Legal
Legal
Last Updated: April 10, 2025
The Part 9 Bracing Calculator is a reference tool designed to assist in understanding and applying lateral bracing requirements under the 2024 BC Building Code (Part 9).
This tool is not an official building code document and does not replace the need for professional judgment, site-specific engineering, or approval from the local authority having jurisdiction.
The developer assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, or consequences arising from the use of this tool. Users accept full responsibility for how the tool is applied and how its outputs are interpreted.
Always confirm results with a qualified professional and your local building authority.
Last Updated: May 15, 2025
By using the Part 9 Bracing Calculator, you agree to the following terms:
This calculator is provided as-is, free of charge, for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, official interpretation, or engineering judgment.
While every effort has been made to ensure the tool is helpful and informed by code references, no warranty is given regarding the completeness, accuracy, or applicability of the results.
You are solely responsible for verifying all results and ensuring compliance with applicable building codes, bylaws, and regulatory requirements. Always consult with your local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
Internal scripts provide interface support and automation within your spreadsheet, including navigation buttons, sheet visibility controls, print filters, and calculations. These scripts run entirely within your personal copy and do not collect or transmit any personal data. An optional version-checking feature, located on the START HERE sheet, reads a public file to help you stay informed about updates. This check is one-way and does not send any information from your sheet.
External data services (OpenStreetMap/Nominatim, Google Maps, Natural Resources Canada Seismic Hazard Tool, and GeoGratis GeoNames service) are used only through user-initiated tools within the (A-2) C2 & C3 Generator sheet. These services may collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies. No data is sent from your sheet to these services beyond what is required to retrieve location or seismic hazard results.
You are welcome to use and adapt this tool for personal or professional use, including by municipalities, government officials, designers, or code professionals. Use within an educational or institutional setting such as classrooms, training sessions, or workshops is permitted only for individual learning. Any formal instructional use, including distribution to students or participants, incorporation into course materials, or use in presentations, requires prior consent from the developer. Redistribution or commercial resale without permission is not allowed.
To ensure users have access to the most accurate and up-to-date version of the tool, please share only the official website link: part9bracing.ca. Do not share or circulate direct copies of the calculator file, including modified versions. This helps prevent outdated or altered files from being distributed without context or support.
You may not repost, republish, or redistribute this tool (or any modified version of it) through websites, shared drives, course platforms, institutional repositories, or other networks without express written permission from the developer. Internal adaptation for personal use or within a single organization (e.g., a municipality or firm) is permitted, but must not be shared externally.
Use in group instruction or formal training settings—whether free or paid—also requires prior consent, even if the tool is shared privately among participants. Always credit the original source and refer others to the official site.
This tool makes use of the following open and public resources:
Leaflet.js – BSD 2-Clause License
Leaflet Color Markers – MIT License
OpenStreetMap and Nominatim Geocoder – Open Database License (ODbL), © OpenStreetMap contributors
GeoGratis GeoNames Service – Open Government Licence – Canada
Natural Resources Canada Seismic Hazard Tool (NRCAN GraphQL API) – Open Government Licence – Canada
These tools are used in accordance with their respective licenses. No modifications have been made to these services beyond integrating them into user-initiated features in the calculator. Attribution is included within the tool and its documentation.
If you do not agree to these terms, you are not permitted to access, use, reproduce, or distribute the Part 9 Bracing Calculator or any of its outputs. Please close the tool and refer others to the official source at part9bracing.ca.
The developer may update these Terms of Use from time to time. The most current version is included in the latest version of the calculator. A version tracking feature is provided within the tool to help users identify updates, but its use is optional. Terms apply as written in the version of the calculator you are using. Users are encouraged to check for the latest version periodically to benefit from improvements and updated terms.
Last Updated: May 15, 2025
The Part 9 Bracing Calculator is a Google Sheets-based tool designed to assist with interpreting building code requirements for lateral bracing. Once copied, the calculator operates entirely within your own Google Drive. The developer does not collect or access any user data.
Internal scripts provide interface support and automation within your spreadsheet, including navigation buttons, sheet visibility controls, print filters, and calculations. These scripts run entirely within your personal copy and do not collect or transmit any personal data.
An optional version-checking feature, located on the START HERE sheet, reads a public file to help you stay informed about updates. This check is one-way and does not send any information from your sheet.
All scripts are fully visible and editable in your personal copy of the calculator under Extensions > Apps Script. You are free to review, modify, or disable any script functionality according to your own needs.
If you prefer not to use any scripts, a non-scripted version of the calculator is available. This version does not include interactive features but still provides the same core data and building code references in a static format. Please contact the developer for details.
Certain features in the tool allow users to fetch data from external sources, such as:
OpenStreetMap / Nominatim – used to retrieve coordinates for typed addresses
GeoGratis (GeoNames Service) – used to match Canadian city names to geographic coordinates
Natural Resources Canada Seismic Hazard Tool – used to retrieve site-specific seismic values via public API
These external services may collect information such as IP address, query content, or browser headers in accordance with their own privacy policies. No personal information is transmitted from your calculator to these services other than what you manually input (e.g., a city name or address for lookup purposes).
If you choose to register for a live training session, your name, email address, organization, and session selections are stored solely for the purpose of delivering calendar invitations, meeting links, and optional reminders.
You may optionally choose to receive future updates about the Part 9 Bracing Calculator. If selected, your email address is used only for that purpose and never shared or sold.
You can unsubscribe from future updates at any time by completing the unsubscribe form at:
https://part9bracing.ca/unsubscribe, or by emailing info@part9bracing.ca with the subject line "Unsubscribe".
Unsubscribed users will no longer receive optional communications but may still receive confirmation or reminder emails for sessions they have registered to attend.
The developer may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most current version is included in the latest version of the calculator. A version tracking feature is provided within the tool to help users identify updates, but its use is optional. Terms apply as written in the version of the calculator you are using. Users are encouraged to check for the latest version periodically to benefit from improvements and updated terms.
Last Updated: May 15, 2025
The Part 9 Bracing Calculator incorporates publicly available data, APIs, and open-source libraries. The following resources have been used under their respective licenses or public use policies. The developer gratefully acknowledges their contribution to making this tool accessible and functional:
Mapping and Geolocation
OpenStreetMap Contributors
Provide the base map tiles and geodata used for mapping and address lookup.
Licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL), © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nominatim Geocoder
Performs address-to-coordinate lookups using OpenStreetMap data.
Also covered by the ODbL license and subject to usage limits.
GeoGratis/GeoNames Service – Natural Resources Canada
Official location data for Canadian communities.
Used under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Seismic Hazard Data
Natural Resources Canada Seismic Hazard Tool (NRCAN GraphQL API)
Provides 2020 National Building Code (NBC) seismic hazard values based on user-selected site classes and coordinates.
Used under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Mapping Libraries
Leaflet.js
An open-source JavaScript library for interactive maps.
BSD 2-Clause License
Leaflet Color Markers
Custom map marker icons.
MIT License
These external services are used only when initiated by the user and do not collect personal data from the tool itself. Attribution is included here and where appropriate within the tool interface.
If you represent one of these services and have additional attribution requirements, please contact the developer at info@part9bracing.ca.