Letters of Assurance are legal accountability documents that are required for all Part 3 and some Part 9 buildings in the BC Building Code and Vancouver Building By-law. Some local governments have bylaws that require them in additional circumstances. The building code defines architects and professional engineers registered in BC as ‘registered professionals’, the Letters of Assurance are intended to clearly identify the responsibilities of the owner and the various registered professionals in a construction project.
Architects should provide Letters of Assurance when they are required by the building code, and when specifically requested by a local government. They should not be provided if there is neither a building code nor a local government requirement for them.
In addition to the registered professionals responsible for each discipline, the building code requires a ‘coordinating registered professional’. The coordinating registered professional is responsible for ascertaining that all code related aspects which are relevant to the project are clearly identified by each of the registered professionals required on the project. On most projects, the coordinating registered professional is the architect.
In addition to Schedule A, completed by the owner and the coordinating registered professional, there are eight disciplines identified in Schedule B. These disciplines requiring Letters of Assurance are architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, fire suppression systems, geotechnical (temporary), and geotechnical (permanent). The architect signs and seals the architectural Schedule B, and coordinates the remaining disciplines. Alterations to buildings as well as new buildings require Letters of Assurance. Some projects do not require all Schedules B in all disciplines, for example, fire suppression systems Schedule B is not required on a building not having, and not required to have, a fire suppression system; interior alteration projects may not require geotechnical Schedules B. The architect, when acting as coordinating registered professional, determines what disciplines are applicable to the project and therefore which Schedules B are required.
When the construction work is complete, all field reviews have been completed, and the work substantially complies with the building code, Schedules C-A is provided by the coordinating registered professional, and Schedules C-B are provided by each of the registered professionals that provided a Schedule B.
Architects must have a clear understanding of their obligations under the Letters of Assurance before making the assurances therein.
Letters of Assurance Resources
There are many Letters of Assurance resources available, listed below:
- BC Building Code
- British Columbia Code : Letters of Assurance webpage
- Guide to the Letters of Assurance in the BC Building Code 2018 and Vancouver Building By-law 2019
- Webinar: Update to the Guide to the Letters of Assurance
- Joint Professional Practice Guidelines: Professional Design and Field Review by Supporting Registered Professionals
- Joint Professional Practice Guidelines: British Columbia Building Code Letters of Assurance Requirements for Part 9 Buildings
- AIBC Practice Guideline: Qualified Letters of Assurance
- AIBC Practice Guideline: Letters of Assurance for Phased (or Partial) Occupancies
AIBC Contact
If you have any specific questions about Letters of Assurance after reviewing the above resources, please email the AIBC’s Practice Advice department at practiceadvice@aibc.ca.