Skip to content
BCIN ExamBCIN Exam

BCIN exam

The HVAC - House exam

The technical exam for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning in houses: Part 9 ventilation and heating (9.32, 9.33), Part 6, the fire protection rules for service penetrations and dampers, smoke alarms, electrical facilities and SB-12 energy efficiency.

Services and systemsTechnical

multiple choice questions
70
multiple choice questions
to finish
3 hours
to finish
to pass
70%
to pass
you work from the code
Open book
you work from the code

Last updated

Who needs it

BCIN designers who design residential HVAC systems (heat loss and gain, duct design, ventilation) and building officials who review or inspect HVAC in houses. Passing Building Services also grants the HVAC-House qualification.

Covered by: Building Services. Passing one of those also qualifies you for HVAC - House.

Free HVAC - House study guide

One chapter per section of the exam, following the Ministry's study guide for the HVAC - House exam, in plain language, with every rule linked to the 2024 OBC article it comes from.

  1. 1Code structure, objectives and farm heating scopeDivision A (with exclusions), Division B Part 1 (except frost depth), farm building HVAC scope, SA-1 and SB-1.5 min read
  2. 2Part 3 fire safety items for HVACCombustible insulation, ratings, fire damper installation, service equipment penetrations and sprinkler systems.4 min read
  3. 3Part 6: general, design and installationPart 6 application and definitions, design and installation requirements, installation standards, incinerators and solid fuel storage.4 min read
  4. 4Part 6: ventilation, air ducts and ventingRequired and natural ventilation, garage ventilation, indoor air contaminants, air duct systems, chimneys and venting.4 min read
  5. 5Part 6: heating appliances and fire safety systemsHeating appliances, unit heaters, radiators and convectors, dampers and ductwork, carbon monoxide alarms and ash storage. Part 6.5 to 6.4 min read
  6. 6Part 9 fire protection for HVAC servicesOccupancy classification, permitted openings, penetrations of fire separations, exhaust ducts serving more than one fire compartment.6 min read
  7. 7Part 9 ventilation (9.32)Non-heating-season ventilation and heating-season mechanical ventilation: principal ventilation fans, supplemental exhaust, HRVs, makeup air.6 min read
  8. 8Heating and air-conditioning systems (9.33.1 to 9.33.5)Required heating systems, design temperatures, sizing and general requirements for heating and cooling systems, appliances and equipment.4 min read
  9. 9Ducts, piping, refrigeration and venting (9.33.6 to 9.33.10)Air duct systems (materials, sizing, clearances, exhaust ducts), radiators and convectors, heating and cooling piping.5 min read
  10. 10Envelope and building interfacesWindows and doors, crawl spaces and attic venting, chimney application, fireplace combustion air and heat circulating ducts.4 min read
  11. 11Electrical facilities, exit signs and lightingPart 9 electrical facilities, lighting outlets and emergency lighting, plus exit signs and lighting in means of egress.4 min read
  12. 12Energy efficiency (Part 12 and SB-12)Part 12 in full, including the SB-12 energy efficiency compliance packages for houses and the HVAC equipment efficiency and heat recovery.5 min read
  13. 13Change of use, renovation and Division C administrationChange of use additional requirements, Part 11 compliance alternatives, and the Division C items on permits, conditional permits.5 min read
Start with chapter 1

HVAC - House calculations

The Calculation Lab works through the calculations this exam asks for, step by step, with worked examples and the traps that cost marks.

Open the Calculation Lab

Practise for the HVAC - House exam

Start with the free quiz. When you are ready, paid prep adds the full question bank and timed simulations in the real exam format.

  • Free account

    $0

    free account, no card

    • A short timed HVAC - House quiz
    • Free practice questions, every answer explained and cited
    • The Study room: each guide chapter beside the code PDF
    • Timed lookup drills and Find it fast search lists
    • A one page cheat sheet and a hint sheet for every exam
    • The Calculation Lab
    Start the free quiz

  • HVAC - House prep

    CA$99

    one payment, 6 months of access

    • The full question bank, every answer explained and cited
    • The words to search with every answer, to find it fast
    • Timed 70 question, 3 hour simulations with the code PDF, like the real exam
    • Practice by study guide section or question type
    • Progress by section, weakest first
    • Everything in the free account
    Get HVAC - House prep

  • Recommended

    All exams

    Regular price CA$299, now CA$199.

    one payment, 6 months of access

    • Covers all 16 exams
    • Everything in One exam, for every exam
    • Cheaper than buying exams one at a time from the third exam on
    • Add exams as your BCIN categories grow, at no extra cost
    Get all exams

Prices in Canadian dollars. No subscription: nothing renews. Paid prep opens soon. Create a free account now to take the free quiz, and we will email you when it opens.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the HVAC - House exam?
70 multiple choice questions in 3 hours. You need 70% to pass.
Is the HVAC - House exam open book?
Yes. The exam is open book: you work from the code, so knowing where to find an answer quickly matters as much as knowing it.
Do I need the HVAC - House exam if I pass a higher exam?
Passing Building Services also qualifies you for HVAC - House, because that exam covers its material. Check the Ministry rules for your role before you book.