Complete Strategic Guide: Obtaining the RBQ 14.2 Licence – Elevating Devices for Persons with Disabilities Contractor

1. What Is the RBQ 14.2 Licence and Who Needs It?

The RBQ 14.2 licence — Elevating Devices for Persons with Disabilities Contractor (Entrepreneur en appareils élévateurs pour personnes handicapées) — is a specialized licence issued by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) for contractors who install, commission, inspect and maintain elevating devices designed specifically for the transport of persons with disabilities. It authorizes construction work — not reserved to electrical contractors — involving:

• Vertical platform lifts — enclosed and non-enclosed guideway systems that raise a platform vertically, governed by CAN/CSA B355;
• Stairway chairlifts — seat-mounted devices that travel along a stairway rail, for users who can transfer from a wheelchair;
• Inclined platform lifts — platform-mounted devices that travel along an inclined guideway, accommodating a wheelchair directly;
• Private residence elevating devices — residential versions of the above governed by CAN/CSA B613;
• Related construction work — structural modifications, electrical connections and safety systems associated with the installation.

With 69 skills across 4 modules and 11 competency elements, the RBQ 14.2 focuses exclusively on accessibility elevating devices — a growing market segment driven by aging populations and accessibility legislation. This licence is essential for any contractor involved in making buildings and private residences accessible to persons with mobility impairments across Quebec.

2. Scope of the Licence: From Public Buildings to Private Residences

The RBQ 14.2 covers the installation, commissioning, inspection, maintenance and repair of elevating devices designed for the transport of persons with disabilities governed by two complementary standards: CAN/CSA B355 (public, commercial and institutional buildings) and CAN/CSA B613 (private residences). Unlike the RBQ 14.1 licence — which covers full-sized elevators, escalators and moving walkways under CAN/CSA B44 — the 14.2 focuses on smaller-scale, lower-speed devices specifically designed for accessibility.

The two central references are both provided at the exam. CAN/CSA B355 covers elevating devices for persons with disabilities in general — vertical platform lifts (enclosed and non-enclosed guideway), stairway chairlifts and inclined platform lifts installed in public, commercial and institutional buildings. CAN/CSA B613 covers the same types of devices but with requirements adapted to the residential context — different guideway enclosure requirements, lower travel distances, simplified controls and different inspection intervals. Understanding the distinctions between these two standards is fundamental to the exam.

A distinctive feature of the RBQ 14.2 is the variety of vehicle configurations — the exam tests candidates on platforms for a standing person, platforms for a wheelchair user, platforms for a wheelchair user and an attendant, and dual-person platforms. Each configuration has specific load ratings, platform dimensions, safety device requirements and guideway specifications. Module 4 (Standards and Work Execution) accounts for 34 of 69 skills — 49% of the exam — covering the full installation-to-maintenance lifecycle.

3. RBQ Exam Format: What to Expect

• Question type: Multiple choice (MCQ)
• Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
• Passing grade: 60%
• Languages: French or English
• Skills assessed: 69 skills across 11 competency elements
• Exam type: Mixed (7 open-book documents + 7 closed-book documents)
• Tools provided: Calculator, ruler, paper and pencil

With 69 skills and a balanced 7+7 document split, the RBQ 14.2 shares the same open-book generosity as the 14.1. Module 4 (Standards and Work Execution) accounts for 34 of 69 skills — 49% of the exam.

4. Exam Documentation: Open Book vs. Closed Book

The RBQ 14.2 exam is a mixed exam with 7 documents provided (open book) and 7 to memorize (closed book) — 14 documents total.

Documents PROVIDED During the Exam (Open Book)

• Construction Code — Chapter I, Building — Contains the building requirements that interface with accessibility installations, including barrier-free access provisions and structural loading.
• Quebec Construction Code — Chapter IV, Elevators and Other Elevating Devices — The Quebec-specific chapter governing the installation and safety of all elevating devices, including those for persons with disabilities.
• Quebec Construction Code — Chapter V, Electricity — The electrical code governing wiring, power supply and control circuits for elevating devices.
• Safety Code — Chapter IV, Elevators and Other Elevating Devices — The code governing the safety of existing installations, including periodic inspections and maintenance requirements.
• Safety Code for Construction Work (CQLR, c. S-2.1, r. 4) — Health and safety standards applicable to construction sites.
• CAN/CSA B355 — Elevating Devices for Persons with Disabilities — The primary standard for platform lifts, stairway chairlifts and inclined platform lifts in public, commercial and institutional buildings.
• CAN/CSA B613 — Private Residence Elevating Devices for Persons with Disabilities — The companion standard for residential accessibility devices with requirements adapted to the home environment.

Documents to MEMORIZE (Closed Book)

• Building Act (B-1.1) — The foundational statute governing construction, safety, and contractor qualifications in Quebec.
• Regulation respecting the professional qualifications of contractors and owner-builders (B-1.1, r. 9) — Defines the qualification requirements and conditions for obtaining a licence.
• Act respecting labour relations in the construction industry (R-20) — The statute governing labour relations, collective agreements and working conditions in the construction industry.
• Occupational Health and Safety Act (S-2.1) — The foundational statute for workplace safety in Quebec.
• Act respecting workforce vocational training and qualification (F-5) — The statute governing workforce training and professional certification in Quebec.
• Regulation respecting certificates of qualification and apprenticeship (F-5, r. 1) — The regulation governing trade certification and apprenticeship requirements.
• Canadian Electrical Code C22.1 — Part One — The national electrical code including Section 38 specific to elevators and elevating devices.

5. The 4 Training and Competency Modules

Module 1 — Definitions and Types of Systems (10 skills)

Covers the foundational knowledge of accessibility elevating devices: types of devices (vertical platform lifts with enclosed and non-enclosed guideways, stairway chairlifts, inclined platform lifts with enclosed and non-enclosed guideways), vehicle configurations (platform for standing person, wheelchair, wheelchair and attendant, dual-person), driving machine types (suspension rope, pulley, drum, screw and nut, hydraulic, rack and pinion), and the scope distinctions between CAN/CSA B355 (public/commercial/institutional) and CAN/CSA B613 (residential).

Module 2 — Legislative, Normative and Regulatory Framework (11 skills)

Covers the regulatory framework for accessibility elevating devices: the Building Act, the CAN/CSA B355 and B613 standards, the Construction Code Chapter IV, the Safety Code Chapter IV, the Canadian Electrical Code Section 38, the labour relations legislation (R-20), the workforce training legislation (F-5), the Professional Qualifications Regulation, the Safety Code for Construction Work, and the OHS Act. This module tests candidates on both the technical standards and the broader legislative framework governing contractor qualifications and workplace safety.

Module 3 — Plans, Specifications and Estimation (14 skills)

Covers the ability to read and interpret installation plans for accessibility devices: site assessment (stairway dimensions, floor-to-floor height, structural capacity), plan reading and interpretation, load calculations (rated load based on vehicle configuration), equipment selection based on building type (B355 vs B613 application), bidding and estimation, resource planning and productivity assessment. This module has the highest skill-per-module ratio for the first three modules, reflecting the importance of proper site assessment and equipment selection.

Module 4 — Standards and Work Execution (34 skills — 49%)

The most heavily weighted module on the exam. With 34 skills, this module covers: installation procedures (guideway mounting, platform assembly, safety device setup), electrical connections (distribution circuits, batteries, generator sets per Section 38), start-up and commissioning tests (load testing, safety device verification, speed testing), work declarations and compliance documentation, maintenance programs (periodic schedule, diagnostics, record-keeping), inspection procedures per Safety Code Chapter IV, component replacement and calibration, and health and safety (working at heights, electrical hazards, confined spaces).

6. Key Competencies and Technical Requirements (Official Context)

CAN/CSA B355 vs. CAN/CSA B613: Public vs. Residential Requirements

The distinction between these two standards is the most heavily tested concept on the RBQ 14.2 exam. CAN/CSA B355 governs devices installed in public, commercial and institutional buildings — it requires enclosed guideways for vertical platform lifts above a certain travel distance, specific fire-resistance ratings for guideway enclosures, emergency communication devices, and more frequent inspection intervals. CAN/CSA B613 governs the same device types in private residences — it permits non-enclosed guideways in certain configurations, has different travel distance limits, allows simplified controls (constant-pressure operation), and has adapted inspection requirements. The exam tests candidates on when each standard applies, the specific differences in guideway enclosure requirements, safety device specifications, platform dimensions, and speed limits between the two contexts.

Vertical Platform Lifts: Enclosed vs. Non-Enclosed Guideways

Vertical platform lifts are the most common device type under the RBQ 14.2 licence. The exam distinguishes between enclosed guideway systems (the platform travels inside a shaft with walls, doors and interlocks — similar to a small elevator) and non-enclosed guideway systems (the platform travels along exposed guide rails with safety panels and toe guards but no full enclosure). Enclosed systems have higher travel distance limits, require landing doors with interlocks, and must meet fire-resistance ratings. Non-enclosed systems are limited in travel distance, require constant-pressure controls (the platform stops moving if the user releases the control), and must have safety panels to prevent contact with the platform edge during travel. The exam tests installation clearances, structural mounting requirements, pit depth, overhead clearance, and the specific safety devices required for each configuration.

Stairway Chairlifts and Inclined Platform Lifts

These devices travel along the incline of a stairway rather than vertically. Stairway chairlifts carry a seated user (who must transfer from a wheelchair) along a rail mounted to the stairway wall or floor. Inclined platform lifts carry a wheelchair user directly on a platform that travels along the stairway incline. The exam tests the differences in rail mounting requirements (wall-mounted vs. floor-mounted), the structural load calculations (the stairway must support the device, the user, and the wheelchair for inclined platforms), the folding mechanisms (both devices must fold to maintain stairway clearance when not in use), the speed limits, and the safety devices (overspeed governors, slack cable/chain detectors, obstruction sensors). For inclined platform lifts, the exam also tests guideway enclosure requirements — enclosed guideways require fire-rated construction and landing doors, while non-enclosed guideways require safety panels and constant-pressure controls.

Electrical Supply and Emergency Power

Module 4 tests the electrical interface between the elevating device and the building's electrical system. The exam covers distribution circuits (dedicated branch circuit requirements per the Canadian Electrical Code Section 38), battery backup systems (many accessibility devices use battery-powered driving machines that charge from the building's electrical supply — the exam tests battery maintenance, charging circuit requirements and emergency lowering procedures), generator sets (buildings with emergency power must provide power to accessibility elevating devices — the exam tests the connection requirements and automatic transfer procedures), and grounding requirements. The Canadian Electrical Code C22.1 is closed book, so candidates must memorize the key provisions of Section 38 as they apply to accessibility devices.

Commissioning Tests and Safety Code Compliance

After installation, every accessibility elevating device must undergo commissioning tests before being put into service. The exam tests the complete commissioning sequence: static load testing (loading the platform to 125% of rated load to verify structural integrity), running load testing (operating the device at rated load to verify speed, levelling accuracy and smooth operation), safety device testing (verifying that overspeed governors, slack rope/chain detectors, and obstruction sensors stop the device within the required distance), emergency lowering testing (verifying the manual or battery-powered emergency lowering procedure works correctly), and electrical testing (verifying interlocks, contacts and emergency circuits). After commissioning, a work declaration must be filed with the RBQ, and the device is subject to periodic inspections under the Safety Code Chapter IV.

Maintenance Programs and Periodic Inspections

The Safety Code Chapter IV imposes specific maintenance and inspection obligations on the owners of elevating devices — and the contractor must establish the maintenance program. The exam covers maintenance program design (what to inspect, how often, and what records to keep), diagnostic procedures (identifying wear patterns, unusual noises, speed variations and levelling errors), periodic testing (annual safety device tests, load tests at prescribed intervals), record-keeping requirements (maintenance logs, test results, component replacement records — all of which may be inspected by the RBQ), and component replacement criteria (when to replace ropes, chains, sheaves, hydraulic seals and electrical contacts based on wear limits specified in B355 and B613).

7. Preparation Strategy and Tips for Success

The RBQ 14.2 exam covers 69 skills across 4 modules with 7 open-book and 7 closed-book documents. Here is a recommended strategy:

Phase 1 — Master CAN/CSA B355 and B613 (both provided at the exam). These are the two most important open-book references. Focus on understanding the distinctions between public and residential requirements, guideway enclosure rules, platform dimensions, speed limits, and safety device specifications. Practice comparing equivalent clauses between the two standards.

Phase 2 — Dominate Module 4 (Standards and Work Execution). With 34 skills (49% of the exam), this module covers the full installation-to-maintenance lifecycle. Focus on commissioning tests (load testing, safety device testing, emergency lowering), work declarations, electrical connections, and maintenance programs — these are the highest-yield topics.

Phase 3 — Memorize the Canadian Electrical Code Section 38. This is the most technical closed-book document. Focus on dedicated branch circuit requirements, battery backup systems, emergency power connections, and grounding requirements for elevating devices. Use Prof-RBQ.ca's flashcards to retain the key provisions.

Phase 4 — Memorize the 6 remaining closed-book documents. Group them: contractor law (Building Act, Professional Qualifications Regulation), workforce training (F-5, F-5 r.1), labour relations (R-20), and workplace safety (OHS Act). These are tested across all RBQ licences — systematic memorization pays off.

Phase 5 — Complete full timed simulations. With 69 skills and 7 open-book documents, you have roughly 156 seconds per question. Practice navigating between CAN/CSA B355, B613, Chapter IV and the other references under timed conditions.

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