OBC Small Buildings study plan

Map the Part 9 scope boundary by listing which building types, sizes and occupancies fall inside and outside it

Classify ten sample small buildings by major occupancy and construction type using the classification rules

Define the key terms that recur across the code and write plain-language versions of each

Identify which administrative requirements (permits, inspections, documents) attach to a small-building project

Work through the Part 9 construction requirements for foundations, footings and crawl spaces

Compute dead, live, snow and wind loads for a simple low-rise building using the prescribed load values

Size sawn lumber members against span tables for floors and roofs

Check a set of structural details for compliance with the small-building prescriptive rules

Determine required fire-resistance ratings and separations for a small building from its occupancy and construction

Lay out exit travel distances, exit widths and number of exits for three different floor plans

Specify smoke alarm, detection and suppression requirements for a residential occupancy

Verify stair, ramp, handrail and guard dimensions against the means-of-egress rules

Solve ten mixed life-safety and egress scenarios under time pressure

Reconcile conflicts between egress requirements and fire-protection requirements in a sample design

Explain how the administrative provisions affect when life-safety submissions are reviewed

Audit your weakest sub-topics from weeks 1 to 3 and rank them by error rate

Apply plumbing, ventilation and sanitation requirements to a small building layout

Determine thermal resistance, airtightness and vapour barrier requirements for walls, roofs and foundations

Locate the environmental separation and moisture-control provisions that govern envelope assemblies

Check lighting and natural ventilation adequacy for occupied rooms

Apply barrier-free path-of-travel requirements from parking and entry through to the occupied spaces

Dimension accessible washrooms, ramps, doors and turning spaces correctly

Identify where accessibility requirements conflict with exiting or structural constraints and how to resolve them

Integrate energy-efficiency requirements with accessibility detailing at doors and glazing

Revisit definitions and administrative provisions and close gaps flagged in the week 4 error log

Re-classify complex mixed-occupancy examples and justify each construction-type choice

Re-solve structural load and span problems at exam pace

Build a personal summary sheet of the highest-risk rules across these domains

Complete two full-length timed mock exams under exam conditions

Review every missed question and trace it back to the specific provision

Drill the heaviest domains until accuracy is consistent across repeated attempts

Confirm exam-day logistics, reference materials and time-allocation strategy