Definitions
Dead Load: the weight of all permanent structural and non-structural components of a building
Live Load: the weight of snow, rain, wind and/or earthquakes and those weights due to occupancy
What are Letters of Assurance?
Letters of Assurance are legal accountability documents that are required under the BC Building Code (BCBC), intended to clearly identify the responsibilities of the key players in a construction project. Uniform, mandatory Letters of Assurance have been included as Schedules (see below) in the BCBC since December 1992.
The BCBC requires Letters of Assurance in specific instances to document the parties responsible for the design and field review of construction, and to obtain their professional assurances that the work substantially complies with the requirements of the BCBC, except for construction safety aspects, and that the required field reviews have been complete.
Schedule A: Confirmation of Commitment by Owners and Coordinating Registered Professional.
Schedule B: Assurance of Professional Design and Commitment for Field Review & Summary of Design and Field Review Requirements.
Schedule C-A: Assurance of Coordination of Professional Field Review.
Schedule C-B: Assurance of Professional Field Review and Compliance.
For information on whether or not your project will require Letters of Assurance, please contact the Regional District building inspector.
Climatic data for the design of buildings in the Regional District shall be deemed to be:
Design Temperatures (Celsius):
January - 1% -32
January - 2.5% -29
July - 2.5% Drybulb 29
July - 2.5% Wetbulb 18
Degree - Days below 18 See Climate Zone Map (below)
15 min rain (mm) 13
One day rain, 1/50 (mm) 54
Annual rain, (mm) 475
Moisture Index 64
Annual total precipitation (mm) 650
Driving rain wind pressure (Pa) 1/5 60
Snow Load 1/50:
Rain Load (Sr) (kPa) 0.2
Ground Snow Load (Ss) (kPa) 4.3
Seismic Data:
Sa (0.2) 0.27
Sa (0.5) 0.16
Sa (1.0) 0.076
Sa (2.0) 0.042
PGA 0.14
Hourly Wind Pressure:
Probability 1/10 (kPa) 0.27
Probability 1/50 (kPa) 0.35
Radon area - soil gas rough in required 1
Required NAFS Fenestration performance of windows and doors in Part 9 buildings:
DP 720
PG 15
Water resistance 140
The Climate Data above does not apply to:
Structures listed above require a registered professional to provide design and plan certification and field review by means of letters of assurance in the form of Schedules referred to in the Building Code.