A lot of people search for commercial HVAC design and land on house designers. Before you hire anyone, know this: the qualification that lets someone design a house does not usually cover a shop, an office or a restaurant.
Here is how Ontario splits it up, so you hire the right person the first time. And if your project is really a house, or a house with a small business in it, that is our specialty.
A BCIN designer with the HVAC – House qualification, a licensed engineer, or the owner-builder under the owner exemption.
Small buildings that are not houses can need a different BCIN category. Sarnia’s guide, for example, points these to the Small Buildings qualification.
Many of these need an architect, a professional engineer, or both. The designer qualification alone is not enough.
Usually mechanical plans with schedules for the new use. Check your municipality’s fit-out checklist.
Ask your building department what qualification they want for your building before you hire. It is a two-minute call.
Usually still a house. Our core work.
Detached units on a residential lot. See garden suite HVAC.
Triplexes and fourplexes, with the right qualification checked first. See triplex and fourplex HVAC.
A garage or shop beside the house. See heating a garage or shop.
A house designer signs a commercial job. The permit comes back.
Kitchens, occupancy and ventilation rates are a different world.
Fit-out plans without equipment schedules and legends.
Finding out after design that the building needs an engineer.
We design HVAC for houses across Ontario: CSA F280 heat loss, full HVAC design, the ventilation summary (RMVDS) and Schedule 1, signed by a BCIN designer. If your project is a house or close to one, send it. If it needs an engineer, we will tell you that too.
Not sure what your project needs? Send the details. We will tell you straight whether it is a house job or needs an engineer.
Get Free Quote →It depends on the building. Many commercial, industrial and institutional buildings need an architect, a professional engineer, or both. Smaller Part 9 buildings that are not houses can sometimes be designed by a BCIN designer with the right category. Sarnia’s guide, for example, points other Part 9 work to the Small Buildings qualification. Your building department confirms what applies.
Not usually on a house qualification alone. The HVAC – House category is for houses. A shop, office or restaurant fit-out needs the qualification that covers that building, or an engineer.
Usually mechanical plans with equipment schedules and legends, sized for the new use. Collingwood, for one, lists mechanical plans for tenant fit-out permits. Check your municipality’s fit-out checklist.
Our focus is houses: new homes, additions, suites, garden suites and conversions. If you have a mixed project, like a house with a small home-based shop, send it and we will tell you what we can do and what needs someone else.
A home office is usually still a house. A storefront or workshop open to the public can change how the building is classified. Ask your building department early.
Look them up in Ontario’s public registry. See how to look up a BCIN. Engineers and architects are checked with their own licensing bodies.
Send your drawings and tell us about the building. For houses, suites and conversions we do the full HVAC package. For anything else, we tell you who you need.