Project management
Metal project management under an RBQ licence: one accountable party
PacoMetal designs, fabricates and installs under a general contractor licence. Here is what that licence covers, what it changes for you, and who answers for what.
What licence 5829-7284-01 covers
| Item | On the RBQ registry |
|---|---|
| Holder | Pacométal inc. (NEQ 1176669225) |
| Class | General contractor |
| Subclass | 1.3 — Buildings of all kinds |
| Issued | December 28, 2023 |
| Status | Valid, no restriction |
| Licence bond | $40,000, provided by the Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ) |
| Claims on file | None |
Subclass 1.3 is the broadest general contractor licence. It authorizes PacoMetal to take on construction work on a building of any kind: industrial, institutional, commercial or residential.
In practice, PacoMetal can sign the contract for the whole job, carry out the metal work itself and hand the other trades to subcontractors it selects and supervises. One contract, one accountable party.
It does not cover civil engineering works such as bridges and roads. Those fall under another class, and we say so on the first call.
What it changes for an institutional buyer
- One contract. You do not coordinate a shop, an installer and an electrician. PacoMetal carries the whole and answers for the result.
- The law is met. In Quebec, construction work must be entrusted to an RBQ licence holder. An owner who hires an unlicensed contractor loses recourse and faces fines.
- Real recourse. The $40,000 licence bond compensates a client harmed by the contractor’s failure to meet its obligations, under the RBQ’s conditions.
- An in-house engineer. Plans are modelled in 3D and, when the project requires it, stamped by an engineer before fabrication.
- Site compliance. Health and safety, permits, inspections: PacoMetal coordinates them for the part it is responsible for.
- A close-out file. As-built drawings, galvanizing and material certificates, inspection reports on request.
For a public client, the RBQ licence is not a selling point. It is the eligibility condition. PacoMetal has met it since 2023.
Who carries which responsibility
| Step | Responsible |
|---|---|
| Design and calculations | PacoMetal’s engineer, or the client’s engineer when plans are supplied. Plans that require it are stamped before fabrication. |
| Fabrication | PacoMetal, in its LaSalle shop. Dimensional inspection before delivery. |
| Installation | PacoMetal, under its general contractor licence. Anchoring, lifting, placement, commissioning. |
| Subcontractors | Selected, contracted and supervised by PacoMetal. The client has a single point of contact. |
| Permits and inspections | Applied for on the owner’s behalf and coordinated by PacoMetal for the metal work. |
| Guarantees | RBQ licence bond, the company’s liability insurance. Certificates provided on request. |
How a project runs
- 01
Diagnosis
Site visit or plan review. If the project falls outside our licence or our scope, we tell you.
- 02
3D plan and quote
Modelling, design review, written quote in under 48 h with assumptions and exclusions.
- 03
Permits and planning
Permit applications, site schedule, coordination with your operations to limit interruptions.
- 04
Fabrication
In the shop, to the millimetre, with inspection before delivery. Nothing is adjusted on site unless planned.
- 05
Installation and commissioning
On site, under licence, with our crews. Anchors verified, commissioning when the equipment calls for it.
- 06
Close-out file
As-built drawings, certificates, reports. What your facilities department archives.
Three projects delivered under this responsibility
The Verdun fire station: ten structural columns built in the shop and installed in the basement without interrupting service, for the City of Montréal. The Old Port of Montréal: protective bollards with an engineer’s plan, an anchored concrete block and ten government forms. Les Cours Mont-Royal: a security gate meeting fire standards, installed in one day.
Frequently asked questions
Is an RBQ licence required to install a steel structure?
Yes. Installing a structure on a building is construction work under the Building Act. It must be carried out by an RBQ licence holder. Shop fabrication alone does not require it; installation does.
What does the $40,000 licence bond cover?
It compensates a client who suffers harm because the contractor failed to meet its obligations, for example unfinished or non-compliant work, under the conditions set by the RBQ. It comes on top of the company’s liability insurance.
Can PacoMetal be the general contractor on a project that goes beyond the metal work?
Yes, on a building of any kind, thanks to subclass 1.3. We take that role when the metal work is the heart of the project and the other trades are limited. On a full construction project, we more often work as the specialized subcontractor of your general contractor.
How do I check the licence is valid on signing day?
Enter number 5829-7284-01 in the RBQ licence holders registry. The record shows the status, the authorized work, the bond and any claims. It is updated daily.