CARE AND TREATMENT OCCUPANCIES ALLOWED UNDER PART 9 AND THE BY THE ARCHITECTS REGULATION
UPDATED MARCH 19, 2025
3.1.2.5. Convalescent, Children's Custodial, and Residential Care Homes
3.1.2.5. Convalescent, Children's Custodial, and Residential Care Homes
1) Convalescent homes and children's custodial homes are permitted to be classified as residential occupancies within the application of Part 3, provided that occupants are ambulatory and live as a single housekeeping unit in a suite with sleeping accommodation for not more than 10 persons.
2) A care facility accepted for residential use pursuant to provincial legislation is permitted to be classified as a residential occupancy, provided
a) occupants live as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit with sleeping accommodation for not more than 10 persons,
b) smoke alarms are installed in conformance with Article 3.2.4.20.,
c) emergency lighting is provided in conformance with Subsection 3.2.7., and
d) the building is sprinklered throughout.
BC BUILDING CODE 2024
Architects Regulation
Reserved practice
5 (1) For the purposes of section 51 (1) (b) [reserved practice] of the Act, the practice of architecture, as it relates to matters that, having regard to the protective purposes, requires the experience or technical knowledge of an architect, is a reserved practice that may only be carried out by or under the supervision of a registrant.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), and subject to section 20 of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, the reserved practice under that subsection includes the practice of architecture in relation to a post-disaster building as defined in the building code and a building classified under the building code as having any of the following major occupancy types:
(a) assembly occupancy, Group A, divisions 1, 3 and 4, as defined in the building code;
(b) except as permitted in article 3.1.2.6. of the building code, assembly occupancy, Group A, division 2, as defined in the building code;
(c) detention occupancy as defined in the building code;
(d) except as permitted in article 3.1.2.5. of the building code, care occupancy as defined in the building code and treatment occupancy as defined in the building code;
(e) residential occupancy respecting any of the following: (i) a hotel as defined in the Hotel Guest Registration Act that has a gross area of 470 m2 or more; (ii) a building that has a building area of 600 m2 or more; (iii) a building that has 4 or more storeys; (iv) a building that has 5 or more dwelling units as defined in the building code; (v) a mixed-use building that has a gross area of 470 m2 or more and that has one or more dwelling units; (vi) a mixed-use building that has one or more dwelling units in combination with assembly, detention, treatment or care occupancy as those terms are defined in the building code;
(f) business and personal services occupancy as defined in the building code if the building has a gross area of 470 m2 or more;
(g) mercantile occupancy as defined in the building code if the building has a gross area of 470 m2 or more;
(h) high-hazard industrial occupancy as defined in the building code;
(i) medium-hazard and low-hazard industrial occupancy as defined in the building code if the building has a gross area of 470 m2 or more;
(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the following do not require the advice or services of a registrant:
(a) a building alteration that otherwise would require the advice or services of a registrant and that is not related to any of the following:
(i) a change of the building's occupancy type;
(ii) the building's structural integrity;
(iii) fire separations within the building;
(iv) the building's enclosure;
(v) the building's exiting;
(vi) the building's energy utilization;
(vii) access to the building for persons with disabilities as prescribed in the building code;
(b) a building set out in Schedule 1 if advice or services are provided by a registrant in the reserved practice of professional engineering.
ARCHITECTS REGULATION FEBRUARY 10, 2023