The Building Code Identification Number or BCIN is the result of Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing process to streamline building permitting in registration codes Ontario. Specifically Bill 124 of article 2.17.5.1 of the Ontario Building Code requires designers to be licensed. When using a BCIN designer you will know that you have hired someone who had to meet educational and other requirements necessary to submit building permits.
A design firm or individual who is engaged in providing the public with design activities must be licensed. Whoever the registrant is of a partnership or corporation will be required to be licensed. This could be an officer, partner, and/or an employee of a firm. Anyone who will be reviewing and taking responsibility on any design activities will have to be licensed and have a identification number from the Ministry. Every five years the code is updated, therefore, licensees will have to update their qualifications at that time.
Responsibility for qualification and registration lies with the firm or individual. The municipality holds the responsibility of validating information listed on the application, making sure that proper insurance is in force, and that registration with the province has been filed. It also accepts, approves, renews, suspends, and revokes licenses. In addition, it is under the municipality’s jurisdiction to enforce the building codes.
Any documents that are filed with the chief building official must have the identification number of the firm and the qualified person listed. This qualified person must also submit a statement of responsibility for any design activities. This person will also be required to have his or her name and signature on the document.
Builders, officials, and designers can easily be verified for registration and qualification requirements. By searching online for the Qualification and Registration Tracking System, or QuARTS, the public is allowed the information needed to make sure they are dealing with professionals who are compliant with the codes. To access the information you will need one of three pieces of information, the last name of the individual (first too if possible), or the name of the company, or the BCIN. The site is in both English and French.
By searching QuARTS you will be presented with the following information, the name and BCIN, what area of qualification has been met, what the categories of qualification has been met, the status, a link to the organization’s information. The organization information includes the address, telephone, fax and E-mail address, and the name of the company. The identification number, status, and registration are again shown.