Manitoba Building Code Courses

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Manitoba Building Bylaws Online

This online course will examine the legal requirements of the building permitting process as well as the Building Official’s role within it. The course will assist Building Officials in recognizing the applicability of laws at various levels (federal, provincial and municipal) in the building process as well as providing understanding regarding when their role in the legal process begins. Finally the course will conclude with information about what would be required of a Building Official should they be called to court.

This course will be of assistance to Building Officials working in both Part 3 and 9 as well as others involved in the administration and enforcement of Manitoba’s Acts, Regulations, Codes and Bylaws. It may also be of interest to administrators to provide an overview of the work of these employees.

Introduction to the Building and Fire Codes – Division A and C Online

This online course is designed for those individuals who either currently use the MBC in their day to day work, and especially for those individuals who are going to be using the Codes for the first time.

Most Code programs are delivered with the understanding that participants come with knowledge and skills on the Codes. Divisions A and C provide the structure for Code Officials and design professionals to properly apply the Codes. This course will provide the participant with instruction on how to use the Code books and where items are located in the Code book, how an inspector can and cannot enforce the Codes, and finally it will conclude with how to properly classify a building. This program is designed as a prelude to participants continuing with advanced Code courses.

Blueprint Reading – Buildings

This course will introduce learners to the basic principles subscribed to in creating contract documents that fall under part 3 of the “National Building Code of Canada”, and will encompass most disciplines that could be involved, including Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, and Electrical, and will touch briefly on Landscape and Municipal.  The intent is to understand the intent of the documents, and there purpose. It will cover primarily the graphics (blue prints), however reference will be made to the “Project Manual” (Specifications).

The course will consist of a series of demonstrations with explanations of the method.  Learners will complete worksheets which will be reviewed and clarified in class.

Part 9 The House – Building Envelope

This course has been designed to enhance the knowledge of Existing Code Practitioners and those who wish to improve their competence in the practice of interpretation and implementation of the principles of the Manitoba Building Code with respect to Houses. The course is limited to detached housing, semi detached housing, town houses and row houses which

• Contain not more than 2 dwelling units in each house,
• Three or fewer storeys in building height,
• Having a building area not exceeding 600m²,
• Used for major occupancies classified as Group C residential.

Some areas covered in this courses are:

• Basics of structural design requirements
• Stairs, ramps and guards,
• Fire protection
• Sound control
• Excavation
• Damp-proofing, waterproofing and soil gas control
• Drainage
• Footings and foundations
• Roof spaces
• ICF walls
• Wood frame construction
• Heat transfer, air leakage, condensation control

Part 9 HVAC

This course will cover the Manitoba Building Code requirements for ventilation systems (9.32) and the Heating and Air-conditioning (9.33) requirements. The course will also cover:

1. the specific requirements for HRVs/ERVs, Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms in the Manitoba Amendments to 9.32,
2. the HRV/ERV requirements in the recent 9.36 Amendments,
3. the HRV/ERV requirements for residential dwellings in the Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings, and
4. the 9.33 requirements in the recent 9.36 Amendments.

Course materials will include a multi-point checklist that building officials can use to visually verify code compliance.

Typical installation procedures and code requirements will be presented using photographs of installed systems and other documentation.

Form and label templates that Authorities (AHJs) can use to improve documentation and ease verification requirements will be presented.

Part 9 Small Buildings

This course has been designed to enhance the knowledge of existing code practitioners and those practitioners who wish to improve their competence in interpreting and implementing the principles of the 2010 National Building Code of Canada (NBC) with respect to small buildings (Vol. 2 Division B Part 9).

It is intended to help the participant understand the requirements of the NBC that apply to all small buildings, defined in the NBC as:

1. Three or fewer stories in building height.
2. Having a building area not exceeding 600 m2.
3. Used for major occupancies classified as Group C-residential occupancies, D-business and personal services occupancies, E-mercantile occupancies or Group F-2 medium hazard industrial occupancies and Group F-3- low hazard industrial occupancies.

This course will emphasize the requirements for small buildings, excluding the “House” which is covered in another course. The “House” building form includes residential single detached, semi-detached, townhouse or row dwellings with no more than one unit above another unit. A house with a secondary suite or basement apartment, a duplex, stacked semi-detached or stacked townhouse would be the House building form.

Small buildings include all other Part 9 buildings such as a triplex, small apartment building, single occupancy or mixed occupancy buildings.

Participants must have a basic understanding of the NBC and requirements contained therein in order to be successful when taking exams or applying the knowledge to their jobs.

This course will help the learner find applicable NBC requirements and through the exercises contained herein will focus on educating the participant so that he or she may correctly interpret and apply the regulations.

Some areas covered by this course include:

• Special Structures and Basics of Structural Requirements
• Design of Area and Space
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards
• Means of Egress
• Fire Protection I, II, and III
• Energy Efficiency
• Plumbing

Additional Small Building Topics (Floors-On-Ground, Above-grade Masonry and Insulating Concrete Form (ICF), Wood Frame Construction, Electric Facilities, Safety Measures at Construction and Demolition Sites)

Part 9 Plumbing Code Course

This course has been designed to enhance the knowledge of existing Code Practitioners and those practitioners who wish to improve their competence in the practice of interpretation and implementation of the principles of the National Plumbing Code (NPC). It is intended to help the participant understand the requirements of the NPC when inspecting the plumbing in a building.

Some areas covered by this course include:

• Interpret codes and regulations pertaining to residential sanitary drainage and venting systems.
  • Dimensions
  • Length
• Identify residential DWV components and describe their purpose and applications
  • piping
  • vents (continuous, branch, wet, circuit vent, additional circuit, relief, stack vent, vent stack, vent header)
  • drains
  • traps
  • cleanouts
  • joints and connections
  • backwater valves
  • fire stopping
  • sewage sumps
  • macerating toilet system
  • expansion joints
• Identify the factors to consider when sizing residential DWV system components:
  • hydraulic load
  • code requirements
• Interpret codes and regulations pertaining to residential plumbing fixtures and accessories.

Part 3 Large Buildings

This course has been designed to enhance the knowledge of existing code practitioners and those practitioners who wish to improve their competence in interpreting and implementing the principles of the 2010 National Building Code of Canada (NBC) with respect to large buildings (Vol. 2 Division B Part 3). It is intended to help the participant understand the requirements of the NBC that apply to all large buildings. Participants must have a basic understanding of the NBC and requirements contained therein in order to be successful when taking exams or applying the knowledge to their jobs.

This course will help the learner find applicable NBC requirements and through the exercises contained herein will focus on educating the participant so that he or she may correctly interpret and apply the regulations.

Some areas covered by this course include:

• Construction Types, Occupancy, Fire-Resistance and Occupant Loads
• Building Fire Safety
• Safety within Floor Areas
• Exits
• Vertical Transportation
• Health Requirements
• Barrier-Free Design
• Tents and Air-Supported Structures
• Self-Service Storage Buildings
• Alternative Solutions, Renovations & Relocated Buildings
• Environmental Separation
• Structural Design, HVAC, Plumbing

Part 3 Complex Buildings

This course has been designed to enhance the knowledge of existing Code Practitioners and those practitioners who wish to improve their competence in the practice of interpretation and implementation of the principles of the National Building Code (NBC) with respect to Large (Vol. 2, Division B, Part 3) buildings. It is intended to help the participant understand the requirements of the NBC that apply to Part 3 Buildings with emphasis being placed on Complex Buildings which are defined in the NBC as:

1. Post disaster buildings,
2. High buildings, and
3. Buildings with interconnected floor spaces

This course will assist in learning how to find applicable NBC requirements and through the exercises contained herein will focus on creating understanding so that the participant may correctly interpret and apply the regulations.

Some areas covered by this course include:

• Occupancy, Construction Types, Fire-Resistance ratings
• Appendix D, Fire Performance Ratings, including Flame spread, Smoke development
• Building Fire Safety
• Safety within Floor Areas
• Environmental Separation
• Additional requirements for high buildings
• Appendix B, Fire Safety in high Buildings
• Mezzanines and interconnected floor spaces
• Structural Design, HVAC, Plumbing
• Safety Measures at Construction and Demolition Sites

Manitoba Energy Code for Building Courses

Students will develop the ability to interpret and apply the requirements of the Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings including the associated Manitoba Amendments for use in the design of buildings. The Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings course is intended for Building Inspectors, Contractors, design professionals and anyone working in the construction sector who want a greater understanding of the energy code. This course will prepare participants with required knowledge and tools needed to meet the requirements of Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings (MECB) 2013 using the Prescriptive and Trade Off Path compliance options. Classroom experiences will assist in code interpretation and code compliance. The goal of this course is to promote problem solving techniques and critical thinking skills using the code knowledge gained in the course and applying it to real life examples and issues that have occurred in the field.

MBC Section 9.36 Energy Efficiency in Housing and Small Buildings

This course will prepare participants with required knowledge and tools needed to meet the requirements of Section 9.36 Energy Efficiency in Houses and Small Buildings using both compliance path options prescriptive and trade-off. Classroom experience will also assist in code interpretation and code compliance as code articles will be examined one by one. Explanations and examples will be used throughout the course to enhance the participants understanding.

Participants will develop the ability to interpret and apply the requirements of the Section 9.36. The Section 9.36 course is intended for Building officials, design professionals, contractors or anyone working in the field of Part 9 construction. The goal of this course is to promote problem solving techniques and critical thinking skills using the code knowledge gained in the course and applying it to practical examples in class.

To access the RSI calculator for building envelope assemblies, click here.

Building Code Exams

Exams are billed separately from the course. Exams are scheduled thru Continuing Education Exam Invigilation Services.

Exam Rewrite Policy

• A grade of 75% is required to Pass all Manitoba Building Code Exams.
• A student who receives a failing grade (less than 75%) on a Manitoba Building Code Exam is eligible to write ONE supplemental exam. If a passing grade is not achieved on the supplemental exam, the student must successfully retake the respective Manitoba Building Code course before taking the exam again.

Challenge Exam Rewrite Policy

• A grade of 75% is required to Pass all Manitoba Building Code Challenge Exams.
• A student who receives a failing grade (less than 75%) on a Manitoba Building Code Challenge Exam is not eligible to write a supplemental exam until they have successfully completed the respective Manitoba Building Code course.