name of Registered Professional
Schedules Submitted
C-A
C-B
CRP
Architecural
Structural
Mechanical
Plumbing
Fire Suppression (Spec)
Fire Suppression (Detail)
Electrical
Geotechnical-Temp.
Geotechnical-Perm.
ADDITIONAL ASSURANCE DOCUMENTATION
Discipline
Name of Registered Professional
Schedules Submitted
E-2
Letter
Building Envelope
Alternative Solution(s)
Methane Mitigation
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Required
Submitted
Original Fire Alarm Verification
Confirmation of On-Line Monitoring
B.C.L.S. Building Location Survey
Test Protocol & Procedures for Fire & Life Safeety Systems
FINAL INSPECTION AND APPROVALS BY CITY
Copy Submitted
Electrical
Plumbing
Gas
Fire Prevention Oficce
I hereby confirmed that the building has been substantially completed and the "Coordinated Final Consultant Review" has been conducted.
(Signature)
CRP (Print Name)
Q:\Forms\Forms on the Web\Occupancy Certificate Application.doc
(Date)
Revised: 2012 December 05