DR, BCA, EPR or WR? Which Report Your Strata Needs?
- ENGIPRO
- Jan 9
- 3 min read
If you're part of a strata council or a property manager in BC, you’ve likely encountered terms like Depreciation Report, Building Condition Assessment, EPR, or Warranty Review. The problem? They all sound similar — but they serve very different purposes.
Not understanding which report to get — and when — can lead to budgeting mistakes, missed rebates, project delays, and even non-compliance with BC strata laws.
This article will give you a clear roadmap of:
What each report does
Who needs it
When it should be completed
How ENGIPRO can help you do it right (and fast)
1. Depreciation Report (DR)
Purpose: Long-term financial planning for strata maintenance
Mandated by: BC Strata Property Act
Use This When:
Planning your 20-year capital expenditure
Needing transparency for owners or buyers
Complying with the legal requirement (every 3 years, unless waived)
What’s Included:
Inventory of building components
Life expectancy of assets (roof, elevators, piping, etc.)
Repair/replacement cost projections
3 funding models for future planning
As per the BC Government, DRs are required unless a ¾ vote defers it. But repeated deferral could hurt your resale value and make financing difficult.
2. Building Condition Assessment (BCA)
Purpose: Evaluate the physical and structural state of your property
Often required by: Banks, insurers, CMHC, or for major renovations
Use This When:
Applying for a loan, especially through CMHC or private lenders
Selling a high-value building or commercial strata unit
Preparing for major renovations (roofs, facades, elevators)
What’s Included:
Visual inspection by an engineer
Structural, electrical, mechanical system overview
Lifecycle assessment
Photographic documentation
Optional: cost estimate / risk matrix
For bank loans, BC lenders often require the BCA to be stamped by a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) and follow standards like ASTM E2018-24.
3. Warranty Review (WR)
Purpose: Evaluate your building’s remaining 2-5-10 warranty coverage
Useful for: Newer strata buildings still under warranty
Use This When:
Your building is approaching 1-year, 2-year, or 5-year milestones
You’re unsure if defects are covered by builders or warranty providers
Preparing for major building envelope reviews
What’s Included:
Review of 2-5-10 coverage status
Inspection of common elements (roof, windows, walls, etc.)
Recommendations for defect claims or preventive maintenance
Ideal timing for 1/2/5-year reporting
Stratas often miss out on warranty claims because they didn’t get a proper inspection before the coverage window closed. Don’t leave money on the table.
Learn more about HPO warranty coverage from BC Housing.
4. Electrical Planning Report (EPR)
Purpose: Assess your building’s electrical infrastructure and capacity
Mandated by: BC Strata Regulation — compliance required
Use This When:
Your strata has 5 or more units and is located in a region with a regulatory deadline (e.g., Metro Vancouver, CRD, Fraser Valley by Dec 31, 2026)
You want to understand current spare electrical capacity for EV charging or heat pump upgrades
What’s Included:
Full review of the electrical service size and panels
Load calculations for current demand
Estimates of spare capacity
Identification of constraints (e.g., transformer limitations)
Recommendations for future upgrades or load sharing
Prepared by a qualified electrical contractor or licensed P.Eng
When Should You Do Each Report?
Here’s a simple planning calendar:
Report | Best Timing | Trigger Event | Mandatory? |
DR | Every 3 years | Legal compliance or planning | Yes (unless waived) |
BCA | Before renovation/loan | Loan, insurance, or value check | Not required, but often requested |
EPR | By 2026/2028 | EV rebates, compliance | Yes |
WR | Before 1/2/5-year mark | Warranty expiry | No, but highly recommended |
Not Sure What You Need?
We understand that multiple reports can feel overwhelming — but our integrated team of P.Eng, CRP, PRA, and CEng MICE professionals makes it seamless.
We offer bundled reports (DR / WR + EPR / BCA) to save you time and cost
Fast turnaround (often < 30 days) with clear, strata-ready formatting
Reports customized for lenders, insurers, or warranty claims
Full compliance with BC Housing, BC Hydro, ASTM, and CMHC standards
Let our engineers guide you! Contact ENGIPRO for a free consultation — we’ll help you figure out which reports your strata actually needs and build a smart timeline for 2026 and beyond.
Resources:
Strata depreciation report requirements - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/strata-housing/operating-a-strata/repairs-and-maintenance/depreciation-reports/depreciation-report-requirements
ASTM E2018-24 - https://www.astm.org/e2018-24.html
Home Warranty Insurance: What Homeowners Need to Know - https://www.bchousing.org/licensing-consumer-services/new-homes/home-warranty-insurance-new-homes
Strata electrical planning report - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/strata-housing/operating-a-strata/the-environment/electrical-planning-report
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