Division A
Compliance, Objectives and Functional Statements

Acceptable means acceptable to the Chief Building Official.

Acceptable equivalency means:

1. that the person proposing to use a plumbing fixture that does not conform with the specifications in this By-law must, at their expense, ensure that
   1. an independent qualified third party tests the plumbing fixture and documents that the plumbing fixture meets or exceeds the specifications of this By-law,
   2. the test procedures and documented results are reviewed and verified by an independent qualified registered professional,
   3. copies of all test procedures, documented results and verification reports are provided to the Chief Building Official, and
2. the test procedures, documented results and verification are acceptable.

Accepted means accepted by the Chief Building Official.

Access or accessible means that a person with disabilities is, without assistance, able to approach, enter, pass to and from, and make use of an area and its facilities, or both, as required by this By-law.

Access to exit means that part of a means of egress within a floor area that provides access to an exit serving the floor area.

Adaptable dwelling unit means a dwelling unit designed and constructed to facilitate future modification to provide access for persons with disabilities.

Addition means an alteration to any building which will increase the total aggregate floor area or the building height (in storeys).

Adfreezing means the adhesion of soil to a foundation unit resulting from the freezing of soil water. (Also referred to as “frost grip.”)

Air barrier system means the assembly installed to provide a continuous barrier to the movement of air.

Air space parcel has the meaning assigned to it by the Land Title Act of British Columbia.

Air-supported structure means a structure consisting of a pliable membrane which achieves and maintains its shape and support by internal air pressure.

Alarm signal means an audible signal transmitted throughout a zone or zones or throughout a building to advise occupants that a fire emergency exists.

Alert signal means an audible signal to advise designated persons of a fire emergency.

Alteration means a change or extension to any matter or thing or to any occupancy regulated by this By-law.

Ancillary Residential Building meaning a building entirely of residential occupancy, constructed on the same parcel and smaller than the primary residential building and containing not more than one dwelling unit and its subsidiary uses, such as a laneway house.

Appliance means a device to convert fuel into energy and includes all components, controls, wiring and piping required to be part of the device by the applicable standard referred to in this By-law.

Apprentice means a regularly indentured apprentice under the provisions of the Industry Training Authority Act of British Columbia.

Approved (as used in Book II) means accepted.

Area of refuge means a space that facilitates a safe delay in egress, is sufficiently protected from fire conditions developing in the floor area, and provides direct access to an exit or firefighters’ elevator.

Artesian groundwater means a confined body of water under pressure in the ground.

Artist Live/Work Studio means an Artist Studio and a Residential Unit associated with and forming an integral part of an Artist Studio, as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class A means Artist studio-Class A as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class B means Artist studio-Class B as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class A and Artist studio — Class B have the meaning assigned to them by the Zoning and Development By-law.

Arts and culture indoor event means an event of an artistic or cultural nature, including but not limited to visual, performing, media, literary, craft or interdisciplinary arts, for a maximum of 250 persons, with or without liquor service, which occurs no more than three days per month in a building or portion of a building not approved for assembly occupancy.

Assembly occupancy means the occupancy or the use of a building, or part thereof, by a gathering of persons for civic, political, travel, religious, social, educational, recreational or like purposes, or for the consumption of food or drink.

Attic or roof space means the space between the roof and the ceiling of the top storey or between a dwarf wall and a sloping roof.

Authority having jurisdiction means the governmental body responsible for the enforcement of any part of this By-law or the official or agency designated by that body to exercise such a function. Notwithstanding this definition, the Chief Inspector of Mines has the sole responsibility for administration and enforcement in respect to all buildings, structures and site services used at a mine, as defined in the Mines Act.

Basement means a storey or storeys of a building located below the first storey.

Bathroom group means one lavatory basin, one water closet and one bathtub or maximum 2 head shower drain.

Bearing surface means the contact surface between a foundation unit and the soil or rock upon which it bears.

Boiler means an appliance intended to supply hot water or steam for space heating, processing or power purposes.

Braced wall band means an imaginary continuous straight band extending vertically and horizontally through the building or part of the building, within which braced wall panels are constructed.

Braced wall panel means a portion of a wood-frame wall where bracing, sheathing, cladding or interior finish is designed and installed to provide the required resistance to lateral loads due to wind or earthquake.

Breeching means a flue pipe or chamber for receiving flue gases from one or more flue connections and for discharging these gases through a single flue connection.

Building means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy, including any float home or marina and any retaining structures greater than 1.2 m in height.

Building area means the greatest horizontal area of a building above grade within the outside surface of exterior walls or within the outside surface of exterior walls and the centre line of firewalls.

Building energy use means non site-renewable energy used for space heating, cooking and/or operation of buildings intended for human occupancy.

Building Envelope Professional means a member of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia or the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.

Building height (in storeys) means the number of storeys contained between the roof and the floor of the first storey.

Business and personal services occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the transaction of business or the rendering or receiving of professional or personal services.

Caisson (see Pile).

Catch basin means a receptacle installed to intercept the flow of deleterious matter into the building sewer or public sewer and to prevent the outflow of sewer gas, but does not include a sump.

Care means the provision of services other than treatment by or through care facility management to residents who require these services because of cognitive, physical or behavioural limitations.

Care occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof where care is provided to residents. (See Appendix A.)

Cavity wall means a construction of masonry units laid with a cavity between the wythes. The wythes are tied together with metal ties or bonding units, and are relied on to act together in resisting lateral loads.

Certified Professional means a Certified Professional as defined in the Certification of Professionals By-law.

Chief Building Official means the City Building Inspector, and any person authorized to act on behalf of the City Building Inspector.

Child Care Facility means a care facility within the meaning of the Child Care Licensing Regulation of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.

Children means persons under the age of 13 years.

Chimney means a primarily vertical shaft enclosing at least one flue for conducting flue gases to the outdoors.

Chimney liner means a conduit containing a chimney flue used as a lining of a masonry or concrete chimney.

City means the City of Vancouver.

City Building Inspector means the person appointed as such by City Council pursuant to the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.

City Engineer means the person appointed as such by City Council pursuant to the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.

Clear-water waste means waste water with impurity levels that will not be harmful to health and may include cooling water and condensate drainage from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and cooled condensate from steam heating systems, but does not include storm water. (See Book II, Division A, Appendix A.)

Closure means a device or assembly for closing an opening through a fire separation or an exterior wall, such as a door, a shutter, wired glass or glass block, and includes all components such as hardware, closing devices, frames and anchors.

Combustible means that a material fails to meet the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Combustible construction means that type of construction that does not meet the requirements for noncombustible construction.

Combustible dusts means dusts and particles that are ignitable and liable to produce an explosion.

Combustible fibres means finely divided, combustible vegetable or animal fibres and thin sheets or flakes of such materials which, in a loose, unbaled condition, present a flash fire hazard, including cotton, wool, hemp, sisal, jute, kapok, paper and cloth.

Combustible liquid means a liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8°C and below 93.3°C.

Community Care Facility means Community Care Facility as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Conditioned space means any space within a building the temperature of which is controlled to limit variation in response to the exterior ambient temperature by the provision, either directly or indirectly, of heating or cooling over substantial portions of the year.

Construction means, with respect to a building: erection, repair, alteration, enlargement, addition, demolition, deconstruction, removal and excavation.

Construction Safety Officer means a person who has been trained specifically to understand and apply safe construction practice as it relates to the worksite and as it affects the public, neighbouring properties and utilities, and who has been retained by the owner, or the owner's principal contractor or project manager, to coordinate all sub trade supervisors relating to construction safety at the project site.

Construction Safety Plan means a plan containing construction procedures and fire safety measures designed to protect workers on a project, neighbouring private property, public property, and members of the general public.

Constructor means a person who contracts with an owner or their authorized agent to undertake a project, and includes an owner who contracts with more than one person for the work on a project or undertakes the work on a project or any part thereof.

Contained use area means a supervised area containing one or more rooms in which occupant movement is restricted to a single room by security measures not under the control of the occupant.

Container means a metal transportable structure designed for the storage and transport of goods, the typical dimensions of which are 2.44 m in width, 2.59 m in height, and 6.1 m in length.

Contractor means a person who contracts with an owner or an authorized agent of an owner to undertake a project, and includes an owner who contracts with more than one person for the work on a project or undertakes the work on a project or any part thereof.

Conveyor vehicle wash means a system for washing vehicles where the vehicle moves through a tunnel during the wash and the driver of the vehicle can remain in, or wait outside of, the vehicle.

Cooktop means a cooking surface having one or more burners or heating elements.

Coordinating registered professional means a registered professional retained under Clause 2.2.7.2.(1)(a) to coordinate all design work and field reviews of the registered professionals who are required for a project.

Dangerous goods means those products or substances that are regulated by the “Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.” (See Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of the Vancouver Fire By-law.)

Dead load means the weight of all permanent structural and non-structural components of a building.

Deconstruction means demolition by systematic disassembly of a building resulting in the reuse, recycling or recovery of not less than 75% of all building materials, excluding materials which are hazardous or banned from landfill.

Deep foundation means a foundation unit that provides support for a building by transferring loads either by end-bearing to soil or rock at considerable depth below the building, or by adhesion or friction, or both, in the soil or rock in which it is placed. Piles are the most common type of deep foundation.

Demolition means the action or process of demolishing a building, and includes deconstruction.

Designated flood means a flood which may occur in any given year, of such magnitude as to equal a flood having a 200 year return period.

Designated flood plain means those lands in the City which are hereby designated, for the purposes of section 306(cc) of the Vancouver Charter, as flood plains susceptible to flooding and subject to flood construction level requirements, and those lands so designated include:

1. lands located in the proximity to the natural boundary of the Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and the Fraser River, which are located within the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the maps attached to this By-law as Diagrams A1 and A2. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-A for Diagram A1: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains and Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-B for Diagram A2: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plain, wave effect zone.); and
2. lands located in the areas shown crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law as Diagram B. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-C for Diagram B: Still Creek flood plain and flood construction levels.)

Designated Structural Engineer (Struct. Eng.) means a person who is registered or licensed to practice as a professional engineer under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act of British Columbia, and a person who is designated by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia as a Designated Structural Engineer.

Designer means the person responsible for the design.

Detention occupancy means the occupancy by persons who are restrained from or are incapable of evacuating to a safe location without the assistance of another person because of security measures not under their control.

Distillery means a process plant where distilled beverage alcohols are produced, concentrated or otherwise processed, and includes facilities on the same site where the concentrated products may be blended, mixed, stored or packaged.

Distilled beverage alcohol means a beverage that is produced by fermentation and contains more than 20% by volume of water-miscible alcohol.

Direct-vented (as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its venting system in which all the combustion air is supplied directly from the outdoors and the products of combustion are vented directly to the outdoors via independent, totally enclosed passageways connected directly to the appliance.

Drainage system means an assembly of pipes, fittings, fixtures, traps and appurtenances that is used to convey sewage, clear-water waste or storm water to a public sewer or a private sewage disposal system, but does not include subsoil drainage pipes. (See Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-I in Book II, Division A, Appendix A.)

Dwelling unit means a suite operated as a housekeeping unit, used or intended to be used by one or more persons and usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities.

Excavation means the space created by the removal of soil, rock or fill for the purposes of construction.

Exhaust duct means a duct through which air is conveyed from a room or space to the outdoors.

Existing building means a building lawfully constructed and completed under a permit before submission of the current permit application.

Exit means that part of a means of egress, including doorways, that leads from the floor area it serves to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare. (See Appendix A.)

Exit level means the level of an exit stairway at which an exterior exit door or exit passageway leads to the exterior.

Exit storey (as applying to Subsection 3.2.6. of Division B) means a storey having an exterior exit door.

Exposing building face means that part of the exterior wall of a building that faces one direction and is located between ground level and the ceiling of its top storey or, where a building is divided into fire compartments, the exterior wall of a fire compartment that faces one direction.

Factory-built chimney means a chimney consisting entirely of factory-made parts, each designed to be assembled with the other without requiring fabrication on site.

Farm building means a building or part thereof that does not contain a residential occupancy and that is associated with and located on land devoted to the practice of farming, and used essentially for the housing of equipment or livestock, or the production, storage or processing of agricultural and horticultural produce or feeds. (See Appendix A.)

Field review means a review of the work

• at a building site, and
• where applicable, at locations where building components are fabricated for use at the building site

that a registered professional in his or her professional discretion considers necessary to ascertain whether the work substantially complies in all material respects with the plans and supporting documents prepared by a registered professional.

Fill means soil, rock, rubble, industrial waste such as slag, organic material or a combination of these that is transported and placed on the natural surface of soil or rock or organic terrain. It may or may not be compacted.

Fire block means a material, component or system that restricts the spread of fire within a concealed space or from a concealed space to an adjacent space.

Fire compartment means an enclosed space in a building that is separated from all other parts of the building by enclosing construction providing a fire separation having a required fire-resistance rating.

Fire damper means a closure consisting of a damper that is installed in an air distribution system or a wall or floor assembly and that is normally held open but designed to close automatically in the event of a fire in order to maintain the integrity of the fire separation.

Fire detector means a device that detects a fire condition and automatically initiates an electrical signal to actuate an alert signal or alarm signal and includes heat detectors and smoke detectors.

Fire load (as applying to an occupancy) means the combustible contents of a room or floor area expressed in terms of the average weight of combustible materials per unit area, from which the potential heat liberation may be calculated based on the calorific value of the materials, and includes the furnishings, finished floor, wall and ceiling finishes, trim and temporary and movable partitions.

Fire-protection rating means the time in minutes or hours that a closure will withstand the passage of flame when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as otherwise prescribed in this By-law.

Fire-resistance rating means the time in minutes or hours that a material or assembly of materials will withstand the passage of flame and the transmission of heat when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as determined by extension or interpretation of information derived therefrom as prescribed in this By-law. (See Appendix Note D-1.2.1.(2) of Division B.)

Fire-retardant-treated wood means wood or a wood product that has had its surface-burning characteristics, such as flame spread, rate of fuel contribution and density of smoke developed, reduced by impregnation with fire-retardant chemicals.

Fire separation means a construction assembly that acts as a barrier against the spread of fire. (See Appendix A.)

Fire stop means a system consisting of a material, component and means of support used to fill gaps between fire separations or between fire separations and other assemblies, or used around items that wholly or partially penetrate a fire separation.

Fire stop flap means a device intended for use in horizontal assemblies required to have a fire-resistance rating and incorporating protective ceiling membranes, which operates to close off a duct opening through the membrane in the event of a fire.

Firewall means a type of fire separation of noncombustible construction that subdivides a building or separates adjoining buildings to resist the spread of fire and that has a fire-resistance rating as prescribed in this By-law and has structural stability to remain intact under fire conditions for the required fire-rated time.

First storey means the uppermost storey having its floor level not more than 2 m above grade.

Fixture means, in relation to plumbing, a receptacle, appliance, apparatus or other device that discharges sewage or clear-water waste, and includes a floor drain.

Flame-spread rating means an index or classification indicating the extent of spread-of-flame on the surface of a material or an assembly of materials as determined in a standard fire test as prescribed in this By-law.

Flammable liquid means a liquid having a flash point below 37.8°C and having a vapour pressure not more than 275.8 kPa (absolute) at 37.8°C as determined by ASTM D 323, “Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method).”

Flash point means the minimum temperature at which a liquid within a container gives off vapour in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.

Float home means any structure incorporating a floatation system, intended for use or occupancy or being used or occupied for residential purposes, containing one dwelling unit only, and not primarily intended for, or useable in, navigation, but does not include any water craft designed or intended for navigation.

Flood construction level means the minimum elevation of the underside of a floor system, or of the top of a concrete slab, of a building which is used or may be used for habitation, business, or for the storage of goods which may be damaged by flood water.

Flood construction level requirements means

1. on the Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains:
   1. for buildings located within the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law, the underside of a floor system or the top of a concrete slab of a buildings used for habitation, business or storage of goods, shall not be lower than 4.6 m Greater Vancouver Regional District datum. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-A for Diagram A1: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains); and
   2. for buildings located in the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law, an additional elevation allowance above 4.6 m may be required for wave run-up, at a level as determined by a Professional Engineer and to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-B for Diagram A2: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plain wave effect zone); and
2. on the Still Creek flood plain:
   1. the underside of a floor system or the top of a concrete slab of any buildings used for habitation, business or storage of goods shall not be lower than the applicable elevation shown on the map attached to this By-law. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-C for Diagram B: Still Creek flood plain and flood construction levels.)

Floor area means the space on any storey of a building between exterior walls and required firewalls, including the space occupied by interior walls and partitions, but not including exits, vertical service spaces, and their enclosing assemblies.

Floor drain means a fixture used to receive water from the floor of a building.

Flue means an enclosed passageway for conveying flue gases.

Flue collar means the portion of a fuel-fired appliance designed for the attachment of the flue pipe or breeching.

Flue pipe means the pipe connecting the flue collar of an appliance to a chimney.

Forced-air furnace means a furnace equipped with a fan that provides the primary means for the circulation of air.

Foundation means a system or arrangement of foundation units through which the loads from a building are transferred to supporting soil or rock.

Foundation unit means one of the structural members of the foundation of a building such as a footing, raft or pile.

Frost action means the phenomenon that occurs when water in soil is subjected to freezing which, because of the water/ice phase change or ice lens growth, results in a total volume increase or the build-up of expansive forces under confined conditions or both, and the subsequent thawing that leads to loss of soil strength and increased compressibility.

Furnace means a space-heating appliance using warm air as the heating medium and usually having provision for the attachment of ducts.

Gas vent means that portion of a venting system designed to convey vent gases to the outdoors from the vent connector of a gas-fired appliance or directly from the appliance when a vent connector is not used.

General Manager, Park Board means the person appointed as such by the Park Board.

General Manager, Real Estate and Facilities Management means the person appointed as such by City Council.

Grade means the lowest of the average levels of finished ground adjoining each exterior wall of a building, except that localized depressions need not be considered in the determination of average levels of finished ground. (See First storey and Appendix A.)

Greenhouse gas has the meaning attributed to it in section 559 of the Vancouver Charter.

Green house gases means any gas that contributes to a gradual warming of the Earth’s climate as a result of increased heat retention.

Green roof means a structure constructed on top of a roof, which is designed to support the growth of vegetation and to capture rainwater.

Green roof assembly means the components of a green roof and includes a waterproof barrier which is impervious to root migration, a filtering layer, roof drainage, soil or other growing medium and plants, installed on top of a roof assembly.

Grooming station means facilities for grooming which are separated from washrooms and which contain a mirror, an electrical outlet and a countertop.

Groundwater means a free standing body of water in the ground.

Groundwater level (groundwater table) means the top surface of a free standing body of water in the ground.

Group Residence means Group Residence as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Guard means a protective barrier around openings in floors or at the open sides of stairs, landings, balconies, mezzanines, galleries, raised walkways or other locations to prevent accidental falls from one level to another. Such a barrier may or may not have openings through it.

Heat detector means a fire detector designed to operate at a predetermined temperature or rate of temperature rise.

Heavy timber construction means that type of combustible construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by placing limitations on the sizes of wood structural members and on the thickness and composition of wood floors and roofs and by the avoidance of concealed spaces under floors and roofs.

Heritage building means a building that is legally protected or officially recognized as a heritage property by the Province of British Columbia or the City, or a building that, in the opinion of the City Building Inspector, has sufficient heritage value or heritage character to justify its conservation. (See Appendix A.).

High-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F, Division 1) means an industrial occupancy containing sufficient quantities of highly combustible and flammable or explosive materials which, because of their inherent characteristics, constitute a special fire hazard.

Horizontal exit means an exit from one building to another by means of a doorway, vestibule, walkway, bridge or balcony.

Horizontal service space means a space such as an attic, duct, ceiling, roof or crawl space oriented essentially in a horizontal plane, concealed and generally inaccessible, through which building service facilities such as pipes, ducts and wiring may pass.

Impeded egress zone means a supervised area in which occupants have free movement but require the release, by security personnel, of security doors at the boundary before they are able to leave the area, but does not include a contained use area.

In-bay vehicle wash means a non-domestic vehicle wash where the driver pulls into a bay, parks the vehicle, and the vehicle remains stationary while either a machine moves over the vehicle to clean it or one or more employees of the facility clean the vehicle, instead of the vehicle moving through a tunnel.

Indirect service water heater means a service water heater that derives its heat from a heating medium such as warm air, steam or hot water.

Industrial flex space means an industrial use which is located in a new building containing Group C major occupancies.

Industrial occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the assembling, fabricating, manufacturing, processing, repairing or storing of goods and materials.

Interconnected floor space means superimposed floor areas or parts of floor areas in which floor assemblies that are required to be fire separations are penetrated by openings that are not provided with closures.

Journeyman plumber means a person, other than an apprentice, who holds a certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of the Industry Training Authority Act of British Columbia authorizing the person to engage in the plumbing trade.

Lane means a public thoroughfare or way not more than 10.1 m in width which affords only a secondary means of access to a site, at the side or rear.

Laneway house means a detached dwelling unit constructed in the rear yard of a parcel on which is situate a one-family dwelling or one-family dwelling with secondary suite.

Leader means a pipe that is installed to carry storm water from a roof to a storm building drain or sewer or other place of disposal.

Licensed Beverage Establishment means an assembly occupancy or part thereof, where people may consume alcohol in a Class 2-restaurant as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law, lounge, recreational centre, community hall, cabaret, pub, neighbourhood public house, marine public house and similar facility.

Limiting distance means the distance from an exposing building face to a property line, the centre line of a street, lane or public thoroughfare, or to an imaginary line between 2 buildings or fire compartments on the same property, measured at right angles to the exposing building face.

Live load means a variable load due to the intended use and occupancy that is to be assumed in the design of the structural members of a building. It includes loads due to cranes and the pressure of liquids in containers.

Liveaboard vessel means any water craft intended primarily for use in navigation and used for residential purposes.

Loadbearing (as applying to a building element) means subjected to or designed to carry loads in addition to its own dead load, excepting a wall element subjected only to wind or earthquake loads in addition to its own dead load.

Lock-off unit means a smaller dwelling unit within a larger principal dwelling unit, which must have separate external access and shared internal access, and which can be locked off from the larger dwelling unit, but does not include a secondary suite.

Low-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F,  Division 3) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is not more than 50 kg/m² or 1 200 MJ/m² of floor area.

Major occupancy means the principal occupancy for which a building or part thereof is used or intended to be used, and shall be deemed to include the subsidiary occupancies that are an integral part of the principal occupancy. The major occupancy classifications used in this By-law are as follows:

Marina means any structure or installation, including marina walkways, which provides moorage space for water craft.

Marina walkway means any surface extending over navigable water used to accommodate pedestrian traffic, and used so that water craft and float homes may lie alongside to receive and discharge cargo and passengers.

Marine toilet means any toilet on or within a water craft.

Masonry or concrete chimney means a chimney of brick, stone, concrete or masonry units constructed on site.

Means of egress means a continuous path of travel provided for the escape of persons from any point in a building or contained open space to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare. Means of egress includes exits and access to exits.

Mechanically vented (as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its combustion venting system in which the products of combustion are entirely exhausted to the outdoors by a mechanical device, such as a fan, blower or aspirator, upstream or downstream from the combustion zone of the appliance, and the portion of the combustion venting system that is downstream of the fan, blower or aspirator is sealed and does not include draft hoods or draft control devices. (See Appendix A.)

Medium-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F,  Division 2) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is more than 50 kg/m² or 1 200 MJ/m² of floor area and not classified as a high-hazard industrial occupancy.

Mercantile occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the displaying or selling of retail goods, wares or merchandise.

Metering fixture means a self-closing plumbing fixture that dispenses a specific volume of water for each actuation cycle.

Mezzanine means an intermediate floor assembly between the floor and ceiling of any room or storey and includes an interior balcony.

Multi-family means a residential occupancy with more than two dwelling units.

Natural boundary means the visible high water mark of any lake, river, stream or other body of water where the presence and action of the water are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark on the soil of the bed of the body of water a character distinct from that of its banks, in vegetation, as well as in the nature of the soil itself.

Noncombustible means that a material meets the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Noncombustible construction means that type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of noncombustible materials for structural members and other building assemblies.

Occupancy means the use or intended use of a building or part thereof for the shelter or support of persons, animals or property.

Occupant load means the number of persons for which a building or part thereof is designed.

One-family dwelling means a building containing only one dwelling unit.

One-family dwelling with secondary suite means a building containing only two dwelling units of which the secondary suite is smaller than the principal residence.

Open-air storey means a storey in which at least 25% of the total area of its perimeter walls is open to the outdoors in a manner that will provide cross-ventilation to the entire storey.

Owner means a registered owner, a holder of an agreement for sale and purchase and, in the case of Crown-owned lands, owner shall mean the occupier.

Partition means an interior wall 1 storey or part-storey in height that is not loadbearing.

Party wall means a wall jointly owned and jointly used by 2 parties under easement agreement or by right in law, and erected at or upon a line separating 2 parcels of land each of which is, or is capable of being, a separate real-estate entity.

Perched groundwater means a free standing body of water in the ground extending to a limited depth.

Permit means permission or authorization in writing by the Chief Building Official to perform work regulated by this By-law and, in the case of an occupancy permit, to occupy any building or part thereof.

Persons with disabilities means a person who has a loss, or a reduction, of functional ability and activity and includes a person in a wheelchair and a person with a sensory disability.

Pile means a slender deep foundation unit made of materials such as wood, steel or concrete or a combination thereof, that is either premanufactured and placed by driving, jacking, jetting or screwing, or cast-in-place in a hole formed by driving, excavating or boring. (Cast-in-place bored piles are often referred to as caissons in Canada.)

Plenum means a chamber forming part of an air duct system.

Plumbing contractor means a person licensed as a contractor pursuant to the License By-law and who is either a plumber or a person who employs a plumber on a full time basis.

Plumbing fixtures means installed receptacles, devices or appliances, including floor drains and roof drains and swimming pools, which are supplied with water or which receive liquid or liquid-borne wastes and discharge such wastes into the drainage system to which they may be directly or indirectly connected, except that industrial or commercial tanks, vats and similar processing equipment are not plumbing fixtures, but may be connected to or discharge into traps or plumbing fixtures which are in compliance with or otherwise provided for in this By-law.

Plumbing Inspector means any person appointed as such by the Chief Building Official.

Plumbing system means a drainage system, a venting system and a water system or parts thereof.

Post-disaster building means a building that is essential to the provision of services in the event of a disaster, and includes

• hospitals, emergency treatment facilities and blood banks,
• telephone exchanges,
• power generating stations and electrical substations,
• control centres for air, land and marine transportation,
• public water treatment and storage facilities, and pumping stations,
• sewage treatment facilities,
• buildings having critical national defence functions, and
• buildings of the following types, except buildings exempted from this designation by the authority having jurisdiction:
  • emergency response facilities,
  • fire, rescue and police stations and housing for vehicles, aircraft or boats used for such purposes, and
  • communications facilities, including radio and television stations.

(See Appendix A.)

Pre-rinse spray valve means a handheld device for use with commercial dishwashing and ware washing equipment that sprays water on dishes, flatware, and other food service items for the purpose of removing food residue before cleaning and sanitizing the items.

Private sewage disposal system means a privately owned plant for the treatment and disposal of sewage (such as a septic tank with an absorption field).

Private use (as applying to the classification of plumbing fixtures) means fixtures in residences and apartments, in private bathrooms of hotels, and in similar installations in other buildings for one family or an individual.

Process plant means an industrial occupancy where materials, including flammable liquids, combustible liquids, or gases, are produced or used in a process. (See Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of the NFC.)

Project means any construction, alteration or demolition operation.

Protected floor space means that part of a floor area protected from the effects of fire and used as part of a means of egress from an interconnected floor space.

Public bike share means a service that provides the general public with an opportunity to rent bicycles through an automated system, on a short term basis for use within the City as part of a network comprised of no fewer than 50 public bike share stations located on separate sites.

Public bike share station means a bicycle sharing facility where bicycles are stored and from which the general public may rent and return bicycles and other objects or equipment necessary for or appurtenant to the operation of a public bike share.

Public corridor means a corridor that provides access to exit from more than one suite. (See Appendix A.)

Public sewer connection means that part of the public sewer which connects or is intended to connect a building sewer with any public sewer.

Public use (as applying to the classification of plumbing fixtures) means fixtures in general washrooms of schools, gymnasiums, hotels, bars, public comfort stations and other installations where fixtures are installed so that their use is unrestricted.

Public way means a sidewalk, street, highway, square or other open space to which the public has access, as of right or by invitation, expressed or implied.

Pump-out facility means a device or method for the removal of sewage from a holding tank connected to a marine toilet or from a self-contained marine toilet.

Registered professional means

• a person who is registered or licensed to practise as an architect under the Architects Act, or
• a person who is registered or licensed to practise as a professional engineer under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act.

Registered professional of record means a registered professional retained to undertake design work and field reviews in accordance with Subsection 2.2.7. of Division C.

Re-occupancy permit means permission or authorization in writing by the Chief Building Official to re-occupy any building or part thereof in respect of which the Chief Building Official has issued an order to cease occupancy because of an unsafe condition.

Repair garage means a building or part thereof where facilities are provided for the repair or servicing of motor vehicles.

Residential occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof by persons for whom sleeping accommodation is provided but who are not harboured for the purpose of receiving care or treatment and are not involuntarily detained.

Return duct means a duct for conveying air from a space being heated, ventilated or air-conditioned back to the heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance.

Rim joist means the outermost member in floor framing, other than blocking, be it parallel, perpendicular or on an angle to the floor joists. (See Appendix A.)

Rock means that portion of the earth's crust that is consolidated, coherent and relatively hard and is a naturally formed, solidly bonded, mass of mineral matter that cannot readily be broken by hand.

Row housing means a building of residential occupancy where no dwelling unit is located above another dwelling unit and there is no common interior or exterior means of egress.

Sanitary drainage system means a drainage system that conducts sewage.

Secondary suite means that area of a building that is intended to be a dwelling unit that is smaller than the principal residence in the same building.

Self-service vehicle wash means a commercial vehicle wash where a customer washes their own vehicle.

Sensory disability includes visual and hearing impairments.

Separate system area means an area in which the City Engineer has required the separate disposal of storm water and sewage.

Service room means a room provided in a building to contain equipment associated with building services. (See Appendix A.)

Service space means space provided in a building to facilitate or conceal the installation of building service facilities such as chutes, ducts, pipes, shafts or wires.

Service water heater means a device for heating water for plumbing services.

Sewage means any liquid waste other than clear-water waste or storm water.

Sewage sump means an approved airtight tank or pit which receives sewage or liquid waste and which is located below the normal grade of the gravity system and must be emptied by mechanical means.

Sewer means an underground drain or conduit to remove waste water and organic refuse.

Shallow foundation means a foundation unit that derives its support from soil or rock located close to the lowest part of the building that it supports.

Shower head means any fitting that transmits water for the purposes of showering and includes rain heads, rain tiles, rain systems, waterfalls, body sprays and jets. A hand-held shower shall be considered a shower head.

Single room accommodation means a room designated as accommodation pursuant to the Single Room Accommodation By-law.

Small suite means a suite classified as a Group A Division 2, Group D, Group E, Group F Division 2 (wholesale showroom) or Group F, Division 3 occupancy where the occupant load for the entire suite does not exceed 60 persons.

Smoke alarm means a combined smoke detector and audible alarm device designed to sound an alarm within the room or suite in which it is located upon the detection of smoke within that room or suite.

Smoke detector means a fire detector designed to operate when the concentration of airborne combustion products exceeds a predetermined level.

Soil means that portion of the earth's crust that is fragmentary, or such that some individual particles of a dried sample may be readily separated by agitation in water; it includes boulders, cobbles, gravel, sand, silt, clay and organic matter.

Space heater means a space-heating appliance for heating the room or space within which it is located, without the use of ducts.

Space-heating appliance means an appliance intended for the supplying of heat to a room or space directly, such as a space heater, fireplace or unit heater, or to rooms or spaces of a building through a heating system such as a central furnace or boiler.

Sprinkler contractor means a person licensed as a contractor pursuant to the License By-law and who is either a sprinkler system installer or a person who employs a sprinkler system installer on a full-time basis.

Sprinkler system means an automatic fire extinguishing system designed to the National Fire Protection Association 13, 13D or 13R standard and all applicable associated sprinkler standards, and which consists of a system of devices and equipment designed to automatically detect a fire and discharge water or another approved fire extinguishing agent in the area of or onto a fire.

Sprinkler system installer means a person who has successfully completed an accredited program as a Sprinkler System Installer under the Industry Training Authority Act and Industry Training Regulation of British Columbia.

Sprinklered (as applying to a building or part thereof) means that the building or part thereof is equipped with a system of automatic sprinklers.

Stage means a space that is designed primarily for theatrical performances with provision for quick change scenery and overhead lighting, including environmental control for a wide range of lighting and sound effects and that is traditionally, but not necessarily, separated from the audience by a proscenium wall and curtain opening.

Storage garage means a building or part thereof intended primarily for the storage or parking of motor vehicles and containing no provision for the repair or servicing of such vehicles. (See Appendix A.)

Storey means that portion of a building that is situated between the top of any floor and the top of the floor next above it, and if there is no floor above it, that portion between the top of such floor and the ceiling above it.

Storm water means water that is discharged from a surface as a result of rainfall or snowfall.

Stove means an appliance intended for cooking and space heating.

Street means a public road, highway, bridge, viaduct, lane, and sidewalk, and any other way normally open to the use of the public, but does not include a private right-of-way on private property and, for the purposes only of Part 3 and Part 9 of this By-law, a street which is less than 9 m in width or a lane or sidewalk.

Subsoil drainage pipe means a pipe that is installed underground to intercept and convey subsurface water.

Subsurface investigation means the appraisal of the general subsurface conditions at a building site by analysis of information gained by such methods as geological surveys, in situ testing, sampling, visual inspection, laboratory testing of samples of the subsurface materials and groundwater observations and measurements.

Suite means a single room or series of rooms of complementary use, operated under a single tenancy, and includes dwelling units, individual guest rooms in motels, hotels, boarding houses, rooming houses and dormitories as well as individual stores and individual or complementary rooms for business and personal services occupancies. (See Appendix A.)

Sump means a receptacle installed between the storm or combined sewer and the building storm system to intercept the flow of deleterious matter into the building or public sewer and to prevent the outflow of sewer gas.

Supervisory staff means those occupants of a building who have some delegated responsibility for the fire safety of other occupants under the fire safety plan.

Supply duct means a duct for conveying air from a heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance to a space to be heated, ventilated or air-conditioned.

Temporary special event means a presentation of an artistic or cultural nature, including but not limited to visual, performing, media, literary, craft or interdisciplinary arts, for a maximum of 250 people, with or without liquor service, which occurs not more than two days per month in a building not approved for assembly occupancy.

Theatre means a place of public assembly intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts or the screening and viewing of motion pictures, and consisting of an auditorium with permanently fixed seats intended solely for a viewing audience.

Trade waste system means a system of drainage pipes from floor drains and hub drains located in food display areas that are intercepted by a trade waste sump and backwater valve before entering the sanitary building drain.

Trades safety coordinator means an agent, employee or officer of a company supplying, installing or using materials at a construction site who has been trained to understand and apply safe construction, installation or demolition techniques, as applicable, respecting those materials and their relationship to the worksite, neighbouring property, public utilities and the general public.

Training school means a School-Arts or Self-Improvement, School – Business, or School - Vocational or Trade, as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Trap means a fitting or device that is designed to hold a liquid seal that will prevent the passage of gas but will not materially affect the flow of a liquid.

Treatment means the provision of medical or other health-related intervention to persons, where the administration or lack of administration of these interventions may render them incapable of evacuating to a safe location without the assistance of another person. (See Appendix A.)

Treatment occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the provision of treatment, and where overnight accommodation is available to facilitate the treatment. (See Appendix A.)

Two-family dwelling means

1. as applying to plumbing, a building containing only 2 self-contained dwelling units each served with a separate water connection, and
2. in all other cases, a building containing only 2 self-contained dwelling units.

Two-family dwelling with secondary suites means a building containing two self-contained dwelling units where each self-contained dwelling unit contains one secondary suite.

Unit heater means a suspended space heater with an integral air-circulating fan.

Unprotected opening (as applying to exposing building face) means a door, doorway, window or opening other than one equipped with a closure having the required fire-protection rating, or any part of a wall forming part of the exposing building face that has a fire-resistance rating less than that required for the exposing building face.

Unsafe condition means any condition that could cause undue hazard or risk to life, limb or health of any person authorized, expected, or anticipated to be on or about premises or a building or construction.

Unstable liquid means a liquid, including flammable liquids and combustible liquids, that is chemically reactive to the extent that it will vigorously react or decompose at or near normal temperature and pressure conditions or that is chemically unstable when subjected to impact.

Vapour barrier means the elements installed to control the diffusion of water vapour.

Vent connector (as applying to heating or cooling systems) means the part of a venting system that conducts the flue gases or vent gases from the flue collar of a gas appliance to the chimney or gas vent, and may include a draft control device.

Vertical service space means a shaft oriented essentially vertically that is provided in a building to facilitate the installation of building services including mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations and facilities such as elevators, refuse chutes and linen chutes.

Walkway means a covered or roofed pedestrian thoroughfare used to connect 2 or more buildings.

Water craft means any boat, hull, barge, or houseboat which is afloat, whether self-propelled or not, and includes pleasure and commercial craft.

Acceptable means acceptable to the Chief Building Official.

Acceptable equivalency means:

1. that the person proposing to use a plumbing fixture that does not conform with the specifications in this By-law must, at their expense, ensure that
   1. an independent qualified third party tests the plumbing fixture and documents that the plumbing fixture meets or exceeds the specifications of this By-law,
   2. the test procedures and documented results are reviewed and verified by an independent qualified registered professional,
   3. copies of all test procedures, documented results and verification reports are provided to the Chief Building Official, and
2. the test procedures, documented results and verification are acceptable.

Accepted means accepted by the Chief Building Official.

Access or accessible means that a person with disabilities is, without assistance, able to approach, enter, pass to and from, and make use of an area and its facilities, or both, as required by this By-law.

Access to exit means that part of a means of egress within a floor area that provides access to an exit serving the floor area.

Adaptable dwelling unit means a dwelling unit designed and constructed to facilitate future modification to provide access for persons with disabilities.

Addition means an alteration to any building which will increase the total aggregate floor area or the building height (in storeys).

Adfreezing means the adhesion of soil to a foundation unit resulting from the freezing of soil water. (Also referred to as “frost grip.”)

Air barrier system means the assembly installed to provide a continuous barrier to the movement of air.

Air space parcel has the meaning assigned to it by the Land Title Act of British Columbia.

Air-supported structure means a structure consisting of a pliable membrane which achieves and maintains its shape and support by internal air pressure.

Alarm signal means an audible signal transmitted throughout a zone or zones or throughout a building to advise occupants that a fire emergency exists.

Alert signal means an audible signal to advise designated persons of a fire emergency.

Alteration means a change or extension to any matter or thing or to any occupancy regulated by this By-law.

Ancillary Residential Building meaning a building entirely of residential occupancy, constructed on the same parcel and smaller than the primary residential building and containing not more than one dwelling unit and its subsidiary uses, such as a laneway house.

Appliance means a device to convert fuel into energy and includes all components, controls, wiring and piping required to be part of the device by the applicable standard referred to in this By-law.

Apprentice means a regularly indentured apprentice under the provisions of the Industry Training Authority Act of British Columbia.

Approved (as used in Book II) means accepted.

Area of refuge means a space that facilitates a safe delay in egress, is sufficiently protected from fire conditions developing in the floor area, and provides direct access to an exit or firefighters’ elevator.

Artesian groundwater means a confined body of water under pressure in the ground.

Artist Live/Work Studio means an Artist Studio and a Residential Unit associated with and forming an integral part of an Artist Studio, as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class A means Artist studio-Class A as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class B means Artist studio-Class B as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class A and Artist studio — Class B have the meaning assigned to them by the Zoning and Development By-law.

Arts and culture indoor event means an event of an artistic or cultural nature, including but not limited to visual, performing, media, literary, craft or interdisciplinary arts, for a maximum of 250 persons, with or without liquor service, which occurs no more than three days per month in a building or portion of a building not approved for assembly occupancy.

Assembly occupancy means the occupancy or the use of a building, or part thereof, by a gathering of persons for civic, political, travel, religious, social, educational, recreational or like purposes, or for the consumption of food or drink.

Attic or roof space means the space between the roof and the ceiling of the top storey or between a dwarf wall and a sloping roof.

Authority having jurisdiction means the governmental body responsible for the enforcement of any part of this By-law or the official or agency designated by that body to exercise such a function. Notwithstanding this definition, the Chief Inspector of Mines has the sole responsibility for administration and enforcement in respect to all buildings, structures and site services used at a mine, as defined in the Mines Act.

Basement means a storey or storeys of a building located below the first storey.

Bathroom group means one lavatory basin, one water closet and one bathtub or maximum 2 head shower drain.

Bearing surface means the contact surface between a foundation unit and the soil or rock upon which it bears.

Boiler means an appliance intended to supply hot water or steam for space heating, processing or power purposes.

Braced wall band means an imaginary continuous straight band extending vertically and horizontally through the building or part of the building, within which braced wall panels are constructed.

Braced wall panel means a portion of a wood-frame wall where bracing, sheathing, cladding or interior finish is designed and installed to provide the required resistance to lateral loads due to wind or earthquake.

Breeching means a flue pipe or chamber for receiving flue gases from one or more flue connections and for discharging these gases through a single flue connection.

Building means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy, including any float home or marina and any retaining structures greater than 1.2 m in height.

Building area means the greatest horizontal area of a building above grade within the outside surface of exterior walls or within the outside surface of exterior walls and the centre line of firewalls.

Building energy use means non site-renewable energy used for space heating, cooking and/or operation of buildings intended for human occupancy.

Building Envelope Professional means a member of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia or the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.

Building height (in storeys) means the number of storeys contained between the roof and the floor of the first storey.

Business and personal services occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the transaction of business or the rendering or receiving of professional or personal services.

Caisson (see Pile).

Catch basin means a receptacle installed to intercept the flow of deleterious matter into the building sewer or public sewer and to prevent the outflow of sewer gas, but does not include a sump.

Care means the provision of services other than treatment by or through care facility management to residents who require these services because of cognitive, physical or behavioural limitations.

Care occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof where care is provided to residents. (See Appendix A.)

Cavity wall means a construction of masonry units laid with a cavity between the wythes. The wythes are tied together with metal ties or bonding units, and are relied on to act together in resisting lateral loads.

Certified Professional means a Certified Professional as defined in the Certification of Professionals By-law.

Chief Building Official means the City Building Inspector, and any person authorized to act on behalf of the City Building Inspector.

Child Care Facility means a care facility within the meaning of the Child Care Licensing Regulation of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.

Children means persons under the age of 13 years.

Chimney means a primarily vertical shaft enclosing at least one flue for conducting flue gases to the outdoors.

Chimney liner means a conduit containing a chimney flue used as a lining of a masonry or concrete chimney.

City means the City of Vancouver.

City Building Inspector means the person appointed as such by City Council pursuant to the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.

City Engineer means the person appointed as such by City Council pursuant to the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.

Clear-water waste means waste water with impurity levels that will not be harmful to health and may include cooling water and condensate drainage from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and cooled condensate from steam heating systems, but does not include storm water. (See Book II, Division A, Appendix A.)

Closure means a device or assembly for closing an opening through a fire separation or an exterior wall, such as a door, a shutter, wired glass or glass block, and includes all components such as hardware, closing devices, frames and anchors.

Combustible means that a material fails to meet the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Combustible construction means that type of construction that does not meet the requirements for noncombustible construction.

Combustible dusts means dusts and particles that are ignitable and liable to produce an explosion.

Combustible fibres means finely divided, combustible vegetable or animal fibres and thin sheets or flakes of such materials which, in a loose, unbaled condition, present a flash fire hazard, including cotton, wool, hemp, sisal, jute, kapok, paper and cloth.

Combustible liquid means a liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8°C and below 93.3°C.

Community Care Facility means Community Care Facility as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Conditioned space means any space within a building the temperature of which is controlled to limit variation in response to the exterior ambient temperature by the provision, either directly or indirectly, of heating or cooling over substantial portions of the year.

Construction means, with respect to a building: erection, repair, alteration, enlargement, addition, demolition, deconstruction, removal and excavation.

Construction Safety Officer means a person who has been trained specifically to understand and apply safe construction practice as it relates to the worksite and as it affects the public, neighbouring properties and utilities, and who has been retained by the owner, or the owner's principal contractor or project manager, to coordinate all sub trade supervisors relating to construction safety at the project site.

Construction Safety Plan means a plan containing construction procedures and fire safety measures designed to protect workers on a project, neighbouring private property, public property, and members of the general public.

Constructor means a person who contracts with an owner or their authorized agent to undertake a project, and includes an owner who contracts with more than one person for the work on a project or undertakes the work on a project or any part thereof.

Contained use area means a supervised area containing one or more rooms in which occupant movement is restricted to a single room by security measures not under the control of the occupant.

Container means a metal transportable structure designed for the storage and transport of goods, the typical dimensions of which are 2.44 m in width, 2.59 m in height, and 6.1 m in length.

Contractor means a person who contracts with an owner or an authorized agent of an owner to undertake a project, and includes an owner who contracts with more than one person for the work on a project or undertakes the work on a project or any part thereof.

Conveyor vehicle wash means a system for washing vehicles where the vehicle moves through a tunnel during the wash and the driver of the vehicle can remain in, or wait outside of, the vehicle.

Cooktop means a cooking surface having one or more burners or heating elements.

Coordinating registered professional means a registered professional retained under Clause 2.2.7.2.(1)(a) to coordinate all design work and field reviews of the registered professionals who are required for a project.

Dangerous goods means those products or substances that are regulated by the “Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.” (See Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of the Vancouver Fire By-law.)

Dead load means the weight of all permanent structural and non-structural components of a building.

Deconstruction means demolition by systematic disassembly of a building resulting in the reuse, recycling or recovery of not less than 75% of all building materials, excluding materials which are hazardous or banned from landfill.

Deep foundation means a foundation unit that provides support for a building by transferring loads either by end-bearing to soil or rock at considerable depth below the building, or by adhesion or friction, or both, in the soil or rock in which it is placed. Piles are the most common type of deep foundation.

Demolition means the action or process of demolishing a building, and includes deconstruction.

Designated flood means a flood which may occur in any given year, of such magnitude as to equal a flood having a 200 year return period.

Designated flood plain means those lands in the City which are hereby designated, for the purposes of section 306(cc) of the Vancouver Charter, as flood plains susceptible to flooding and subject to flood construction level requirements, and those lands so designated include:

1. lands located in the proximity to the natural boundary of the Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and the Fraser River, which are located within the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the maps attached to this By-law as Diagrams A1 and A2. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-A for Diagram A1: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains and Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-B for Diagram A2: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plain, wave effect zone.); and
2. lands located in the areas shown crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law as Diagram B. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-C for Diagram B: Still Creek flood plain and flood construction levels.)

Designated Structural Engineer (Struct. Eng.) means a person who is registered or licensed to practice as a professional engineer under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act of British Columbia, and a person who is designated by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia as a Designated Structural Engineer.

Designer means the person responsible for the design.

Detention occupancy means the occupancy by persons who are restrained from or are incapable of evacuating to a safe location without the assistance of another person because of security measures not under their control.

Distillery means a process plant where distilled beverage alcohols are produced, concentrated or otherwise processed, and includes facilities on the same site where the concentrated products may be blended, mixed, stored or packaged.

Distilled beverage alcohol means a beverage that is produced by fermentation and contains more than 20% by volume of water-miscible alcohol.

Direct-vented (as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its venting system in which all the combustion air is supplied directly from the outdoors and the products of combustion are vented directly to the outdoors via independent, totally enclosed passageways connected directly to the appliance.

Drainage system means an assembly of pipes, fittings, fixtures, traps and appurtenances that is used to convey sewage, clear-water waste or storm water to a public sewer or a private sewage disposal system, but does not include subsoil drainage pipes. (See Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-I in Book II, Division A, Appendix A.)

Dwelling unit means a suite operated as a housekeeping unit, used or intended to be used by one or more persons and usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities.

Excavation means the space created by the removal of soil, rock or fill for the purposes of construction.

Exhaust duct means a duct through which air is conveyed from a room or space to the outdoors.

Existing building means a building lawfully constructed and completed under a permit before submission of the current permit application.

Exit means that part of a means of egress, including doorways, that leads from the floor area it serves to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare. (See Appendix A.)

Exit level means the level of an exit stairway at which an exterior exit door or exit passageway leads to the exterior.

Exit storey (as applying to Subsection 3.2.6. of Division B) means a storey having an exterior exit door.

Exposing building face means that part of the exterior wall of a building that faces one direction and is located between ground level and the ceiling of its top storey or, where a building is divided into fire compartments, the exterior wall of a fire compartment that faces one direction.

Factory-built chimney means a chimney consisting entirely of factory-made parts, each designed to be assembled with the other without requiring fabrication on site.

Farm building means a building or part thereof that does not contain a residential occupancy and that is associated with and located on land devoted to the practice of farming, and used essentially for the housing of equipment or livestock, or the production, storage or processing of agricultural and horticultural produce or feeds. (See Appendix A.)

Field review means a review of the work

• at a building site, and
• where applicable, at locations where building components are fabricated for use at the building site

that a registered professional in his or her professional discretion considers necessary to ascertain whether the work substantially complies in all material respects with the plans and supporting documents prepared by a registered professional.

Fill means soil, rock, rubble, industrial waste such as slag, organic material or a combination of these that is transported and placed on the natural surface of soil or rock or organic terrain. It may or may not be compacted.

Fire block means a material, component or system that restricts the spread of fire within a concealed space or from a concealed space to an adjacent space.

Fire compartment means an enclosed space in a building that is separated from all other parts of the building by enclosing construction providing a fire separation having a required fire-resistance rating.

Fire damper means a closure consisting of a damper that is installed in an air distribution system or a wall or floor assembly and that is normally held open but designed to close automatically in the event of a fire in order to maintain the integrity of the fire separation.

Fire detector means a device that detects a fire condition and automatically initiates an electrical signal to actuate an alert signal or alarm signal and includes heat detectors and smoke detectors.

Fire load (as applying to an occupancy) means the combustible contents of a room or floor area expressed in terms of the average weight of combustible materials per unit area, from which the potential heat liberation may be calculated based on the calorific value of the materials, and includes the furnishings, finished floor, wall and ceiling finishes, trim and temporary and movable partitions.

Fire-protection rating means the time in minutes or hours that a closure will withstand the passage of flame when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as otherwise prescribed in this By-law.

Fire-resistance rating means the time in minutes or hours that a material or assembly of materials will withstand the passage of flame and the transmission of heat when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as determined by extension or interpretation of information derived therefrom as prescribed in this By-law. (See Appendix Note D-1.2.1.(2) of Division B.)

Fire-retardant-treated wood means wood or a wood product that has had its surface-burning characteristics, such as flame spread, rate of fuel contribution and density of smoke developed, reduced by impregnation with fire-retardant chemicals.

Fire separation means a construction assembly that acts as a barrier against the spread of fire. (See Appendix A.)

Fire stop means a system consisting of a material, component and means of support used to fill gaps between fire separations or between fire separations and other assemblies, or used around items that wholly or partially penetrate a fire separation.

Fire stop flap means a device intended for use in horizontal assemblies required to have a fire-resistance rating and incorporating protective ceiling membranes, which operates to close off a duct opening through the membrane in the event of a fire.

Firewall means a type of fire separation of noncombustible construction that subdivides a building or separates adjoining buildings to resist the spread of fire and that has a fire-resistance rating as prescribed in this By-law and has structural stability to remain intact under fire conditions for the required fire-rated time.

First storey means the uppermost storey having its floor level not more than 2 m above grade.

Fixture means, in relation to plumbing, a receptacle, appliance, apparatus or other device that discharges sewage or clear-water waste, and includes a floor drain.

Flame-spread rating means an index or classification indicating the extent of spread-of-flame on the surface of a material or an assembly of materials as determined in a standard fire test as prescribed in this By-law.

Flammable liquid means a liquid having a flash point below 37.8°C and having a vapour pressure not more than 275.8 kPa (absolute) at 37.8°C as determined by ASTM D 323, “Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method).”

Flash point means the minimum temperature at which a liquid within a container gives off vapour in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.

Float home means any structure incorporating a floatation system, intended for use or occupancy or being used or occupied for residential purposes, containing one dwelling unit only, and not primarily intended for, or useable in, navigation, but does not include any water craft designed or intended for navigation.

Flood construction level means the minimum elevation of the underside of a floor system, or of the top of a concrete slab, of a building which is used or may be used for habitation, business, or for the storage of goods which may be damaged by flood water.

Flood construction level requirements means

1. on the Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains:
   1. for buildings located within the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law, the underside of a floor system or the top of a concrete slab of a buildings used for habitation, business or storage of goods, shall not be lower than 4.6 m Greater Vancouver Regional District datum. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-A for Diagram A1: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains); and
   2. for buildings located in the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law, an additional elevation allowance above 4.6 m may be required for wave run-up, at a level as determined by a Professional Engineer and to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-B for Diagram A2: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plain wave effect zone); and
2. on the Still Creek flood plain:
   1. the underside of a floor system or the top of a concrete slab of any buildings used for habitation, business or storage of goods shall not be lower than the applicable elevation shown on the map attached to this By-law. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-C for Diagram B: Still Creek flood plain and flood construction levels.)

Floor area means the space on any storey of a building between exterior walls and required firewalls, including the space occupied by interior walls and partitions, but not including exits, vertical service spaces, and their enclosing assemblies.

Floor drain means a fixture used to receive water from the floor of a building.

Flue means an enclosed passageway for conveying flue gases.

Flue collar means the portion of a fuel-fired appliance designed for the attachment of the flue pipe or breeching.

Flue pipe means the pipe connecting the flue collar of an appliance to a chimney.

Forced-air furnace means a furnace equipped with a fan that provides the primary means for the circulation of air.

Foundation means a system or arrangement of foundation units through which the loads from a building are transferred to supporting soil or rock.

Foundation unit means one of the structural members of the foundation of a building such as a footing, raft or pile.

Frost action means the phenomenon that occurs when water in soil is subjected to freezing which, because of the water/ice phase change or ice lens growth, results in a total volume increase or the build-up of expansive forces under confined conditions or both, and the subsequent thawing that leads to loss of soil strength and increased compressibility.

Furnace means a space-heating appliance using warm air as the heating medium and usually having provision for the attachment of ducts.

Gas vent means that portion of a venting system designed to convey vent gases to the outdoors from the vent connector of a gas-fired appliance or directly from the appliance when a vent connector is not used.

General Manager, Park Board means the person appointed as such by the Park Board.

General Manager, Real Estate and Facilities Management means the person appointed as such by City Council.

Grade means the lowest of the average levels of finished ground adjoining each exterior wall of a building, except that localized depressions need not be considered in the determination of average levels of finished ground. (See First storey and Appendix A.)

Greenhouse gas has the meaning attributed to it in section 559 of the Vancouver Charter.

Green house gases means any gas that contributes to a gradual warming of the Earth’s climate as a result of increased heat retention.

Green roof means a structure constructed on top of a roof, which is designed to support the growth of vegetation and to capture rainwater.

Green roof assembly means the components of a green roof and includes a waterproof barrier which is impervious to root migration, a filtering layer, roof drainage, soil or other growing medium and plants, installed on top of a roof assembly.

Grooming station means facilities for grooming which are separated from washrooms and which contain a mirror, an electrical outlet and a countertop.

Groundwater means a free standing body of water in the ground.

Groundwater level (groundwater table) means the top surface of a free standing body of water in the ground.

Group Residence means Group Residence as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Guard means a protective barrier around openings in floors or at the open sides of stairs, landings, balconies, mezzanines, galleries, raised walkways or other locations to prevent accidental falls from one level to another. Such a barrier may or may not have openings through it.

Heat detector means a fire detector designed to operate at a predetermined temperature or rate of temperature rise.

Heavy timber construction means that type of combustible construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by placing limitations on the sizes of wood structural members and on the thickness and composition of wood floors and roofs and by the avoidance of concealed spaces under floors and roofs.

Heritage building means a building that is legally protected or officially recognized as a heritage property by the Province of British Columbia or the City, or a building that, in the opinion of the City Building Inspector, has sufficient heritage value or heritage character to justify its conservation. (See Appendix A.).

High-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F, Division 1) means an industrial occupancy containing sufficient quantities of highly combustible and flammable or explosive materials which, because of their inherent characteristics, constitute a special fire hazard.

Horizontal exit means an exit from one building to another by means of a doorway, vestibule, walkway, bridge or balcony.

Horizontal service space means a space such as an attic, duct, ceiling, roof or crawl space oriented essentially in a horizontal plane, concealed and generally inaccessible, through which building service facilities such as pipes, ducts and wiring may pass.

Impeded egress zone means a supervised area in which occupants have free movement but require the release, by security personnel, of security doors at the boundary before they are able to leave the area, but does not include a contained use area.

In-bay vehicle wash means a non-domestic vehicle wash where the driver pulls into a bay, parks the vehicle, and the vehicle remains stationary while either a machine moves over the vehicle to clean it or one or more employees of the facility clean the vehicle, instead of the vehicle moving through a tunnel.

Indirect service water heater means a service water heater that derives its heat from a heating medium such as warm air, steam or hot water.

Industrial flex space means an industrial use which is located in a new building containing Group C major occupancies.

Industrial occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the assembling, fabricating, manufacturing, processing, repairing or storing of goods and materials.

Interconnected floor space means superimposed floor areas or parts of floor areas in which floor assemblies that are required to be fire separations are penetrated by openings that are not provided with closures.

Journeyman plumber means a person, other than an apprentice, who holds a certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of the Industry Training Authority Act of British Columbia authorizing the person to engage in the plumbing trade.

Lane means a public thoroughfare or way not more than 10.1 m in width which affords only a secondary means of access to a site, at the side or rear.

Laneway house means a detached dwelling unit constructed in the rear yard of a parcel on which is situate a one-family dwelling or one-family dwelling with secondary suite.

Leader means a pipe that is installed to carry storm water from a roof to a storm building drain or sewer or other place of disposal.

Licensed Beverage Establishment means an assembly occupancy or part thereof, where people may consume alcohol in a Class 2-restaurant as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law, lounge, recreational centre, community hall, cabaret, pub, neighbourhood public house, marine public house and similar facility.

Limiting distance means the distance from an exposing building face to a property line, the centre line of a street, lane or public thoroughfare, or to an imaginary line between 2 buildings or fire compartments on the same property, measured at right angles to the exposing building face.

Live load means a variable load due to the intended use and occupancy that is to be assumed in the design of the structural members of a building. It includes loads due to cranes and the pressure of liquids in containers.

Liveaboard vessel means any water craft intended primarily for use in navigation and used for residential purposes.

Loadbearing (as applying to a building element) means subjected to or designed to carry loads in addition to its own dead load, excepting a wall element subjected only to wind or earthquake loads in addition to its own dead load.

Lock-off unit means a smaller dwelling unit within a larger principal dwelling unit, which must have separate external access and shared internal access, and which can be locked off from the larger dwelling unit, but does not include a secondary suite.

Low-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F,  Division 3) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is not more than 50 kg/m² or 1 200 MJ/m² of floor area.

Major occupancy means the principal occupancy for which a building or part thereof is used or intended to be used, and shall be deemed to include the subsidiary occupancies that are an integral part of the principal occupancy. The major occupancy classifications used in this By-law are as follows:

Marina means any structure or installation, including marina walkways, which provides moorage space for water craft.

Marina walkway means any surface extending over navigable water used to accommodate pedestrian traffic, and used so that water craft and float homes may lie alongside to receive and discharge cargo and passengers.

Marine toilet means any toilet on or within a water craft.

Masonry or concrete chimney means a chimney of brick, stone, concrete or masonry units constructed on site.

Means of egress means a continuous path of travel provided for the escape of persons from any point in a building or contained open space to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare. Means of egress includes exits and access to exits.

Mechanically vented (as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its combustion venting system in which the products of combustion are entirely exhausted to the outdoors by a mechanical device, such as a fan, blower or aspirator, upstream or downstream from the combustion zone of the appliance, and the portion of the combustion venting system that is downstream of the fan, blower or aspirator is sealed and does not include draft hoods or draft control devices. (See Appendix A.)

Medium-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F,  Division 2) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is more than 50 kg/m² or 1 200 MJ/m² of floor area and not classified as a high-hazard industrial occupancy.

Mercantile occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the displaying or selling of retail goods, wares or merchandise.

Metering fixture means a self-closing plumbing fixture that dispenses a specific volume of water for each actuation cycle.

Mezzanine means an intermediate floor assembly between the floor and ceiling of any room or storey and includes an interior balcony.

Multi-family means a residential occupancy with more than two dwelling units.

Natural boundary means the visible high water mark of any lake, river, stream or other body of water where the presence and action of the water are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark on the soil of the bed of the body of water a character distinct from that of its banks, in vegetation, as well as in the nature of the soil itself.

Noncombustible means that a material meets the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Noncombustible construction means that type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of noncombustible materials for structural members and other building assemblies.

Occupancy means the use or intended use of a building or part thereof for the shelter or support of persons, animals or property.

Occupant load means the number of persons for which a building or part thereof is designed.

One-family dwelling means a building containing only one dwelling unit.

One-family dwelling with secondary suite means a building containing only two dwelling units of which the secondary suite is smaller than the principal residence.

Open-air storey means a storey in which at least 25% of the total area of its perimeter walls is open to the outdoors in a manner that will provide cross-ventilation to the entire storey.

Owner means a registered owner, a holder of an agreement for sale and purchase and, in the case of Crown-owned lands, owner shall mean the occupier.

Partition means an interior wall 1 storey or part-storey in height that is not loadbearing.

Party wall means a wall jointly owned and jointly used by 2 parties under easement agreement or by right in law, and erected at or upon a line separating 2 parcels of land each of which is, or is capable of being, a separate real-estate entity.

Perched groundwater means a free standing body of water in the ground extending to a limited depth.

Permit means permission or authorization in writing by the Chief Building Official to perform work regulated by this By-law and, in the case of an occupancy permit, to occupy any building or part thereof.

Persons with disabilities means a person who has a loss, or a reduction, of functional ability and activity and includes a person in a wheelchair and a person with a sensory disability.

Pile means a slender deep foundation unit made of materials such as wood, steel or concrete or a combination thereof, that is either premanufactured and placed by driving, jacking, jetting or screwing, or cast-in-place in a hole formed by driving, excavating or boring. (Cast-in-place bored piles are often referred to as caissons in Canada.)

Plenum means a chamber forming part of an air duct system.

Plumbing contractor means a person licensed as a contractor pursuant to the License By-law and who is either a plumber or a person who employs a plumber on a full time basis.

Plumbing fixtures means installed receptacles, devices or appliances, including floor drains and roof drains and swimming pools, which are supplied with water or which receive liquid or liquid-borne wastes and discharge such wastes into the drainage system to which they may be directly or indirectly connected, except that industrial or commercial tanks, vats and similar processing equipment are not plumbing fixtures, but may be connected to or discharge into traps or plumbing fixtures which are in compliance with or otherwise provided for in this By-law.

Plumbing Inspector means any person appointed as such by the Chief Building Official.

Plumbing system means a drainage system, a venting system and a water system or parts thereof.

Post-disaster building means a building that is essential to the provision of services in the event of a disaster, and includes

• hospitals, emergency treatment facilities and blood banks,
• telephone exchanges,
• power generating stations and electrical substations,
• control centres for air, land and marine transportation,
• public water treatment and storage facilities, and pumping stations,
• sewage treatment facilities,
• buildings having critical national defence functions, and
• buildings of the following types, except buildings exempted from this designation by the authority having jurisdiction:
  • emergency response facilities,
  • fire, rescue and police stations and housing for vehicles, aircraft or boats used for such purposes, and
  • communications facilities, including radio and television stations.

(See Appendix A.)

Pre-rinse spray valve means a handheld device for use with commercial dishwashing and ware washing equipment that sprays water on dishes, flatware, and other food service items for the purpose of removing food residue before cleaning and sanitizing the items.

Private sewage disposal system means a privately owned plant for the treatment and disposal of sewage (such as a septic tank with an absorption field).

Private use (as applying to the classification of plumbing fixtures) means fixtures in residences and apartments, in private bathrooms of hotels, and in similar installations in other buildings for one family or an individual.

Process plant means an industrial occupancy where materials, including flammable liquids, combustible liquids, or gases, are produced or used in a process. (See Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of the NFC.)

Project means any construction, alteration or demolition operation.

Protected floor space means that part of a floor area protected from the effects of fire and used as part of a means of egress from an interconnected floor space.

Public bike share means a service that provides the general public with an opportunity to rent bicycles through an automated system, on a short term basis for use within the City as part of a network comprised of no fewer than 50 public bike share stations located on separate sites.

Public bike share station means a bicycle sharing facility where bicycles are stored and from which the general public may rent and return bicycles and other objects or equipment necessary for or appurtenant to the operation of a public bike share.

Public corridor means a corridor that provides access to exit from more than one suite. (See Appendix A.)

Public sewer connection means that part of the public sewer which connects or is intended to connect a building sewer with any public sewer.

Public use (as applying to the classification of plumbing fixtures) means fixtures in general washrooms of schools, gymnasiums, hotels, bars, public comfort stations and other installations where fixtures are installed so that their use is unrestricted.

Public way means a sidewalk, street, highway, square or other open space to which the public has access, as of right or by invitation, expressed or implied.

Pump-out facility means a device or method for the removal of sewage from a holding tank connected to a marine toilet or from a self-contained marine toilet.

Registered professional means

• a person who is registered or licensed to practise as an architect under the Architects Act, or
• a person who is registered or licensed to practise as a professional engineer under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act.

Registered professional of record means a registered professional retained to undertake design work and field reviews in accordance with Subsection 2.2.7. of Division C.

Re-occupancy permit means permission or authorization in writing by the Chief Building Official to re-occupy any building or part thereof in respect of which the Chief Building Official has issued an order to cease occupancy because of an unsafe condition.

Repair garage means a building or part thereof where facilities are provided for the repair or servicing of motor vehicles.

Residential occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof by persons for whom sleeping accommodation is provided but who are not harboured for the purpose of receiving care or treatment and are not involuntarily detained.

Return duct means a duct for conveying air from a space being heated, ventilated or air-conditioned back to the heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance.

Rim joist means the outermost member in floor framing, other than blocking, be it parallel, perpendicular or on an angle to the floor joists. (See Appendix A.)

Rock means that portion of the earth's crust that is consolidated, coherent and relatively hard and is a naturally formed, solidly bonded, mass of mineral matter that cannot readily be broken by hand.

Row housing means a building of residential occupancy where no dwelling unit is located above another dwelling unit and there is no common interior or exterior means of egress.

Sanitary drainage system means a drainage system that conducts sewage.

Secondary suite means that area of a building that is intended to be a dwelling unit that is smaller than the principal residence in the same building.

Self-service vehicle wash means a commercial vehicle wash where a customer washes their own vehicle.

Sensory disability includes visual and hearing impairments.

Separate system area means an area in which the City Engineer has required the separate disposal of storm water and sewage.

Service room means a room provided in a building to contain equipment associated with building services. (See Appendix A.)

Service space means space provided in a building to facilitate or conceal the installation of building service facilities such as chutes, ducts, pipes, shafts or wires.

Service water heater means a device for heating water for plumbing services.

Sewage means any liquid waste other than clear-water waste or storm water.

Sewage sump means an approved airtight tank or pit which receives sewage or liquid waste and which is located below the normal grade of the gravity system and must be emptied by mechanical means.

Sewer means an underground drain or conduit to remove waste water and organic refuse.

Shallow foundation means a foundation unit that derives its support from soil or rock located close to the lowest part of the building that it supports.

Shower head means any fitting that transmits water for the purposes of showering and includes rain heads, rain tiles, rain systems, waterfalls, body sprays and jets. A hand-held shower shall be considered a shower head.

Single room accommodation means a room designated as accommodation pursuant to the Single Room Accommodation By-law.

Small suite means a suite classified as a Group A Division 2, Group D, Group E, Group F Division 2 (wholesale showroom) or Group F, Division 3 occupancy where the occupant load for the entire suite does not exceed 60 persons.

Smoke alarm means a combined smoke detector and audible alarm device designed to sound an alarm within the room or suite in which it is located upon the detection of smoke within that room or suite.

Smoke detector means a fire detector designed to operate when the concentration of airborne combustion products exceeds a predetermined level.

Soil means that portion of the earth's crust that is fragmentary, or such that some individual particles of a dried sample may be readily separated by agitation in water; it includes boulders, cobbles, gravel, sand, silt, clay and organic matter.

Space heater means a space-heating appliance for heating the room or space within which it is located, without the use of ducts.

Space-heating appliance means an appliance intended for the supplying of heat to a room or space directly, such as a space heater, fireplace or unit heater, or to rooms or spaces of a building through a heating system such as a central furnace or boiler.

Sprinkler contractor means a person licensed as a contractor pursuant to the License By-law and who is either a sprinkler system installer or a person who employs a sprinkler system installer on a full-time basis.

Sprinkler system means an automatic fire extinguishing system designed to the National Fire Protection Association 13, 13D or 13R standard and all applicable associated sprinkler standards, and which consists of a system of devices and equipment designed to automatically detect a fire and discharge water or another approved fire extinguishing agent in the area of or onto a fire.

Sprinkler system installer means a person who has successfully completed an accredited program as a Sprinkler System Installer under the Industry Training Authority Act and Industry Training Regulation of British Columbia.

Sprinklered (as applying to a building or part thereof) means that the building or part thereof is equipped with a system of automatic sprinklers.

Stage means a space that is designed primarily for theatrical performances with provision for quick change scenery and overhead lighting, including environmental control for a wide range of lighting and sound effects and that is traditionally, but not necessarily, separated from the audience by a proscenium wall and curtain opening.

Storage garage means a building or part thereof intended primarily for the storage or parking of motor vehicles and containing no provision for the repair or servicing of such vehicles. (See Appendix A.)

Storey means that portion of a building that is situated between the top of any floor and the top of the floor next above it, and if there is no floor above it, that portion between the top of such floor and the ceiling above it.

Storm water means water that is discharged from a surface as a result of rainfall or snowfall.

Stove means an appliance intended for cooking and space heating.

Street means a public road, highway, bridge, viaduct, lane, and sidewalk, and any other way normally open to the use of the public, but does not include a private right-of-way on private property and, for the purposes only of Part 3 and Part 9 of this By-law, a street which is less than 9 m in width or a lane or sidewalk.

Subsoil drainage pipe means a pipe that is installed underground to intercept and convey subsurface water.

Subsurface investigation means the appraisal of the general subsurface conditions at a building site by analysis of information gained by such methods as geological surveys, in situ testing, sampling, visual inspection, laboratory testing of samples of the subsurface materials and groundwater observations and measurements.

Suite means a single room or series of rooms of complementary use, operated under a single tenancy, and includes dwelling units, individual guest rooms in motels, hotels, boarding houses, rooming houses and dormitories as well as individual stores and individual or complementary rooms for business and personal services occupancies. (See Appendix A.)

Sump means a receptacle installed between the storm or combined sewer and the building storm system to intercept the flow of deleterious matter into the building or public sewer and to prevent the outflow of sewer gas.

Supervisory staff means those occupants of a building who have some delegated responsibility for the fire safety of other occupants under the fire safety plan.

Supply duct means a duct for conveying air from a heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance to a space to be heated, ventilated or air-conditioned.

Temporary special event means a presentation of an artistic or cultural nature, including but not limited to visual, performing, media, literary, craft or interdisciplinary arts, for a maximum of 250 people, with or without liquor service, which occurs not more than two days per month in a building not approved for assembly occupancy.

Theatre means a place of public assembly intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts or the screening and viewing of motion pictures, and consisting of an auditorium with permanently fixed seats intended solely for a viewing audience.

Trade waste system means a system of drainage pipes from floor drains and hub drains located in food display areas that are intercepted by a trade waste sump and backwater valve before entering the sanitary building drain.

Trades safety coordinator means an agent, employee or officer of a company supplying, installing or using materials at a construction site who has been trained to understand and apply safe construction, installation or demolition techniques, as applicable, respecting those materials and their relationship to the worksite, neighbouring property, public utilities and the general public.

Training school means a School-Arts or Self-Improvement, School – Business, or School - Vocational or Trade, as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Trap means a fitting or device that is designed to hold a liquid seal that will prevent the passage of gas but will not materially affect the flow of a liquid.

Treatment means the provision of medical or other health-related intervention to persons, where the administration or lack of administration of these interventions may render them incapable of evacuating to a safe location without the assistance of another person. (See Appendix A.)

Treatment occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the provision of treatment, and where overnight accommodation is available to facilitate the treatment. (See Appendix A.)

Two-family dwelling means

1. as applying to plumbing, a building containing only 2 self-contained dwelling units each served with a separate water connection, and
2. in all other cases, a building containing only 2 self-contained dwelling units.

Two-family dwelling with secondary suites means a building containing two self-contained dwelling units where each self-contained dwelling unit contains one secondary suite.

Unit heater means a suspended space heater with an integral air-circulating fan.

Unprotected opening (as applying to exposing building face) means a door, doorway, window or opening other than one equipped with a closure having the required fire-protection rating, or any part of a wall forming part of the exposing building face that has a fire-resistance rating less than that required for the exposing building face.

Unsafe condition means any condition that could cause undue hazard or risk to life, limb or health of any person authorized, expected, or anticipated to be on or about premises or a building or construction.

Unstable liquid means a liquid, including flammable liquids and combustible liquids, that is chemically reactive to the extent that it will vigorously react or decompose at or near normal temperature and pressure conditions or that is chemically unstable when subjected to impact.

Vapour barrier means the elements installed to control the diffusion of water vapour.

Vent connector (as applying to heating or cooling systems) means the part of a venting system that conducts the flue gases or vent gases from the flue collar of a gas appliance to the chimney or gas vent, and may include a draft control device.

Vertical service space means a shaft oriented essentially vertically that is provided in a building to facilitate the installation of building services including mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations and facilities such as elevators, refuse chutes and linen chutes.

Walkway means a covered or roofed pedestrian thoroughfare used to connect 2 or more buildings.

Water craft means any boat, hull, barge, or houseboat which is afloat, whether self-propelled or not, and includes pleasure and commercial craft.

Acceptable means acceptable to the Chief Building Official.

Acceptable equivalency means:

1. that the person proposing to use a plumbing fixture that does not conform with the specifications in this By-law must, at their expense, ensure that
   1. an independent qualified third party tests the plumbing fixture and documents that the plumbing fixture meets or exceeds the specifications of this By-law,
   2. the test procedures and documented results are reviewed and verified by an independent qualified registered professional,
   3. copies of all test procedures, documented results and verification reports are provided to the Chief Building Official, and
2. the test procedures, documented results and verification are acceptable.

Accepted means accepted by the Chief Building Official.

Access or accessible means that a person with disabilities is, without assistance, able to approach, enter, pass to and from, and make use of an area and its facilities, or both, as required by this By-law.

Access to exit means that part of a means of egress within a floor area that provides access to an exit serving the floor area.

Adaptable dwelling unit means a dwelling unit designed and constructed to facilitate future modification to provide access for persons with disabilities.

Addition means an alteration to any building which will increase the total aggregate floor area or the building height (in storeys).

Adfreezing means the adhesion of soil to a foundation unit resulting from the freezing of soil water. (Also referred to as “frost grip.”)

Air barrier system means the assembly installed to provide a continuous barrier to the movement of air.

Air space parcel has the meaning assigned to it by the Land Title Act of British Columbia.

Air-supported structure means a structure consisting of a pliable membrane which achieves and maintains its shape and support by internal air pressure.

Alarm signal means an audible signal transmitted throughout a zone or zones or throughout a building to advise occupants that a fire emergency exists.

Alert signal means an audible signal to advise designated persons of a fire emergency.

Alteration means a change or extension to any matter or thing or to any occupancy regulated by this By-law.

Ancillary Residential Building meaning a building entirely of residential occupancy, constructed on the same parcel and smaller than the primary residential building and containing not more than one dwelling unit and its subsidiary uses, such as a laneway house.

Appliance means a device to convert fuel into energy and includes all components, controls, wiring and piping required to be part of the device by the applicable standard referred to in this By-law.

Apprentice means a regularly indentured apprentice under the provisions of the Industry Training Authority Act of British Columbia.

Approved (as used in Book II) means accepted.

Area of refuge means a space that facilitates a safe delay in egress, is sufficiently protected from fire conditions developing in the floor area, and provides direct access to an exit or firefighters’firefighters' elevator.

Artesian groundwater means a confined body of water under pressure in the ground.

Artist Live/Work Studio means an Artist Studio and a Residential Unit associated with and forming an integral part of an Artist Studio, as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class A means Artist studio-Class A as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class B means Artist studio-Class B as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class A and Artist studio — Class B have the meaning assigned to them by the Zoning and Development By-law.

Arts and culture indoor event means an event of an artistic or cultural nature, including but not limited to visual, performing, media, literary, craft or interdisciplinary arts, for a maximum of 250 persons, with or without liquor service, which occurs no more than three days per month in a building or portion of a building not approved for assembly occupancy.

Assembly occupancy means the occupancy or the use of a building, or part thereof, by a gathering of persons for civic, political, travel, religious, social, educational, recreational or like purposes, or for the consumption of food or drink.

Attic or roof space means the space between the roof and the ceiling of the top storey or between a dwarf wall and a sloping roof.

Authority having jurisdiction means the governmental body responsible for the enforcement of any part of this By-law or the official or agency designated by that body to exercise such a function. Notwithstanding this definition, the Chief Inspector of Mines has the sole responsibility for administration and enforcement in respect to all buildings, structures and site services used at a mine, as defined in the Mines Act.

Basement means a storey or storeys of a building located below the first storey.

Bathroom group means one lavatory basin, one water closet and one bathtub or maximum 2 head shower drain.

Bearing surface means the contact surface between a foundation unit and the soil or rock upon which it bears.

Boiler means an appliance intended to supply hot water or steam for space heating, processing or power purposes.

Braced wall band means an imaginary continuous straight band extending vertically and horizontally through the building or part of the building, within which braced wall panels are constructed.

Braced wall panel means a portion of a wood-frame wall where bracing, sheathing, cladding or interior finish is designed and installed to provide the required resistance to lateral loads due to wind or earthquake.

Breeching means a flue pipe or chamber for receiving flue gases from one or more flue connections and for discharging these gases through a single flue connection.

Building means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy, including any float home or marina and any retaining structures greater than 1.2 m in height.

Building area means the greatest horizontal area of a building above grade within the outside surface of exterior walls or within the outside surface of exterior walls and the centre line of firewalls.

Building energy use means non site-renewable energy used for space heating, cooking and/or operation of buildings intended for human occupancy.

Building Envelope Professional means a member of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia or the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.

Building height (in storeys) means the number of storeys contained between the roof and the floor of the first storey.

Business and personal services occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the transaction of business or the rendering or receiving of professional or personal services.

Caisson (see Pile).

Catch basin means a receptacle installed to intercept the flow of deleterious matter into the building sewer or public sewer and to prevent the outflow of sewer gas, but does not include a sump.

Care means the provision of services other than treatment by or through care facility management to residents who require these services because of cognitive, physical or behavioural limitations.

Care occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof where care is provided to residents. (See Appendix A.)

Cavity wall means a construction of masonry units laid with a cavity between the wythes. The wythes are tied together with metal ties or bonding units, and are relied on to act together in resisting lateral loads.

Certified Professional means a Certified Professional as defined in the Certification of Professionals By-law.

Chief Building Official means the City Building Inspector, and any person authorized to act on behalf of the City Building Inspector.

Child Care Facility means a care facility within the meaning of the Child Care Licensing Regulation of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.

Children means persons under the age of 13 years.

Chimney means a primarily vertical shaft enclosing at least one flue for conducting flue gases to the outdoors.

Chimney liner means a conduit containing a chimney flue used as a lining of a masonry or concrete chimney.

City means the City of Vancouver.

City Building Inspector means the person appointed as such by City Council pursuant to the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.

City Engineer means the person appointed as such by City Council pursuant to the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.

Clear-water waste means waste water with impurity levels that will not be harmful to health and may include cooling water and condensate drainage from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and cooled condensate from steam heating systems, but does not include storm water. (See Book II, Division A, Appendix A.)

Closure means a device or assembly for closing an opening through a fire separation or an exterior wall, such as a door, a shutter, wired glass or glass block, and includes all components such as hardware, closing devices, frames and anchors.

Combustible means that a material fails to meet the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Combustible construction means that type of construction that does not meet the requirements for noncombustible construction.

Combustible dusts means dusts and particles that are ignitable and liable to produce an explosion.

Combustible fibres means finely divided, combustible vegetable or animal fibres and thin sheets or flakes of such materials which, in a loose, unbaled condition, present a flash fire hazard, including cotton, wool, hemp, sisal, jute, kapok, paper and cloth.

Combustible liquid means a liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8°C and below 93.3°C.

Community Care Facility means Community Care Facility as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Conditioned space means any space within a building the temperature of which is controlled to limit variation in response to the exterior ambient temperature by the provision, either directly or indirectly, of heating or cooling over substantial portions of the year.

Construction means, with respect to a building: erection, repair, alteration, enlargement, addition, demolition, deconstruction, removal and excavation.

Construction Safety Officer means a person who has been trained specifically to understand and apply safe construction practice as it relates to the worksite and as it affects the public, neighbouring properties and utilities, and who has been retained by the owner, or the owner's principal contractor or project manager, to coordinate all sub trade supervisors relating to construction safety at the project site.

Construction Safety Plan means a plan containing construction procedures and fire safety measures designed to protect workers on a project, neighbouring private property, public property, and members of the general public.

Constructor means a person who contracts with an owner or their authorized agent to undertake a project, and includes an owner who contracts with more than one person for the work on a project or undertakes the work on a project or any part thereof.

Contained use area means a supervised area containing one or more rooms in which occupant movement is restricted to a single room by security measures not under the control of the occupant.

Container means a metal transportable structure designed for the storage and transport of goods, the typical dimensions of which are 2.44 m in width, 2.59 m in height, and 6.1 m in length.

Contractor means a person who contracts with an owner or an authorized agent of an owner to undertake a project, and includes an owner who contracts with more than one person for the work on a project or undertakes the work on a project or any part thereof.

Conveyor vehicle wash means a system for washing vehicles where the vehicle moves through a tunnel during the wash and the driver of the vehicle can remain in, or wait outside of, the vehicle.

Cooktop means a cooking surface having one or more burners or heating elements.

Coordinating registered professional means a registered professional retained under Clause 2.2.7.2.(1)(a) to coordinate all design work and field reviews of the registered professionals who are required for a project.

Dangerous goods means those products or substances that are regulated by the “Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.” (See Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of the Vancouver Fire By-law.)

Dead load means the weight of all permanent structural and non-structural components of a building.

Deconstruction means demolition by systematic disassembly of a building resulting in the reuse, recycling or recovery of not less than 75% of all building materials, excluding materials which are hazardous or banned from landfill.

Deep foundation means a foundation unit that provides support for a building by transferring loads either by end-bearing to soil or rock at considerable depth below the building, or by adhesion or friction, or both, in the soil or rock in which it is placed. Piles are the most common type of deep foundation.

Demolition means the action or process of demolishing a building, and includes deconstruction.

Designated flood means a flood which may occur in any given year, of such magnitude as to equal a flood having a 200 year return period.

Designated flood plain means those lands in the City which are hereby designated, for the purposes of section 306(cc) of the Vancouver Charter, as flood plains susceptible to flooding and subject to flood construction level requirements, and those lands so designated include:

1. lands located in the proximity to the natural boundary of the Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and the Fraser River, which are located within the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the maps attached to this By-law as Diagrams A1 and A2. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-A for Diagram A1: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains and Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-B for Diagram A2: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plain, wave effect zone.); and
2. lands located in the areas shown crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law as Diagram B. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-C for Diagram B: Still Creek flood plain and flood construction levels.)

Designated Structural Engineer (Struct. Eng.) means a person who is registered or licensed to practice as a professional engineer under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act of British Columbia, and a person who is designated by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia as a Designated Structural Engineer.

Designer means the person responsible for the design.

Detention occupancy means the occupancy by persons who are restrained from or are incapable of evacuating to a safe location without the assistance of another person because of security measures not under their control.

Distillery means a process plant where distilled beverage alcohols are produced, concentrated or otherwise processed, and includes facilities on the same site where the concentrated products may be blended, mixed, stored or packaged.

Distilled beverage alcohol means a beverage that is produced by fermentation and contains more than 20% by volume of water-miscible alcohol.

Direct-vented (as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its venting system in which all the combustion air is supplied directly from the outdoors and the products of combustion are vented directly to the outdoors via independent, totally enclosed passageways connected directly to the appliance.

Drainage system means an assembly of pipes, fittings, fixtures, traps and appurtenances that is used to convey sewage, clear-water waste or storm water to a public sewer or a private sewage disposal system, but does not include subsoil drainage pipes. (See Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-I in Book II, Division A, Appendix A.)

Dwelling unit means a suite operated as a housekeeping unit, used or intended to be used by one or more persons and usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities.

Excavation means the space created by the removal of soil, rock or fill for the purposes of construction.

Exhaust duct means a duct through which air is conveyed from a room or space to the outdoors.

Existing building means a building lawfully constructed and completed under a permit before submission of the current permit application.

Exit means that part of a means of egress, including doorways, that leads from the floor area it serves to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare. (See Appendix A.)

Exit level means the level of an exit stairway at which an exterior exit door or exit passageway leads to the exterior.

Exit storey (as applying to Subsection 3.2.6. of Division B) means a storey having an exterior exit door.

Exposing building face means that part of the exterior wall of a building that faces one direction and is located between ground level and the ceiling of its top storey or, where a building is divided into fire compartments, the exterior wall of a fire compartment that faces one direction.

Factory-built chimney means a chimney consisting entirely of factory-made parts, each designed to be assembled with the other without requiring fabrication on site.

Farm building means a building or part thereof that does not contain a residential occupancy and that is associated with and located on land devoted to the practice of farming, and used essentially for the housing of equipment or livestock, or the production, storage or processing of agricultural and horticultural produce or feeds. (See Appendix A.)

Field review means a review of the work

• at a building site, and
• where applicable, at locations where building components are fabricated for use at the building site

that a registered professional in his or her professional discretion considers necessary to ascertain whether the work substantially complies in all material respects with the plans and supporting documents prepared by a registered professional.

Fill means soil, rock, rubble, industrial waste such as slag, organic material or a combination of these that is transported and placed on the natural surface of soil or rock or organic terrain. It may or may not be compacted.

Fire block means a material, component or system that restricts the spread of fire within a concealed space or from a concealed space to an adjacent space.

Fire compartment means an enclosed space in a building that is separated from all other parts of the building by enclosing construction providing a fire separation having a required fire-resistance rating.

Fire damper means a closure consisting of a damper that is installed in an air distribution system or a wall or floor assembly and that is normally held open but designed to close automatically in the event of a fire in order to maintain the integrity of the fire separation.

Fire detector means a device that detects a fire condition and automatically initiates an electrical signal to actuate an alert signal or alarm signal and includes heat detectors and smoke detectors.

Fire load (as applying to an occupancy) means the combustible contents of a room or floor area expressed in terms of the average weight of combustible materials per unit area, from which the potential heat liberation may be calculated based on the calorific value of the materials, and includes the furnishings, finished floor, wall and ceiling finishes, trim and temporary and movable partitions.

Fire-protection rating means the time in minutes or hours that a closure will withstand the passage of flame when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as otherwise prescribed in this By-law.

Fire-resistance rating means the time in minutes or hours that a material or assembly of materials will withstand the passage of flame and the transmission of heat when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as determined by extension or interpretation of information derived therefrom as prescribed in this By-law. (See Appendix Note D-1.2.1.(2) of Division B.)

Fire-retardant-treated wood means wood or a wood product that has had its surface-burning characteristics, such as flame spread, rate of fuel contribution and density of smoke developed, reduced by impregnation with fire-retardant chemicals.

Fire separation means a construction assembly that acts as a barrier against the spread of fire. (See Appendix A.)

Fire stop means a system consisting of a material, component and means of support used to fill gaps between fire separations or between fire separations and other assemblies, or used around items that wholly or partially penetrate a fire separation.

Fire stop flap means a device intended for use in horizontal assemblies required to have a fire-resistance rating and incorporating protective ceiling membranes, which operates to close off a duct opening through the membrane in the event of a fire.

Firewall means a type of fire separation of noncombustible construction that subdivides a building or separates adjoining buildings to resist the spread of fire and that has a fire-resistance rating as prescribed in this By-law and has structural stability to remain intact under fire conditions for the required fire-rated time.

First storey means the uppermost storey having its floor level not more than 2 m above grade.

Fixture means, in relation to plumbing, a receptacle, appliance, apparatus or other device that discharges sewage or clear-water waste, and includes a floor drain.

Flame-spread rating means an index or classification indicating the extent of spread-of-flame on the surface of a material or an assembly of materials as determined in a standard fire test as prescribed in this By-law.

Flammable liquid means a liquid having a flash point below 37.8°C and having a vapour pressure not more than 275.8 kPa (absolute) at 37.8°C as determined by ASTM D 323, “Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method).”

Flash point means the minimum temperature at which a liquid within a container gives off vapour in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.

Float home means any structure incorporating a floatation system, intended for use or occupancy or being used or occupied for residential purposes, containing one dwelling unit only, and not primarily intended for, or useable in, navigation, but does not include any water craft designed or intended for navigation.

Flood construction level means the minimum elevation of the underside of a floor system, or of the top of a concrete slab, of a building which is used or may be used for habitation, business, or for the storage of goods which may be damaged by flood water.

Flood construction level requirements means

1. on the Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains:
   1. for buildings located within the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law, the underside of a floor system or the top of a concrete slab of a buildings used for habitation, business or storage of goods, shall not be lower than 4.6 m Greater Vancouver Regional District datum. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-A for Diagram A1: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains); and
   2. for buildings located in the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law, an additional elevation allowance above 4.6 m may be required for wave run-up, at a level as determined by a Professional Engineer and to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-B for Diagram A2: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plain wave effect zone); and
2. on the Still Creek flood plain:
   1. the underside of a floor system or the top of a concrete slab of any buildings used for habitation, business or storage of goods shall not be lower than the applicable elevation shown on the map attached to this By-law. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-C for Diagram B: Still Creek flood plain and flood construction levels.)

Floor area means the space on any storey of a building between exterior walls and required firewalls, including the space occupied by interior walls and partitions, but not including exits, vertical service spaces, and their enclosing assemblies.

Floor drain means a fixture used to receive water from the floor of a building.

Flue means an enclosed passageway for conveying flue gases.

Flue collar means the portion of a fuel-fired appliance designed for the attachment of the flue pipe or breeching.

Flue pipe means the pipe connecting the flue collar of an appliance to a chimney.

Forced-air furnace means a furnace equipped with a fan that provides the primary means for the circulation of air.

Foundation means a system or arrangement of foundation units through which the loads from a building are transferred to supporting soil or rock.

Foundation unit means one of the structural members of the foundation of a building such as a footing, raft or pile.

Frost action means the phenomenon that occurs when water in soil is subjected to freezing which, because of the water/ice phase change or ice lens growth, results in a total volume increase or the build-up of expansive forces under confined conditions or both, and the subsequent thawing that leads to loss of soil strength and increased compressibility.

Furnace means a space-heating appliance using warm air as the heating medium and usually having provision for the attachment of ducts.

Gas vent means that portion of a venting system designed to convey vent gases to the outdoors from the vent connector of a gas-fired appliance or directly from the appliance when a vent connector is not used.

General Manager, Park Board means the person appointed as such by the Park Board.

General Manager, Real Estate and Facilities Management means the person appointed as such by City Council.

Grade means the lowest of the average levels of finished ground adjoining each exterior wall of a building, except that localized depressions need not be considered in the determination of average levels of finished ground. (See First storey and Appendix A.)

Greenhouse gas has the meaning attributed to it in section 559 of the Vancouver Charter.

Green house gases means any gas that contributes to a gradual warming of the Earth’s climate as a result of increased heat retention.

Green roof means a structure constructed on top of a roof, which is designed to support the growth of vegetation and to capture rainwater.

Green roof assembly means the components of a green roof and includes a waterproof barrier which is impervious to root migration, a filtering layer, roof drainage, soil or other growing medium and plants, installed on top of a roof assembly.

Grooming station means facilities for grooming which are separated from washrooms and which contain a mirror, an electrical outlet and a countertop.

Groundwater means a free standing body of water in the ground.

Groundwater level (groundwater table) means the top surface of a free standing body of water in the ground.

Group Residence means Group Residence as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Guard means a protective barrier around openings in floors or at the open sides of stairs, landings, balconies, mezzanines, galleries, raised walkways or other locations to prevent accidental falls from one level to another. Such a barrier may or may not have openings through it.

Heat detector means a fire detector designed to operate at a predetermined temperature or rate of temperature rise.

Heavy timber construction means that type of combustible construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by placing limitations on the sizes of wood structural members and on the thickness and composition of wood floors and roofs and by the avoidance of concealed spaces under floors and roofs.

Heritage building means a building that is legally protected or officially recognized as a heritage property by the Province of British Columbia or the City, or a building that, in the opinion of the City Building Inspector, has sufficient heritage value or heritage character to justify its conservation. (See Appendix A.).

High-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F, Division 1) means an industrial occupancy containing sufficient quantities of highly combustible and flammable or explosive materials which, because of their inherent characteristics, constitute a special fire hazard.

Horizontal exit means an exit from one building to another by means of a doorway, vestibule, walkway, bridge or balcony.

Horizontal service space means a space such as an attic, duct, ceiling, roof or crawl space oriented essentially in a horizontal plane, concealed and generally inaccessible, through which building service facilities such as pipes, ducts and wiring may pass.

Impeded egress zone means a supervised area in which occupants have free movement but require the release, by security personnel, of security doors at the boundary before they are able to leave the area, but does not include a contained use area.

In-bay vehicle wash means a non-domestic vehicle wash where the driver pulls into a bay, parks the vehicle, and the vehicle remains stationary while either a machine moves over the vehicle to clean it or one or more employees of the facility clean the vehicle, instead of the vehicle moving through a tunnel.

Indirect service water heater means a service water heater that derives its heat from a heating medium such as warm air, steam or hot water.

Industrial flex space means an industrial use which is located in a new building containing Group C major occupancies.

Industrial occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the assembling, fabricating, manufacturing, processing, repairing or storing of goods and materials.

Interconnected floor space means superimposed floor areas or parts of floor areas in which floor assemblies that are required to be fire separations are penetrated by openings that are not provided with closures.

Journeyman plumber means a person, other than an apprentice, who holds a certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of the Industry Training Authority Act of British Columbia authorizing the person to engage in the plumbing trade.

Lane means a public thoroughfare or way not more than 10.1 m in width which affords only a secondary means of access to a site, at the side or rear.

Laneway house means a detached dwelling unit constructed in the rear yard of a parcel on which is situate a one-family dwelling or one-family dwelling with secondary suite.

Leader means a pipe that is installed to carry storm water from a roof to a storm building drain or sewer or other place of disposal.

Licensed Beverage Establishment means an assembly occupancy or part thereof, where people may consume alcohol in a Class 2-restaurant as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law, lounge, recreational centre, community hall, cabaret, pub, neighbourhood public house, marine public house and similar facility.

Limiting distance means the distance from an exposing building face to a property line, the centre line of a street, lane or public thoroughfare, or to an imaginary line between 2 buildings or fire compartments on the same property, measured at right angles to the exposing building face.

Live load means a variable load due to the intended use and occupancy that is to be assumed in the design of the structural members of a building. It includes loads due to cranes and the pressure of liquids in containers.

Liveaboard vessel means any water craft intended primarily for use in navigation and used for residential purposes.

Loadbearing (as applying to a building element) means subjected to or designed to carry loads in addition to its own dead load, excepting a wall element subjected only to wind or earthquake loads in addition to its own dead load.

Lock-off unit means a smaller dwelling unit within a larger principal dwelling unit, which must have separate external access and shared internal access, and which can be locked off from the larger dwelling unit, but does not include a secondary suite.

Low-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F,  Division 3) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is not more than 50 kg/m² or 1 200 MJ/m² of floor area.

Major occupancy means the principal occupancy for which a building or part thereof is used or intended to be used, and shall be deemed to include the subsidiary occupancies that are an integral part of the principal occupancy. The major occupancy classifications used in this By-law are as follows:

Marina means any structure or installation, including marina walkways, which provides moorage space for water craft.

Marina walkway means any surface extending over navigable water used to accommodate pedestrian traffic, and used so that water craft and float homes may lie alongside to receive and discharge cargo and passengers.

Marine toilet means any toilet on or within a water craft.

Masonry or concrete chimney means a chimney of brick, stone, concrete or masonry units constructed on site.

Means of egress means a continuous path of travel provided for the escape of persons from any point in a building or contained open space to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare. Means of egress includes exits and access to exits.

Mechanically vented (as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its combustion venting system in which the products of combustion are entirely exhausted to the outdoors by a mechanical device, such as a fan, blower or aspirator, upstream or downstream from the combustion zone of the appliance, and the portion of the combustion venting system that is downstream of the fan, blower or aspirator is sealed and does not include draft hoods or draft control devices. (See Appendix A.)

Medium-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F,  Division 2) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is more than 50 kg/m² or 1 200 MJ/m² of floor area and not classified as a high-hazard industrial occupancy.

Mercantile occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the displaying or selling of retail goods, wares or merchandise.

Metering fixture means a self-closing plumbing fixture that dispenses a specific volume of water for each actuation cycle.

Mezzanine means an intermediate floor assembly between the floor and ceiling of any room or storey and includes an interior balcony.

Multi-family means a residential occupancy with more than two dwelling units.

Natural boundary means the visible high water mark of any lake, river, stream or other body of water where the presence and action of the water are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark on the soil of the bed of the body of water a character distinct from that of its banks, in vegetation, as well as in the nature of the soil itself.

Noncombustible means that a material meets the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Noncombustible construction means that type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of noncombustible materials for structural members and other building assemblies.

Occupancy means the use or intended use of a building or part thereof for the shelter or support of persons, animals or property.

Occupant load means the number of persons for which a building or part thereof is designed.

One-family dwelling means a building containing only one dwelling unit.

One-family dwelling with secondary suite means a building containing only two dwelling units of which the secondary suite is smaller than the principal residence.

Open-air storey means a storey in which at least 25% of the total area of its perimeter walls is open to the outdoors in a manner that will provide cross-ventilation to the entire storey.

Owner means a registered owner, a holder of an agreement for sale and purchase and, in the case of Crown-owned lands, owner shall mean the occupier.

Partition means an interior wall 1 storey or part-storey in height that is not loadbearing.

Party wall means a wall jointly owned and jointly used by 2 parties under easement agreement or by right in law, and erected at or upon a line separating 2 parcels of land each of which is, or is capable of being, a separate real-estate entity.

Perched groundwater means a free standing body of water in the ground extending to a limited depth.

Permit means permission or authorization in writing by the Chief Building Official to perform work regulated by this By-law and, in the case of an occupancy permit, to occupy any building or part thereof.

Persons with disabilities means a person who has a loss, or a reduction, of functional ability and activity and includes a person in a wheelchair and a person with a sensory disability.

Pile means a slender deep foundation unit made of materials such as wood, steel or concrete or a combination thereof, that is either premanufactured and placed by driving, jacking, jetting or screwing, or cast-in-place in a hole formed by driving, excavating or boring. (Cast-in-place bored piles are often referred to as caissons in Canada.)

Plenum means a chamber forming part of an air duct system.

Plumbing contractor means a person licensed as a contractor pursuant to the License By-law and who is either a plumber or a person who employs a plumber on a full time basis.

Plumbing fixtures means installed receptacles, devices or appliances, including floor drains and roof drains and swimming pools, which are supplied with water or which receive liquid or liquid-borne wastes and discharge such wastes into the drainage system to which they may be directly or indirectly connected, except that industrial or commercial tanks, vats and similar processing equipment are not plumbing fixtures, but may be connected to or discharge into traps or plumbing fixtures which are in compliance with or otherwise provided for in this By-law.

Plumbing Inspector means any person appointed as such by the Chief Building Official.

Plumbing system means a drainage system, a venting system and a water system or parts thereof.

Post-disaster building means a building that is essential to the provision of services in the event of a disaster, and includes

• hospitals, emergency treatment facilities and blood banks,
• telephone exchanges,
• power generating stations and electrical substations,
• control centres for air, land and marine transportation,
• public water treatment and storage facilities, and pumping stations,
• sewage treatment facilities,
• buildings having critical national defence functions, and
• buildings of the following types, except buildings exempted from this designation by the authority having jurisdiction:
  • emergency response facilities,
  • fire, rescue and police stations and housing for vehicles, aircraft or boats used for such purposes, and
  • communications facilities, including radio and television stations.

(See Appendix A.)

Pre-rinse spray valve means a handheld device for use with commercial dishwashing and ware washing equipment that sprays water on dishes, flatware, and other food service items for the purpose of removing food residue before cleaning and sanitizing the items.

Private sewage disposal system means a privately owned plant for the treatment and disposal of sewage (such as a septic tank with an absorption field).

Private use (as applying to the classification of plumbing fixtures) means fixtures in residences and apartments, in private bathrooms of hotels, and in similar installations in other buildings for one family or an individual.

Process plant means an industrial occupancy where materials, including flammable liquids, combustible liquids, or gases, are produced or used in a process. (See Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of the NFC.)

Project means any construction, alteration or demolition operation.

Protected floor space means that part of a floor area protected from the effects of fire and used as part of a means of egress from an interconnected floor space.

Public bike share means a service that provides the general public with an opportunity to rent bicycles through an automated system, on a short term basis for use within the City as part of a network comprised of no fewer than 50 public bike share stations located on separate sites.

Public bike share station means a bicycle sharing facility where bicycles are stored and from which the general public may rent and return bicycles and other objects or equipment necessary for or appurtenant to the operation of a public bike share.

Public corridor means a corridor that provides access to exit from more than one suite. (See Appendix A.)

Public sewer connection means that part of the public sewer which connects or is intended to connect a building sewer with any public sewer.

Public use (as applying to the classification of plumbing fixtures) means fixtures in general washrooms of schools, gymnasiums, hotels, bars, public comfort stations and other installations where fixtures are installed so that their use is unrestricted.

Public way means a sidewalk, street, highway, square or other open space to which the public has access, as of right or by invitation, expressed or implied.

Pump-out facility means a device or method for the removal of sewage from a holding tank connected to a marine toilet or from a self-contained marine toilet.

Registered professional means

• a person who is registered or licensed to practise as an architect under the Architects Act, or
• a person who is registered or licensed to practise as a professional engineer under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act.

Registered professional of record means a registered professional retained to undertake design work and field reviews in accordance with Subsection 2.2.7. of Division C.

Re-occupancy permit means permission or authorization in writing by the Chief Building Official to re-occupy any building or part thereof in respect of which the Chief Building Official has issued an order to cease occupancy because of an unsafe condition.

Repair garage means a building or part thereof where facilities are provided for the repair or servicing of motor vehicles.

Residential occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof by persons for whom sleeping accommodation is provided but who are not harboured for the purpose of receiving care or treatment and are not involuntarily detained.

Return duct means a duct for conveying air from a space being heated, ventilated or air-conditioned back to the heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance.

Rim joist means the outermost member in floor framing, other than blocking, be it parallel, perpendicular or on an angle to the floor joists. (See Appendix A.)

Rock means that portion of the earth's crust that is consolidated, coherent and relatively hard and is a naturally formed, solidly bonded, mass of mineral matter that cannot readily be broken by hand.

Row housing means a building of residential occupancy where no dwelling unit is located above another dwelling unit and there is no common interior or exterior means of egress.

Sanitary drainage system means a drainage system that conducts sewage.

Secondary suite means that area of a building that is intended to be a dwelling unit that is smaller than the principal residence in the same building.

Self-service vehicle wash means a commercial vehicle wash where a customer washes their own vehicle.

Sensory disability includes visual and hearing impairments.

Separate system area means an area in which the City Engineer has required the separate disposal of storm water and sewage.

Service room means a room provided in a building to contain equipment associated with building services. (See Appendix A.)

Service space means space provided in a building to facilitate or conceal the installation of building service facilities such as chutes, ducts, pipes, shafts or wires.

Service water heater means a device for heating water for plumbing services.

Sewage means any liquid waste other than clear-water waste or storm water.

Sewage sump means an approved airtight tank or pit which receives sewage or liquid waste and which is located below the normal grade of the gravity system and must be emptied by mechanical means.

Sewer means an underground drain or conduit to remove waste water and organic refuse.

Shallow foundation means a foundation unit that derives its support from soil or rock located close to the lowest part of the building that it supports.

Shower head means any fitting that transmits water for the purposes of showering and includes rain heads, rain tiles, rain systems, waterfalls, body sprays and jets. A hand-held shower shall be considered a shower head.

Single room accommodation means a room designated as accommodation pursuant to the Single Room Accommodation By-law.

Small suite means a suite classified as a Group A Division 2, Group D, Group E, Group F Division 2 (wholesale showroom) or Group F, Division 3 occupancy where the occupant load for the entire suite does not exceed 60 persons.

Smoke alarm means a combined smoke detector and audible alarm device designed to sound an alarm within the room or suite in which it is located upon the detection of smoke within that room or suite.

Smoke detector means a fire detector designed to operate when the concentration of airborne combustion products exceeds a predetermined level.

Soil means that portion of the earth's crust that is fragmentary, or such that some individual particles of a dried sample may be readily separated by agitation in water; it includes boulders, cobbles, gravel, sand, silt, clay and organic matter.

Space heater means a space-heating appliance for heating the room or space within which it is located, without the use of ducts.

Space-heating appliance means an appliance intended for the supplying of heat to a room or space directly, such as a space heater, fireplace or unit heater, or to rooms or spaces of a building through a heating system such as a central furnace or boiler.

Sprinkler contractor means a person licensed as a contractor pursuant to the License By-law and who is either a sprinkler system installer or a person who employs a sprinkler system installer on a full-time basis.

Sprinkler system means an automatic fire extinguishing system designed to the National Fire Protection Association 13, 13D or 13R standard and all applicable associated sprinkler standards, and which consists of a system of devices and equipment designed to automatically detect a fire and discharge water or another approved fire extinguishing agent in the area of or onto a fire.

Sprinkler system installer means a person who has successfully completed an accredited program as a Sprinkler System Installer under the Industry Training Authority Act and Industry Training Regulation of British Columbia.

Sprinklered (as applying to a building or part thereof) means that the building or part thereof is equipped with a system of automatic sprinklers.

Stage means a space that is designed primarily for theatrical performances with provision for quick change scenery and overhead lighting, including environmental control for a wide range of lighting and sound effects and that is traditionally, but not necessarily, separated from the audience by a proscenium wall and curtain opening.

Storage garage means a building or part thereof intended primarily for the storage or parking of motor vehicles and containing no provision for the repair or servicing of such vehicles. (See Appendix A.)

Storey means that portion of a building that is situated between the top of any floor and the top of the floor next above it, and if there is no floor above it, that portion between the top of such floor and the ceiling above it.

Storm water means water that is discharged from a surface as a result of rainfall or snowfall.

Stove means an appliance intended for cooking and space heating.

Street means a public road, highway, bridge, viaduct, lane, and sidewalk, and any other way normally open to the use of the public, but does not include a private right-of-way on private property and, for the purposes only of Part 3 and Part 9 of this By-law, a street which is less than 9 m in width or a lane or sidewalk.

Subsoil drainage pipe means a pipe that is installed underground to intercept and convey subsurface water.

Subsurface investigation means the appraisal of the general subsurface conditions at a building site by analysis of information gained by such methods as geological surveys, in situ testing, sampling, visual inspection, laboratory testing of samples of the subsurface materials and groundwater observations and measurements.

Suite means a single room or series of rooms of complementary use, operated under a single tenancy, and includes dwelling units, individual guest rooms in motels, hotels, boarding houses, rooming houses and dormitories as well as individual stores and individual or complementary rooms for business and personal services occupancies. (See Appendix A.)

Sump means a receptacle installed between the storm or combined sewer and the building storm system to intercept the flow of deleterious matter into the building or public sewer and to prevent the outflow of sewer gas.

Supervisory staff means those occupants of a building who have some delegated responsibility for the fire safety of other occupants under the fire safety plan.

Supply duct means a duct for conveying air from a heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance to a space to be heated, ventilated or air-conditioned.

Temporary special event means a presentation of an artistic or cultural nature, including but not limited to visual, performing, media, literary, craft or interdisciplinary arts, for a maximum of 250 people, with or without liquor service, which occurs not more than two days per month in a building not approved for assembly occupancy.

Theatre means a place of public assembly intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts or the screening and viewing of motion pictures, and consisting of an auditorium with permanently fixed seats intended solely for a viewing audience.

Trade waste system means a system of drainage pipes from floor drains and hub drains located in food display areas that are intercepted by a trade waste sump and backwater valve before entering the sanitary building drain.

Trades safety coordinator means an agent, employee or officer of a company supplying, installing or using materials at a construction site who has been trained to understand and apply safe construction, installation or demolition techniques, as applicable, respecting those materials and their relationship to the worksite, neighbouring property, public utilities and the general public.

Training school means a School-Arts or Self-Improvement, School – Business, or School - Vocational or Trade, as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Trap means a fitting or device that is designed to hold a liquid seal that will prevent the passage of gas but will not materially affect the flow of a liquid.

Treatment means the provision of medical or other health-related intervention to persons, where the administration or lack of administration of these interventions may render them incapable of evacuating to a safe location without the assistance of another person. (See Appendix A.)

Treatment occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the provision of treatment, and where overnight accommodation is available to facilitate the treatment. (See Appendix A.)

Two-family dwelling means

1. as applying to plumbing, a building containing only 2 self-contained dwelling units each served with a separate water connection, and
2. in all other cases, a building containing only 2 self-contained dwelling units.

Two-family dwelling with secondary suites means a building containing two self-contained dwelling units where each self-contained dwelling unit contains one secondary suite.

Unit heater means a suspended space heater with an integral air-circulating fan.

Unprotected opening (as applying to exposing building face) means a door, doorway, window or opening other than one equipped with a closure having the required fire-protection rating, or any part of a wall forming part of the exposing building face that has a fire-resistance rating less than that required for the exposing building face.

Unsafe condition means any condition that could cause undue hazard or risk to life, limb or health of any person authorized, expected, or anticipated to be on or about premises or a building or construction.

Unstable liquid means a liquid, including flammable liquids and combustible liquids, that is chemically reactive to the extent that it will vigorously react or decompose at or near normal temperature and pressure conditions or that is chemically unstable when subjected to impact.

Vapour barrier means the elements installed to control the diffusion of water vapour.

Vent connector (as applying to heating or cooling systems) means the part of a venting system that conducts the flue gases or vent gases from the flue collar of a gas appliance to the chimney or gas vent, and may include a draft control device.

Vertical service space means a shaft oriented essentially vertically that is provided in a building to facilitate the installation of building services including mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations and facilities such as elevators, refuse chutes and linen chutes.

Walkway means a covered or roofed pedestrian thoroughfare used to connect 2 or more buildings.

Water craft means any boat, hull, barge, or houseboat which is afloat, whether self-propelled or not, and includes pleasure and commercial craft.

Acceptable means acceptable to the Chief Building Official.

Acceptable equivalency means:

1. that the person proposing to use a plumbing fixture that does not conform with the specifications in this By-law must, at their expense, ensure that
   1. an independent qualified third party tests the plumbing fixture and documents that the plumbing fixture meets or exceeds the specifications of this By-law,
   2. the test procedures and documented results are reviewed and verified by an independent qualified registered professional,
   3. copies of all test procedures, documented results and verification reports are provided to the Chief Building Official, and
2. the test procedures, documented results and verification are acceptable.

Accepted means accepted by the Chief Building Official.

Access or accessible means that a person with disabilities is, without assistance, able to approach, enter, pass to and from, and make use of an area and its facilities, or both, as required by this By-law.

Access to exit means that part of a means of egress within a floor area that provides access to an exit serving the floor area.

Adaptable dwelling unit means a dwelling unit designed and constructed to facilitate future modification to provide access for persons with disabilities.

Addition means an alteration to any building which will increase the total aggregate floor area or the building height (in storeys).

Adfreezing means the adhesion of soil to a foundation unit resulting from the freezing of soil water. (Also referred to as “frost grip.”)

Air barrier system means the assembly installed to provide a continuous barrier to the movement of air.

Air space parcel has the meaning assigned to it by the Land Title Act of British Columbia.

Air-supported structure means a structure consisting of a pliable membrane which achieves and maintains its shape and support by internal air pressure.

Alarm signal means an audible signal transmitted throughout a zone or zones or throughout a building to advise occupants that a fire emergency exists.

Alert signal means an audible signal to advise designated persons of a fire emergency.

Alteration means a change or extension to any matter or thing or to any occupancy regulated by this By-law.

Ancillary Residential Building meaning a building entirely of residential occupancy, constructed on the same parcel and smaller than the primary residential building and containing not more than one dwelling unit and its subsidiary uses, such as a laneway house.

Appliance means a device to convert fuel into energy and includes all components, controls, wiring and piping required to be part of the device by the applicable standard referred to in this By-law.

Apprentice means a regularly indentured apprentice under the provisions of the Industry Training Authority Act of British Columbia.

Approved (as used in Book II) means accepted.

Area of refuge means a space that facilitates a safe delay in egress, is sufficiently protected from fire conditions developing in the floor area, and provides direct access to an exit or firefighters’ elevator.

Artesian groundwater means a confined body of water under pressure in the ground.

Artist Live/Work Studio means an Artist Studio and a Residential Unit associated with and forming an integral part of an Artist Studio, as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class A means Artist studio-Class A as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class B means Artist studio-Class B as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law.

Artist studio — Class A and Artist studio — Class B have the meaning assigned to them by the Zoning and Development By-law.

Arts and culture indoor event means an event of an artistic or cultural nature, including but not limited to visual, performing, media, literary, craft or interdisciplinary arts, for a maximum of 250 persons, with or without liquor service, which occurs no more than three days per month in a building or portion of a building not approved for assembly occupancy.

Assembly occupancy means the occupancy or the use of a building, or part thereof, by a gathering of persons for civic, political, travel, religious, social, educational, recreational or like purposes, or for the consumption of food or drink.

Attic or roof space means the space between the roof and the ceiling of the top storey or between a dwarf wall and a sloping roof.

Authority having jurisdiction means the governmental body responsible for the enforcement of any part of this By-law or the official or agency designated by that body to exercise such a function. Notwithstanding this definition, the Chief Inspector of Mines has the sole responsibility for administration and enforcement in respect to all buildings, structures and site services used at a mine, as defined in the Mines Act.

Basement means a storey or storeys of a building located below the first storey.

Bathroom group means one lavatory basin, one water closet and one bathtub or maximum 2 head shower drain.

Bearing surface means the contact surface between a foundation unit and the soil or rock upon which it bears.

Boiler means an appliance intended to supply hot water or steam for space heating, processing or power purposes.

Braced wall band means an imaginary continuous straight band extending vertically and horizontally through the building or part of the building, within which braced wall panels are constructed.

Braced wall panel means a portion of a wood-frame wall where bracing, sheathing, cladding or interior finish is designed and installed to provide the required resistance to lateral loads due to wind or earthquake.

Breeching means a flue pipe or chamber for receiving flue gases from one or more flue connections and for discharging these gases through a single flue connection.

Building means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy, including any float home or marina and any retaining structures greater than 1.2 m in height.

Building area means the greatest horizontal area of a building above grade within the outside surface of exterior walls or within the outside surface of exterior walls and the centre line of firewalls.

Building energy use means non site-renewable energy used for space heating, cooking and/or operation of buildings intended for human occupancy.

Building Envelope Professional means a member of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia or the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.

Building height (in storeys) means the number of storeys contained between the roof and the floor of the first storey.

Business and personal services occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the transaction of business or the rendering or receiving of professional or personal services.

Caisson (see Pile).

Catch basin means a receptacle installed to intercept the flow of deleterious matter into the building sewer or public sewer and to prevent the outflow of sewer gas, but does not include a sump.

Care means the provision of services other than treatment by or through care facility management to residents who require these services because of cognitive, physical or behavioural limitations.

Care occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof where care is provided to residents. (See Appendix A.)

Cavity wall means a construction of masonry units laid with a cavity between the wythes. The wythes are tied together with metal ties or bonding units, and are relied on to act together in resisting lateral loads.

Certified Professional means a Certified Professional as defined in the Certification of Professionals By-law.

Chief Building Official means the City Building Inspector, and any person authorized to act on behalf of the City Building Inspector.

Child Care Facility means a care facility within the meaning of the Child Care Licensing Regulation of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.

Children means persons under the age of 13 years.

Chimney means a primarily vertical shaft enclosing at least one flue for conducting flue gases to the outdoors.

Chimney liner means a conduit containing a chimney flue used as a lining of a masonry or concrete chimney.

City means the City of Vancouver.

City Building Inspector means the person appointed as such by City Council pursuant to the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.

City Engineer means the person appointed as such by City Council pursuant to the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.

Clear-water waste means waste water with impurity levels that will not be harmful to health and may include cooling water and condensate drainage from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and cooled condensate from steam heating systems, but does not include storm water. (See Book II, Division A, Appendix A.)

Closure means a device or assembly for closing an opening through a fire separation or an exterior wall, such as a door, a shutter, wired glass or glass block, and includes all components such as hardware, closing devices, frames and anchors.

Combustible means that a material fails to meet the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Combustible construction means that type of construction that does not meet the requirements for noncombustible construction.

Combustible dusts means dusts and particles that are ignitable and liable to produce an explosion.

Combustible fibres means finely divided, combustible vegetable or animal fibres and thin sheets or flakes of such materials which, in a loose, unbaled condition, present a flash fire hazard, including cotton, wool, hemp, sisal, jute, kapok, paper and cloth.

Combustible liquid means a liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8°C and below 93.3°C.

Community Care Facility means Community Care Facility as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Conditioned space means any space within a building the temperature of which is controlled to limit variation in response to the exterior ambient temperature by the provision, either directly or indirectly, of heating or cooling over substantial portions of the year.

Construction means, with respect to a building: erection, repair, alteration, enlargement, addition, demolition, deconstruction, removal and excavation.

Construction Safety Officer means a person who has been trained specifically to understand and apply safe construction practice as it relates to the worksite and as it affects the public, neighbouring properties and utilities, and who has been retained by the owner, or the owner's principal contractor or project manager, to coordinate all sub trade supervisors relating to construction safety at the project site.

Construction Safety Plan means a plan containing construction procedures and fire safety measures designed to protect workers on a project, neighbouring private property, public property, and members of the general public.

Constructor means a person who contracts with an owner or their authorized agent to undertake a project, and includes an owner who contracts with more than one person for the work on a project or undertakes the work on a project or any part thereof.

Contained use area means a supervised area containing one or more rooms in which occupant movement is restricted to a single room by security measures not under the control of the occupant.

Container means a metal transportable structure designed for the storage and transport of goods, the typical dimensions of which are 2.44 m in width, 2.59 m in height, and 6.1 m in length.

Contractor means a person who contracts with an owner or an authorized agent of an owner to undertake a project, and includes an owner who contracts with more than one person for the work on a project or undertakes the work on a project or any part thereof.

Conveyor vehicle wash means a system for washing vehicles where the vehicle moves through a tunnel during the wash and the driver of the vehicle can remain in, or wait outside of, the vehicle.

Cooktop means a cooking surface having one or more burners or heating elements.

Coordinating registered professional means a registered professional retained under Clause 2.2.7.2.(1)(a) to coordinate all design work and field reviews of the registered professionals who are required for a project.

Dangerous goods means those products or substances that are regulated by the “Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.” (See Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of the Vancouver Fire By-law.)NFC.)

Dead load means the weight of all permanent structural and non-structural components of a building.

Deconstruction means demolition by systematic disassembly of a building resulting in the reuse, recycling or recovery of not less than 75% of all building materials, excluding materials which are hazardous or banned from landfill.

Deep foundation means a foundation unit that provides support for a building by transferring loads either by end-bearing to soil or rock at considerable depth below the building, or by adhesion or friction, or both, in the soil or rock in which it is placed. Piles are the most common type of deep foundation.

Demolition means the action or process of demolishing a building, and includes deconstruction.

Designated flood means a flood which may occur in any given year, of such magnitude as to equal a flood having a 200 year return period.

Designated flood plain means those lands in the City which are hereby designated, for the purposes of section 306(cc) of the Vancouver Charter, as flood plains susceptible to flooding and subject to flood construction level requirements, and those lands so designated include:

1. lands located in the proximity to the natural boundary of the Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and the Fraser River, which are located within the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the maps attached to this By-law as Diagrams A1 and A2. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-A for Diagram A1: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains and Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-B for Diagram A2: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plain, wave effect zone.); and
2. lands located in the areas shown crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law as Diagram B. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-C for Diagram B: Still Creek flood plain and flood construction levels.)

Designated Structural Engineer (Struct. Eng.) means a person who is registered or licensed to practice as a professional engineer under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act of British Columbia, and a person who is designated by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia as a Designated Structural Engineer.

Designer means the person responsible for the design.

Detention occupancy means the occupancy by persons who are restrained from or are incapable of evacuating to a safe location without the assistance of another person because of security measures not under their control.

Distillery means a process plant where distilled beverage alcohols are produced, concentrated or otherwise processed, and includes facilities on the same site where the concentrated products may be blended, mixed, stored or packaged.

Distilled beverage alcohol means a beverage that is produced by fermentation and contains more than 20% by volume of water-miscible alcohol.

Direct-vented (as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its venting system in which all the combustion air is supplied directly from the outdoors and the products of combustion are vented directly to the outdoors via independent, totally enclosed passageways connected directly to the appliance.

Drainage system means an assembly of pipes, fittings, fixtures, traps and appurtenances that is used to convey sewage, clear-water waste or storm water to a public sewer or a private sewage disposal system, but does not include subsoil drainage pipes. (See Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-I in Book II, Division A, Appendix A.)

Dwelling unit means a suite operated as a housekeeping unit, used or intended to be used by one or more persons and usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities.

Excavation means the space created by the removal of soil, rock or fill for the purposes of construction.

Exhaust duct means a duct through which air is conveyed from a room or space to the outdoors.

Existing building means a building lawfully constructed and completed under a permit before submission of the current permit application.

Exit means that part of a means of egress, including doorways, that leads from the floor area it serves to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare. (See Appendix A.)

Exit level means the level of an exit stairway at which an exterior exit door or exit passageway leads to the exterior.

Exit storey (as applying to Subsection 3.2.6. of Division B) means a storey having an exterior exit door.

Exposing building face means that part of the exterior wall of a building that faces one direction and is located between ground level and the ceiling of its top storey or, where a building is divided into fire compartments, the exterior wall of a fire compartment that faces one direction.

Factory-built chimney means a chimney consisting entirely of factory-made parts, each designed to be assembled with the other without requiring fabrication on site.

Farm building means a building or part thereof that does not contain a residential occupancy and that is associated with and located on land devoted to the practice of farming, and used essentially for the housing of equipment or livestock, or the production, storage or processing of agricultural and horticultural produce or feeds. (See Appendix A.)

Field review means a review of the work

• at a building site, and
• where applicable, at locations where building components are fabricated for use at the building site

that a registered professional in his or her professional discretion considers necessary to ascertain whether the work substantially complies in all material respects with the plans and supporting documents prepared by a registered professional.

Fill means soil, rock, rubble, industrial waste such as slag, organic material or a combination of these that is transported and placed on the natural surface of soil or rock or organic terrain. It may or may not be compacted.

Fire block means a material, component or system that restricts the spread of fire within a concealed space or from a concealed space to an adjacent space.

Fire compartment means an enclosed space in a building that is separated from all other parts of the building by enclosing construction providing a fire separation having a required fire-resistance rating.

Fire damper means a closure consisting of a damper that is installed in an air distribution system or a wall or floor assembly and that is normally held open but designed to close automatically in the event of a fire in order to maintain the integrity of the fire separation.

Fire detector means a device that detects a fire condition and automatically initiates an electrical signal to actuate an alert signal or alarm signal and includes heat detectors and smoke detectors.

Fire load (as applying to an occupancy) means the combustible contents of a room or floor area expressed in terms of the average weight of combustible materials per unit area, from which the potential heat liberation may be calculated based on the calorific value of the materials, and includes the furnishings, finished floor, wall and ceiling finishes, trim and temporary and movable partitions.

Fire-protection rating means the time in minutes or hours that a closure will withstand the passage of flame when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as otherwise prescribed in this By-law.

Fire-resistance rating means the time in minutes or hours that a material or assembly of materials will withstand the passage of flame and the transmission of heat when exposed to fire under specified conditions of test and performance criteria, or as determined by extension or interpretation of information derived therefrom as prescribed in this By-law. (See Appendix Note D-1.2.1.(2) of Division B.)

Fire-retardant-treated wood means wood or a wood product that has had its surface-burning characteristics, such as flame spread, rate of fuel contribution and density of smoke developed, reduced by impregnation with fire-retardant chemicals.

Fire separation means a construction assembly that acts as a barrier against the spread of fire. (See Appendix A.)

Fire stop means a system consisting of a material, component and means of support used to fill gaps between fire separations or between fire separations and other assemblies, or used around items that wholly or partially penetrate a fire separation.

Fire stop flap means a device intended for use in horizontal assemblies required to have a fire-resistance rating and incorporating protective ceiling membranes, which operates to close off a duct opening through the membrane in the event of a fire.

Firewall means a type of fire separation of noncombustible construction that subdivides a building or separates adjoining buildings to resist the spread of fire and that has a fire-resistance rating as prescribed in this By-law and has structural stability to remain intact under fire conditions for the required fire-rated time.

First storey means the uppermost storey having its floor level not more than 2 m above grade.

Fixture means, in relation to plumbing, a receptacle, appliance, apparatus or other device that discharges sewage or clear-water waste, and includes a floor drain.

Flame-spread rating means an index or classification indicating the extent of spread-of-flame on the surface of a material or an assembly of materials as determined in a standard fire test as prescribed in this By-law.

Flammable liquid means a liquid having a flash point below 37.8°C and having a vapour pressure not more than 275.8 kPa (absolute) at 37.8°C as determined by ASTM D 323, “Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method).”

Flash point means the minimum temperature at which a liquid within a container gives off vapour in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.

Float home means any structure incorporating a floatation system, intended for use or occupancy or being used or occupied for residential purposes, containing one dwelling unit only, and not primarily intended for, or useable in, navigation, but does not include any water craft designed or intended for navigation.

Flood construction level means the minimum elevation of the underside of a floor system, or of the top of a concrete slab, of a building which is used or may be used for habitation, business, or for the storage of goods which may be damaged by flood water.

Flood construction level requirements means

1. on the Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains:
   1. for buildings located within the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law, the underside of a floor system or the top of a concrete slab of a buildings used for habitation, business or storage of goods, shall not be lower than 4.6 m Greater Vancouver Regional District datum. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-A for Diagram A1: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plains); and
   2. for buildings located in the areas shown shaded or crosshatched on the map attached to this By-law, an additional elevation allowance above 4.6 m may be required for wave run-up, at a level as determined by a Professional Engineer and to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-B for Diagram A2: Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River flood plain wave effect zone); and
2. on the Still Creek flood plain:
   1. the underside of a floor system or the top of a concrete slab of any buildings used for habitation, business or storage of goods shall not be lower than the applicable elevation shown on the map attached to this By-law. (See Appendix A Figure A-1.4.1.2.(1)-C for Diagram B: Still Creek flood plain and flood construction levels.)

Floor area means the space on any storey of a building between exterior walls and required firewalls, including the space occupied by interior walls and partitions, but not including exits, vertical service spaces, and their enclosing assemblies.

Floor drain means a fixture used to receive water from the floor of a building.

Flue means an enclosed passageway for conveying flue gases.

Flue collar means the portion of a fuel-fired appliance designed for the attachment of the flue pipe or breeching.

Flue pipe means the pipe connecting the flue collar of an appliance to a chimney.

Forced-air furnace means a furnace equipped with a fan that provides the primary means for the circulation of air.

Foundation means a system or arrangement of foundation units through which the loads from a building are transferred to supporting soil or rock.

Foundation unit means one of the structural members of the foundation of a building such as a footing, raft or pile.

Frost action means the phenomenon that occurs when water in soil is subjected to freezing which, because of the water/ice phase change or ice lens growth, results in a total volume increase or the build-up of expansive forces under confined conditions or both, and the subsequent thawing that leads to loss of soil strength and increased compressibility.

Furnace means a space-heating appliance using warm air as the heating medium and usually having provision for the attachment of ducts.

Gas vent means that portion of a venting system designed to convey vent gases to the outdoors from the vent connector of a gas-fired appliance or directly from the appliance when a vent connector is not used.

General Manager, Park Board means the person appointed as such by the Park Board.

General Manager, Real Estate and Facilities Management means the person appointed as such by City Council.

Grade means the lowest of the average levels of finished ground adjoining each exterior wall of a building, except that localized depressions need not be considered in the determination of average levels of finished ground. (See First storey and Appendix A.)

Greenhouse gas has the meaning attributed to it in section 559 of the Vancouver Charter.

Green house gases means any gas that contributes to a gradual warming of the Earth’s climate as a result of increased heat retention.

Green roof means a structure constructed on top of a roof, which is designed to support the growth of vegetation and to capture rainwater.

Green roof assembly means the components of a green roof and includes a waterproof barrier which is impervious to root migration, a filtering layer, roof drainage, soil or other growing medium and plants, installed on top of a roof assembly.

Grooming station means facilities for grooming which are separated from washrooms and which contain a mirror, an electrical outlet and a countertop.

Groundwater means a free standing body of water in the ground.

Groundwater level (groundwater table) means the top surface of a free standing body of water in the ground.

Group Residence means Group Residence as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Guard means a protective barrier around openings in floors or at the open sides of stairs, landings, balconies, mezzanines, galleries, raised walkways or other locations to prevent accidental falls from one level to another. Such a barrier may or may not have openings through it.

Heat detector means a fire detector designed to operate at a predetermined temperature or rate of temperature rise.

Heavy timber construction means that type of combustible construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by placing limitations on the sizes of wood structural members and on the thickness and composition of wood floors and roofs and by the avoidance of concealed spaces under floors and roofs.

Heritage building means a building that is legally protected or officially recognized as a heritage property by the Province of British Columbia or the City, or a building that, in the opinion of the City Building Inspector, has sufficient heritage value or heritage character to justify its conservation. (See Appendix A.).

High-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F, Division 1) means an industrial occupancy containing sufficient quantities of highly combustible and flammable or explosive materials which, because of their inherent characteristics, constitute a special fire hazard.

Horizontal exit means an exit from one building to another by means of a doorway, vestibule, walkway, bridge or balcony.

Horizontal service space means a space such as an attic, duct, ceiling, roof or crawl space oriented essentially in a horizontal plane, concealed and generally inaccessible, through which building service facilities such as pipes, ducts and wiring may pass.

Impeded egress zone means a supervised area in which occupants have free movement but require the release, by security personnel, of security doors at the boundary before they are able to leave the area, but does not include a contained use area.

In-bay vehicle wash means a non-domestic vehicle wash where the driver pulls into a bay, parks the vehicle, and the vehicle remains stationary while either a machine moves over the vehicle to clean it or one or more employees of the facility clean the vehicle, instead of the vehicle moving through a tunnel.

Indirect service water heater means a service water heater that derives its heat from a heating medium such as warm air, steam or hot water.

Industrial flex space means an industrial use which is located in a new building containing Group C major occupancies.

Industrial occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the assembling, fabricating, manufacturing, processing, repairing or storing of goods and materials.

Interconnected floor space means superimposed floor areas or parts of floor areas in which floor assemblies that are required to be fire separations are penetrated by openings that are not provided with closures.

Journeyman plumber means a person, other than an apprentice, who holds a certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of the Industry Training Authority Act of British Columbia authorizing the person to engage in the plumbing trade.

Lane means a public thoroughfare or way not more than 10.1 m in width which affords only a secondary means of access to a site, at the side or rear.

Laneway house means a detached dwelling unit constructed in the rear yard of a parcel on which is situate a one-family dwelling or one-family dwelling with secondary suite.

Leader means a pipe that is installed to carry storm water from a roof to a storm building drain or sewer or other place of disposal.

Licensed Beverage Establishment means an assembly occupancy or part thereof, where people may consume alcohol in a Class 2-restaurant as defined in the Zoning and Development By-law, lounge, recreational centre, community hall, cabaret, pub, neighbourhood public house, marine public house and similar facility.

Limiting distance means the distance from an exposing building face to a property line, the centre line of a street, lane or public thoroughfare, or to an imaginary line between 2 buildings or fire compartments on the same property, measured at right angles to the exposing building face.

Live load means a variable load due to the intended use and occupancy that is to be assumed in the design of the structural members of a building. It includes loads due to cranes and the pressure of liquids in containers.

Liveaboard vessel means any water craft intended primarily for use in navigation and used for residential purposes.

Loadbearing (as applying to a building element) means subjected to or designed to carry loads in addition to its own dead load, excepting a wall element subjected only to wind or earthquake loads in addition to its own dead load.

Lock-off unit means a smaller dwelling unit within a larger principal dwelling unit, which must have separate external access and shared internal access, and which can be locked off from the larger dwelling unit, but does not include a secondary suite.

Low-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F,  Division 3) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is not more than 50 kg/m² or 1 200 MJ/m² of floor area.

Major occupancy means the principal occupancy for which a building or part thereof is used or intended to be used, and shall be deemed to include the subsidiary occupancies that are an integral part of the principal occupancy. The major occupancy classifications used in this By-law are as follows:

Marina means any structure or installation, including marina walkways, which provides moorage space for water craft.

Marina walkway means any surface extending over navigable water used to accommodate pedestrian traffic, and used so that water craft and float homes may lie alongside to receive and discharge cargo and passengers.

Marine toilet means any toilet on or within a water craft.

Masonry or concrete chimney means a chimney of brick, stone, concrete or masonry units constructed on site.

Means of egress means a continuous path of travel provided for the escape of persons from any point in a building or contained open space to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare, or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare. Means of egress includes exits and access to exits.

Mechanically vented (as applying to a fuel-fired space- or water-heating appliance) means an appliance and its combustion venting system in which the products of combustion are entirely exhausted to the outdoors by a mechanical device, such as a fan, blower or aspirator, upstream or downstream from the combustion zone of the appliance, and the portion of the combustion venting system that is downstream of the fan, blower or aspirator is sealed and does not include draft hoods or draft control devices. (See Appendix A.)

Medium-hazard industrial occupancy (Group F,  Division 2) means an industrial occupancy in which the combustible content is more than 50 kg/m² or 1 200 MJ/m² of floor area and not classified as a high-hazard industrial occupancy.

Mercantile occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the displaying or selling of retail goods, wares or merchandise.

Metering fixture means a self-closing plumbing fixture that dispenses a specific volume of water for each actuation cycle.

Mezzanine means an intermediate floor assembly between the floor and ceiling of any room or storey and includes an interior balcony.

Multi-family means a residential occupancy with more than two dwelling units.

Natural boundary means the visible high water mark of any lake, river, stream or other body of water where the presence and action of the water are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark on the soil of the bed of the body of water a character distinct from that of its banks, in vegetation, as well as in the nature of the soil itself.

Noncombustible means that a material meets the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”

Noncombustible construction means that type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of noncombustible materials for structural members and other building assemblies.

Occupancy means the use or intended use of a building or part thereof for the shelter or support of persons, animals or property.

Occupant load means the number of persons for which a building or part thereof is designed.

One-family dwelling means a building containing only one dwelling unit.

One-family dwelling with secondary suite means a building containing only two dwelling units of which the secondary suite is smaller than the principal residence.

Open-air storey means a storey in which at least 25% of the total area of its perimeter walls is open to the outdoors in a manner that will provide cross-ventilation to the entire storey.

Owner means a registered owner, a holder of an agreement for sale and purchase and, in the case of Crown-owned lands, owner shall mean the occupier.

Partition means an interior wall 1 storey or part-storey in height that is not loadbearing.

Party wall means a wall jointly owned and jointly used by 2 parties under easement agreement or by right in law, and erected at or upon a line separating 2 parcels of land each of which is, or is capable of being, a separate real-estate entity.

Perched groundwater means a free standing body of water in the ground extending to a limited depth.

Permit means permission or authorization in writing by the Chief Building Official to perform work regulated by this By-law and, in the case of an occupancy permit, to occupy any building or part thereof.

Persons with disabilities means a person who has a loss, or a reduction, of functional ability and activity and includes a person in a wheelchair and a person with a sensory disability.

Pile means a slender deep foundation unit made of materials such as wood, steel or concrete or a combination thereof, that is either premanufactured and placed by driving, jacking, jetting or screwing, or cast-in-place in a hole formed by driving, excavating or boring. (Cast-in-place bored piles are often referred to as caissons in Canada.)

Plenum means a chamber forming part of an air duct system.

Plumbing contractor means a person licensed as a contractor pursuant to the License By-law and who is either a plumber or a person who employs a plumber on a full time basis.

Plumbing fixtures means installed receptacles, devices or appliances, including floor drains and roof drains and swimming pools, which are supplied with water or which receive liquid or liquid-borne wastes and discharge such wastes into the drainage system to which they may be directly or indirectly connected, except that industrial or commercial tanks, vats and similar processing equipment are not plumbing fixtures, but may be connected to or discharge into traps or plumbing fixtures which are in compliance with or otherwise provided for in this By-law.

Plumbing Inspector means any person appointed as such by the Chief Building Official.

Plumbing system means a drainage system, a venting system and a water system or parts thereof.

Post-disaster building means a building that is essential to the provision of services in the event of a disaster, and includes

• hospitals, emergency treatment facilities and blood banks,
• telephone exchanges,
• power generating stations and electrical substations,
• control centres for air, land and marine transportation,
• public water treatment and storage facilities, and pumping stations,
• sewage treatment facilities,
• buildings having critical national defence functions, and
• buildings of the following types, except buildings exempted from this designation by the authority having jurisdiction:
  • emergency response facilities,
  • fire, rescue and police stations and housing for vehicles, aircraft or boats used for such purposes, and
  • communications facilities, including radio and television stations.

(See Appendix A.)

Pre-rinse spray valve means a handheld device for use with commercial dishwashing and ware washing equipment that sprays water on dishes, flatware, and other food service items for the purpose of removing food residue before cleaning and sanitizing the items.

Private sewage disposal system means a privately owned plant for the treatment and disposal of sewage (such as a septic tank with an absorption field).

Private use (as applying to the classification of plumbing fixtures) means fixtures in residences and apartments, in private bathrooms of hotels, and in similar installations in other buildings for one family or an individual.

Process plant means an industrial occupancy where materials, including flammable liquids, combustible liquids, or gases, are produced or used in a process. (See Table 3.2.7.1. of Division B of the NFC.)

Project means any construction, alteration or demolition operation.

Protected floor space means that part of a floor area protected from the effects of fire and used as part of a means of egress from an interconnected floor space.

Public bike share means a service that provides the general public with an opportunity to rent bicycles through an automated system, on a short term basis for use within the City as part of a network comprised of no fewer than 50 public bike share stations located on separate sites.

Public bike share station means a bicycle sharing facility where bicycles are stored and from which the general public may rent and return bicycles and other objects or equipment necessary for or appurtenant to the operation of a public bike share.

Public corridor means a corridor that provides access to exit from more than one suite. (See Appendix A.)

Public sewer connection means that part of the public sewer which connects or is intended to connect a building sewer with any public sewer.

Public use (as applying to the classification of plumbing fixtures) means fixtures in general washrooms of schools, gymnasiums, hotels, bars, public comfort stations and other installations where fixtures are installed so that their use is unrestricted.

Public way means a sidewalk, street, highway, square or other open space to which the public has access, as of right or by invitation, expressed or implied.

Pump-out facility means a device or method for the removal of sewage from a holding tank connected to a marine toilet or from a self-contained marine toilet.

Registered professional means

• a person who is registered or licensed to practise as an architect under the Architects Act, or
• a person who is registered or licensed to practise as a professional engineer under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act.

Registered professional of record means a registered professional retained to undertake design work and field reviews in accordance with Subsection 2.2.7. of Division C.

Re-occupancy permit means permission or authorization in writing by the Chief Building Official to re-occupy any building or part thereof in respect of which the Chief Building Official has issued an order to cease occupancy because of an unsafe condition.

Repair garage means a building or part thereof where facilities are provided for the repair or servicing of motor vehicles.

Residential occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof by persons for whom sleeping accommodation is provided but who are not harboured for the purpose of receiving care or treatment and are not involuntarily detained.

Return duct means a duct for conveying air from a space being heated, ventilated or air-conditioned back to the heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance.

Rim joist means the outermost member in floor framing, other than blocking, be it parallel, perpendicular or on an angle to the floor joists. (See Appendix A.)

Rock means that portion of the earth's crust that is consolidated, coherent and relatively hard and is a naturally formed, solidly bonded, mass of mineral matter that cannot readily be broken by hand.

Row housing means a building of residential occupancy where no dwelling unit is located above another dwelling unit and there is no common interior or exterior means of egress.

Sanitary drainage system means a drainage system that conducts sewage.

Secondary suite means that area of a building that is intended to be a dwelling unit that is smaller than the principal residence in the same building.

Self-service vehicle wash means a commercial vehicle wash where a customer washes their own vehicle.

Sensory disability includes visual and hearing impairments.

Separate system area means an area in which the City Engineer has required the separate disposal of storm water and sewage.

Service room means a room provided in a building to contain equipment associated with building services. (See Appendix A.)

Service space means space provided in a building to facilitate or conceal the installation of building service facilities such as chutes, ducts, pipes, shafts or wires.

Service water heater means a device for heating water for plumbing services.

Sewage means any liquid waste other than clear-water waste or storm water.

Sewage sump means an approved airtight tank or pit which receives sewage or liquid waste and which is located below the normal grade of the gravity system and must be emptied by mechanical means.

Sewer means an underground drain or conduit to remove waste water and organic refuse.

Shallow foundation means a foundation unit that derives its support from soil or rock located close to the lowest part of the building that it supports.

Shower head means any fitting that transmits water for the purposes of showering and includes rain heads, rain tiles, rain systems, waterfalls, body sprays and jets. A hand-held shower shall be considered a shower head.

Single room accommodation means a room designated as accommodation pursuant to the Single Room Accommodation By-law.

Small suite means a suite classified as a Group A Division 2, Group D, Group E, Group F Division 2 (wholesale showroom) or Group F, Division 3 occupancy where the occupant load for the entire suite does not exceed 60 persons.

Smoke alarm means a combined smoke detector and audible alarm device designed to sound an alarm within the room or suite in which it is located upon the detection of smoke within that room or suite.

Smoke detector means a fire detector designed to operate when the concentration of airborne combustion products exceeds a predetermined level.

Soil means that portion of the earth's crust that is fragmentary, or such that some individual particles of a dried sample may be readily separated by agitation in water; it includes boulders, cobbles, gravel, sand, silt, clay and organic matter.

Space heater means a space-heating appliance for heating the room or space within which it is located, without the use of ducts.

Space-heating appliance means an appliance intended for the supplying of heat to a room or space directly, such as a space heater, fireplace or unit heater, or to rooms or spaces of a building through a heating system such as a central furnace or boiler.

Sprinkler contractor means a person licensed as a contractor pursuant to the License By-law and who is either a sprinkler system installer or a person who employs a sprinkler system installer on a full-time basis.

Sprinkler system means an automatic fire extinguishing system designed to the National Fire Protection Association 13, 13D or 13R standard and all applicable associated sprinkler standards, and which consists of a system of devices and equipment designed to automatically detect a fire and discharge water or another approved fire extinguishing agent in the area of or onto a fire.

Sprinkler system installer means a person who has successfully completed an accredited program as a Sprinkler System Installer under the Industry Training Authority Act and Industry Training Regulation of British Columbia.

Sprinklered (as applying to a building or part thereof) means that the building or part thereof is equipped with a system of automatic sprinklers.

Stage means a space that is designed primarily for theatrical performances with provision for quick change scenery and overhead lighting, including environmental control for a wide range of lighting and sound effects and that is traditionally, but not necessarily, separated from the audience by a proscenium wall and curtain opening.

Storage garage means a building or part thereof intended primarily for the storage or parking of motor vehicles and containing no provision for the repair or servicing of such vehicles. (See Appendix A.)

Storey means that portion of a building that is situated between the top of any floor and the top of the floor next above it, and if there is no floor above it, that portion between the top of such floor and the ceiling above it.

Storm water means water that is discharged from a surface as a result of rainfall or snowfall.

Stove means an appliance intended for cooking and space heating.

Street means a public road, highway, bridge, viaduct, lane, and sidewalk, and any other way normally open to the use of the public, but does not include a private right-of-way on private property and, for the purposes only of Part 3 and Part 9 of this By-law, a street which is less than 9 m in width or a lane or sidewalk.

Subsoil drainage pipe means a pipe that is installed underground to intercept and convey subsurface water.

Subsurface investigation means the appraisal of the general subsurface conditions at a building site by analysis of information gained by such methods as geological surveys, in situ testing, sampling, visual inspection, laboratory testing of samples of the subsurface materials and groundwater observations and measurements.

Suite means a single room or series of rooms of complementary use, operated under a single tenancy, and includes dwelling units, individual guest rooms in motels, hotels, boarding houses, rooming houses and dormitories as well as individual stores and individual or complementary rooms for business and personal services occupancies. (See Appendix A.)

Sump means a receptacle installed between the storm or combined sewer and the building storm system to intercept the flow of deleterious matter into the building or public sewer and to prevent the outflow of sewer gas.

Supervisory staff means those occupants of a building who have some delegated responsibility for the fire safety of other occupants under the fire safety plan.

Supply duct means a duct for conveying air from a heating, ventilating or air-conditioning appliance to a space to be heated, ventilated or air-conditioned.

Temporary special event means a presentation of an artistic or cultural nature, including but not limited to visual, performing, media, literary, craft or interdisciplinary arts, for a maximum of 250 people, with or without liquor service, which occurs not more than two days per month in a building not approved for assembly occupancy.

Theatre means a place of public assembly intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts or the screening and viewing of motion pictures, and consisting of an auditorium with permanently fixed seats intended solely for a viewing audience.

Trade waste system means a system of drainage pipes from floor drains and hub drains located in food display areas that are intercepted by a trade waste sump and backwater valve before entering the sanitary building drain.

Trades safety coordinator means an agent, employee or officer of a company supplying, installing or using materials at a construction site who has been trained to understand and apply safe construction, installation or demolition techniques, as applicable, respecting those materials and their relationship to the worksite, neighbouring property, public utilities and the general public.

Training school means a School-Arts or Self-Improvement, School – Business, or School - Vocational or Trade, as defined in the Zoning & Development By-law.

Trap means a fitting or device that is designed to hold a liquid seal that will prevent the passage of gas but will not materially affect the flow of a liquid.

Treatment means the provision of medical or other health-related intervention to persons, where the administration or lack of administration of these interventions may render them incapable of evacuating to a safe location without the assistance of another person. (See Appendix A.)

Treatment occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the provision of treatment, and where overnight accommodation is available to facilitate the treatment. (See Appendix A.)

Two-family dwelling means

1. as applying to plumbing, a building containing only 2 self-contained dwelling units each served with a separate water connection, and
2. in all other cases, a building containing only 2 self-contained dwelling units.

Two-family dwelling with secondary suites means a building containing two self-contained dwelling units where each self-contained dwelling unit contains one secondary suite.

Unit heater means a suspended space heater with an integral air-circulating fan.

Unprotected opening (as applying to exposing building face) means a door, doorway, window or opening other than one equipped with a closure having the required fire-protection rating, or any part of a wall forming part of the exposing building face that has a fire-resistance rating less than that required for the exposing building face.

Unsafe condition means any condition that could cause undue hazard or risk to life, limb or health of any person authorized, expected, or anticipated to be on or about premises or a building or construction.

Unstable liquid means a liquid, including flammable liquids and combustible liquids, that is chemically reactive to the extent that it will vigorously react or decompose at or near normal temperature and pressure conditions or that is chemically unstable when subjected to impact.

Vapour barrier means the elements installed to control the diffusion of water vapour.

Vent connector (as applying to heating or cooling systems) means the part of a venting system that conducts the flue gases or vent gases from the flue collar of a gas appliance to the chimney or gas vent, and may include a draft control device.

Vertical service space means a shaft oriented essentially vertically that is provided in a building to facilitate the installation of building services including mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations and facilities such as elevators, refuse chutes and linen chutes.

Walkway means a covered or roofed pedestrian thoroughfare used to connect 2 or more buildings.

Water craft means any boat, hull, barge, or houseboat which is afloat, whether self-propelled or not, and includes pleasure and commercial craft.