Chapter 11 of BNQ 3009-500 defines seven professional ethics rules for Quebec residential building inspectors: respect confidentiality, obtain written approval before sharing the report, protect physical safety on site, don't damage the building, communicate objectively, flag situations warranting additional information, and recognize one's competence limits. The BNQ standard is a voluntary reference today, but REIBH takes full effect October 1, 2027 — at that point these rules become binding for every certified inspector, and violations expose them to sanctions under the Building Act.
Here's each rule, what it means in practice, and the most common pitfalls.
1. Respect confidentiality
"a) respect the confidential nature of all information obtained in connection with the inspection."
The inspector handles sensitive information — the building's state, seller declarations, personal contact details. All of it must remain confidential. Don't share inspection details with another client, don't mention a property's characteristics in a hallway conversation, don't post identifiable photos on social media.
This rule overlaps with Loi 25 obligations on personal-information protection — we cover the implications in detail in our Loi 25 guide for inspectors.
2. Get written approval before sharing the report
"b) obtain the requester's prior written approval before providing a copy of the inspection report to other persons, except [legal exceptions]."
The inspection report belongs to the requester, not the inspector. It cannot be freely shared with the seller, the broker, the lending institution, or other interested parties — except with the requester's written authorization.
The exceptions:
- A request from a body exercising powers of verification, inspection, control, or investigation under a law (the RBQ, for example)
- A request from an insurer in connection with a claim
Any other sharing requires written authorization. Chapter 10 of the standard requires keeping that written authorization in the inspection file.
3. Protect physical safety
"c) act in a manner that does not compromise their own safety or physical integrity or that of the requester or other persons present at the time of the inspection."
Inspection is not an extreme sport. An icy roof, an unstable ladder, an electrical panel throwing sparks — the inspector must decline or postpone the examination rather than take the risk. The standard explicitly allows documenting that a component wasn't accessible for safety reasons (article 7.1.2 g).
4. Don't damage the building
"d) refrain from damaging the inspected residential building in any way whatsoever."
Inspection is non-destructive. The inspector probes, observes, tests — but does not drill, cut, or break. If a verification required by the standard can't be performed without risking damage, the inspector documents the limit and recommends the appropriate additional expertise.
5. Communicate objectively
"e) communicate or interact objectively with the requester."
The inspector is not a salesperson. They don't minimize a defect to facilitate the transaction, nor exaggerate a finding to justify their fees. Every assertion must rest on objective evidence (article 7.1). Personal opinions ("this house is not a good buy") aren't part of the mandate — in fact, Annex A of the standard explicitly excludes this kind of recommendation.
6. Flag situations warranting additional information
"f) bring to the requester's attention any situation noted in connection with the inspection that may influence their decision about a real estate transaction and for which it is appropriate for the requester to obtain additional information."
This rule is the heart of the duty to inform. When the inspector detects a deficiency indicator or a sign suggesting a problem (article 7.2.3), they must flag it to the requester, even if confirmation requires technical expertise. Not mentioning a detected sign to avoid "scaring" the buyer is an ethical breach and a legal risk.
7. Recognize competence limits
"g) take into account the limits of their aptitudes or knowledge as well as the means available before rendering or offering to render residential building inspection services."
An inspector certified at Class 1 must not accept inspection of a 12-unit building (a Category 2 building, which requires an RBQ Class 2 certificate). An inspector without expertise in complex wood framing must recommend a structural engineer. This rule protects the requester against an inspector who would overreach their competence, and protects the inspector against professional liability beyond what their insurance covers.
What these rules mean for daily practice
Beyond the text, these rules structure several concrete practices:
- The service contract should clarify confidentiality and the situations where the report can be shared (rules 1 and 2).
- Field safety procedure must be explicit: protective equipment, ladder checks, documented refusal when safety isn't assured (rule 3).
- Finding templates should encourage objective communication (rule 5) — factual phrasing, photographic evidence, justified recommendations.
- The competence-limits list should be explicitly shared with potential clients before the service contract is signed (rule 7).
Sanctions and liability
Under REIBH, a certified inspector who breaches these rules is exposed to:
- A complaint to the RBQ that can trigger administrative sanctions (certificate suspension, practice conditions, fines)
- A professional-liability suit by the requester or seller, covered (in part) by the mandatory insurance of $1M (Class 1) or $2M (Class 2)
- Penal prosecution for offences under the Building Act
How Axiom³ supports these rules
The Axiom³ editor translates each rule into concrete functionality:
- Confidentiality: Montreal hosting, at-rest encryption, account-based access (rule 1)
- Controlled sharing: client portal with explicit consent for any release to a third party (rule 2)
- Descriptive structure: BNQ 3009-500 editor that guides toward objective phrasing (rule 5)
- Finding blocks that explicitly distinguish what's detected, what needs confirmation, and inspection limits (rules 6 and 7)
Try Axiom³ for free — 10 inspections, no credit card.
Common questions
My client asks me to change the report — can I?
No, if the change misrepresents facts or findings. You can correct factual errors (misspelled name, wrong date) but not change a technical conclusion. An ethically problematic modification request can be documented in the file (chapter 10).
The broker wants to refer clients to me. Can I pay them a commission?
No. OACIQ explicitly prohibits referral commissions between brokers and inspectors. Any financial arrangement of this kind violates both OACIQ ethics and rule 5 of chapter 11 (objective communication — an inspector receiving a broker commission is no longer truly objective).
Should I refuse an inspection if I sense a conflict of interest?
Yes. If you inspected the same building a year ago for another client, if the owner is a close contact, if you have a financial stake in the transaction — all these compromise rule 5 (objective communication). Decline the mandate or disclose the conflict in writing to the requester before accepting.
Sources & references
- BNQ 3009-500 — Residential Building (chapter 11): bnq.qc.ca
- REIBH (B-1.1, r. 3.1): LégisQuébec
- Building Act (Quebec): LégisQuébec
- Loi 25 — Personal information protection: CAI
- OACIQ — Prohibition of conflicts of interest: oaciq.com
Last verified: April 22, 2026.