1. About the RBQ 14.1 contractor licence exam

The RBQ sub-category 14.1 exam is the theoretical examination administered by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec for candidates seeking to act as qualified representative (répondant) for a contractor licence covering elevators, freight elevators, small dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, and material lifts as covered by CAN/CSA B44 (Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators and Moving Walks) under Chapter IV of the Quebec Construction Code, plus related construction work. The licence excludes work exclusively reserved for electrical contractors — the electrical supply per Canadian Electrical Code Section 38 is the boundary point.

The exam is offered in French and English in multiple-choice format, lasts 3 hours, and the passing grade is 60%. It is built around four official modules covering definitions and types of systems, the regulatory framework, plans/specifications/estimation, and the standards for executing installation, alteration and maintenance work.

2. Exam structure at a glance

The RBQ does not publish a percentage weighting per module for this licence. By content volume, Module 4 dominates with 52 skill statements across 6 ECs. EC 8 (Installing or altering an elevator or freight elevator) carries 16 skill statements — one of the heaviest single ECs in the RBQ profile system. EC 9 (Escalator and moving walk handling and installation) adds another 16 statements. Module 2 is notable for having the largest single regulatory EC in the entire RBQ contractor portfolio (13 statements), reflecting the unusually wide regulatory surface of elevator work.

3. Detailed competency elements

Module 1 — Definitions and types of systems

• EC 1 — Elevator terminology (6 skill statements): elevator, freight elevator, small dumbwaiter, escalator, moving walk, material lift; elevator components (hoistway / gaine, guide rail, platform, safety / governor — parachute, sling — étrier, controller, toothed belt, buffer); escalator and moving walk components (balustrade, handrail, chain); drive machine types (suspension cable, rack-and-pinion, screw-and-nut, hydraulic, cable pinion, knotted cable); load types (nominal, static, suspension, impact); measurement units (speed, mass).
• EC 2 — System characteristics and operating principles (8 skill statements): component types and applications (buffers, cables, controllers, controls, safety devices); hydraulic operating principles (piston types) and electric operating principles (drive types, geared / gearless); escalator and moving walk operating principles; electrical conductor types in elevator installations; normal and emergency power supplies (supply circuits, batteries, generator); firefighters elevator (NBC 95 + B44) for high-rise buildings (BGH); elevator behaviour in case of fire (Phase I recall, Phase II firefighters operation); accessibility design for persons with disabilities.

Module 2 — Legislative, normative and regulatory framework

• EC 3 — Elevator regulatory framework (13 skill statements — the largest single regulatory EC in the RBQ contractor system): homologation standards (CSA, UL, ASME, W-H); Loi 72 environmental quality and soil protection for hydraulic systems; Loi R-20 construction labour relations and its regulation r.1; Loi F-5 workforce training and its regulation F-5 r.4 for elevator mechanic qualification outside construction; cross-references between Loi sur le bâtiment, Chapter IV of the Construction Code, CAN/CSA B44, NBC 95, and municipal regulations; CAN/CSA B44 application scope; Quebec Construction Code Chapter I — Building; Quebec Construction Code Chapter III — Plumbing (drains français for hydraulic elevators); Quebec Construction Code Chapter IV — Elevators and Other Lifting Devices; Quebec Safety Code Chapter IV — Elevators and Other Lifting Devices; Canadian Electrical Code Section 38 and Quebec Construction Code Chapter V — Electricity; National Fire Prevention Code (CNPI); CSA W59-03 Welded Steel Construction (arc welding) and Canadian Welding Bureau certification process.

Module 3 — Plans, specifications and estimation

• EC 4 — Estimating installation and alteration work (7 skill statements): tender plan types (architectural, mechanical) and specification sections; reading plan elements (dimensions, annotations, notes, symbols — hoistway dimensions, concrete details); general and particular charges; elevator/freight-elevator selection by intended use and traffic; availability, lead times, pricing of selected unit; resources (labour, equipment, materials, productivity rate); submission preparation and filing.
• EC 5 — Estimating repair and maintenance work (6 skill statements): existing equipment evaluation (use, equipment, electricity, conformity); proposing modifications for a vertical transport system; parts availability, lead times and pricing; resources and productivity rate; materials/work conformity and component compatibility; submission preparation.

Module 4 — Standards and execution of work

• EC 6 — Installation planning (3 skill statements): installation method per manufacturer and regulation; lifting equipment and scaffolding availability; interface coordination between trades.
• EC 7 — Plans and drawings interpretation (4 skill statements): obtaining engineer-sealed plans before work begins; transmitting drawings and specs to stakeholders; explaining work particulars (symbols, dimensions, sections, details); producing installation or modification sketches.
• EC 8 — Installing or altering an elevator or freight elevator (16 skill statements — the heaviest single EC): material delivery and on-site placement; locating electrical and machine-room areas; tool provision and safe-use communication; mechanic training on installation steps; on-site technical issue resolution; quality control during and after installation; elevator parameter adjustment (speed); electrical supply from disconnect to controller (ampacity, wire size); preserving fire-stop wall and structural integrity; coordinating completion of related works (plumbing, electricity) before startup; startup tests and commissioning per Construction Code; hydraulic vs. traction installation requirements; hoistway vs. shaftless (panoramic) installations; owner instruction and maintenance manuals handover; conformity with standards, plans, manufacturer specs; work declaration filing.
• EC 9 — Escalator and moving walk handling and installation (16 skill statements combined): ambient conditions (floor resistance, route); load calculations and positioning (rolling points, roller size); manual handling equipment matching loads; rigging in accordance with anchor points and plans; route impact and authorisations; mechanic training on transport, assembly, rigging, lifting; tools and safe-use communication; on-site technical issue resolution; quality control during and after installation; parameter adjustment (speed); electrical supply from disconnect to controller; startup tests; fire-stop wall integrity; manuals handover; standards/plans/manufacturer conformity; work declaration filing.
• EC 10 — Repair, verification and maintenance (9 skill statements): fault diagnosis on various vertical transports; repair solutions (disassemble, reassemble, adjust); verification and maintenance obligations (standards, manufacturers, engineers); maintenance program per Safety Code; periodic maintenance calendar; visual and electrical test methods; component calibration, maintenance, replacement (including machining of parts); dangers requiring equipment immobilisation; maintenance and repair register.
• EC 11 — Health and safety (4 skill statements): installation and maintenance risks (confined space, heights, movement, manual handling); installation and maintenance precautions; WHMIS (SIMDUT) for hazardous materials; safe scaffolding and lifting equipment placement and use.

4. Documents at the exam — mixed-book format

Provided at the exam (open book — 7 documents)

• Code de construction (RLRQ, B-1.1, r.2) — Chapter I, Building 1995
• Code de construction du Québec (RLRQ, B-1.1, r.2) — Chapter IV, Elevators and Other Lifting Devices (2007)
• Code de construction du Québec (RLRQ, B-1.1, r.2) — Chapter V, Electricity (2007)
• Code de sécurité (RLRQ, B-1.1, r.3) — Chapter IV, Elevators and Other Lifting Devices
• Code de sécurité pour les travaux de construction (RLRQ, S-2.1, r.4) — Safety code for construction work
• CAN/CSA B44-07 — Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators and Moving Walks. The central installation reference for this licence.
• CAN/CSA B44.2-07 — Maintenance Requirements and Intervals for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators and Moving Walks

Recommended reading only (closed book — 7 documents)

• Loi sur le bâtiment (RLRQ, B-1.1) — Building Act
• Règlement sur la qualification professionnelle des entrepreneurs et des constructeurs-propriétaires (RLRQ, B-1.1, r.9) — sub-category 14.1 scope
• Loi sur la formation et la qualification professionnelles de la main-d'œuvre (RLRQ, F-5) — Workforce Training and Qualification Act
• Règlement sur les certificats de qualification et sur l'apprentissage en matière d'électricité, de tuyauterie et de mécanique de systèmes de déplacement mécanisé... (RLRQ, F-5, r.1) — elevator mechanic qualification certificates outside construction
• Loi sur les relations du travail, la formation professionnelle et la gestion de la main-d'œuvre dans l'industrie de la construction (RLRQ, R-20) — Construction Labour Relations Law
• Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (RLRQ, S-2.1) — Act respecting occupational health and safety
• C22.1-F06 — Canadian Electrical Code Part 1 (20th edition), Safety Standard for Electrical Installations

Several Quebec documents are available free of charge on publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca. CAN/CSA standards are available from the CSA store.

5. Material provided at the exam

The calculator, ruler, paper and pencil needed for the exam are supplied on site. Only the documents and material handed out by the exam supervisor may be used during the session — personal copies, notes, electronic devices, and additional reference material are not allowed.

6. What makes the RBQ 14.1 exam different

The RBQ 14.1 contractor licence is the installation, alteration and maintenance licence for vertical transport equipment — elevators, freight elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, and material lifts. Four characteristics make this exam stand apart.

Module 2 carries the largest single regulatory EC in the entire RBQ contractor system — 13 skill statements. Elevator work crosses Quebec Construction Code Chapters I, III, IV, V; Safety Code Chapter IV; CAN/CSA B44 and B44.2; the Canadian Electrical Code Section 38; the R-20 construction labour relations law; the F-5 workforce training law and its r.1 regulation for elevator mechanic qualification certificates outside construction; Loi 72 environmental quality for hydraulic systems; the National Fire Prevention Code; and CSA W59 welded steel with Canadian Welding Bureau certification. No other RBQ contractor licence touches this many regulatory instruments in a single EC.

Seven documents on the desk — second-largest open-book set among RBQ contractor licences. CAN/CSA B44 (installation) and B44.2 (maintenance intervals) plus four chapters of the Quebec Construction Code/Safety Code plus the Safety code for construction work. Multi-document navigation is therefore a primary tested skill: candidates must know which book to open first for each question.

Two installation paths and two equipment families coexist in scope. Hydraulic vs. traction elevators (EC 8.12), and hoistway vs. shaftless / panoramic installations (EC 8.13). Plus escalator/moving walk work, which is structurally different from elevator work — EC 9 dedicates a separate 16-statement block to escalator and moving walk handling, transport, rigging and assembly.

The elevator mechanic is a regulated trade outside construction. EC 3.4 tests the F-5 r.1 regulation that governs qualification certificates for elevator mechanics in non-construction sectors. This makes RBQ 14.1 unusual: the contractor licence holder coordinates work performed by regulated tradespeople whose qualification is governed by a separate law from the Construction Act.

7. Recommended preparation strategy

1. Master CAN/CSA B44 navigation. It is the central installation, maintenance and safety standard for the entire scope. Drill hoistway geometry, drive machine selection, safety device requirements (governor, buffers), controller requirements, doors and gates, ropes and cables until you can locate any clause in seconds.
2. Master CAN/CSA B44.2 maintenance intervals. The companion standard governing periodic inspection and maintenance — EC 10.4 tests proposing a maintenance program directly per the Safety Code, which references B44.2.
3. Master the dual-chapter Quebec regulatory layer. Construction Code Chapter IV (installation) and Safety Code Chapter IV (operational safety) are both open at the exam. Know which clause lives where, and how Chapter V (Electricity) ties in for the elevator electrical installation per Canadian Electrical Code Section 38.
4. Master Module 2 EC 3 (13 skill statements). The largest single regulatory EC in the RBQ system. Map each of the 13 instruments (B44, B44.2, Construction Code I/III/IV/V, Safety Code IV, CEC Section 38, R-20, F-5, F-5 r.1, Loi 72, CNPI, CSA W59 + Canadian Welding Bureau) to its scope.
5. Master hydraulic vs. traction installations. EC 8.12 tests this distinction directly. Hydraulic: piston types (in-ground, telescoping, holeless), pump unit, hydraulic oil environmental compliance per Loi 72. Traction: geared vs. gearless, machine room above vs. machine-room-less (MRL), suspension cable counterweight.
6. Master firefighters elevator (BGH) requirements. EC 2.6 and EC 2.7 test elevator behaviour in case of fire — Phase I recall and Phase II firefighters operation per NBC 95 and B44. Required in high-rise buildings (bâtiments de grande hauteur).
7. Master escalator and moving walk handling (EC 9, 16 skill statements). Distinct workflow from elevator installation: route assessment, load calculation, rigging at anchor points, transport, assembly, lifting, startup. Read EC 9 as a sequenced workflow.
8. Master accessibility design (conception sans obstacles). EC 2.8 tests elevator usage by persons with disabilities — cab dimensions, control reach, audible/visual signals, door timing.
9. Master CSA W59 welded steel construction. EC 3.13 tests CSA W59 and the Canadian Welding Bureau certification process. Hoistway and machine-room steel components require certified welding procedures.
10. Take at least two full mock exams under real conditions (3 hours, only the seven open-book documents on the desk) before scheduling the real exam.

8. Why Prof-RBQ.ca for the RBQ 14.1 exam

• Aligned with the official RBQ structure — content mapped one-to-one to the four modules and their 11 competency elements, with extra depth on Module 2 (the 13-statement EC 3) and Module 4 (52 skill statements across 6 ECs).
• Seven-document navigation drills — practice deciding which book to open first for each question across CAN/CSA B44, B44.2, Construction Code I/IV/V, Safety Code IV, and S-2.1 r.4.
• Dual-installation training — hydraulic vs. traction, hoistway vs. panoramic, geared vs. gearless — walked through with operating principles and component differences.
• EC 8 elevator-installation sequence and EC 9 escalator-handling sequence — 16 skill statements each walked through as sequenced workflows.
• Module 2 regulatory mapping — every one of the 13 instruments mapped to its scope, with worked exam-style examples on cross-references (Construction Code Chapter IV → CAN/CSA B44 → CEC Section 38, etc.).
• Firefighters elevator and accessibility focus — Phase I recall, Phase II firefighters operation, conception sans obstacles — drilled until automatic.
• Closed-book training methodology — flashcards and spaced practice for the seven closed-book documents (Building Act, Qualification Reg, F-5, F-5 r.1, R-20, OHS Act, Canadian Electrical Code Part 1), with navigation drills for the seven open-book references.
• Mock exams in RBQ format — multiple choice, 3-hour timing, 60% passing grade — so exam day feels familiar.
• Detailed answer explanations — every question, right or wrong, comes with a written rationale citing the underlying article, code, or standard.
• Bilingual — full course in English and French. The RBQ exam itself is offered in both languages.

Frequently asked questions