Wotan: there is no debate between major and minor. The Condo Act regulations define the components of the RFS as anything with a replacement cost of greater than $500 and a life expectancy of less than 30 years.

You can read it here:

component inventory" means an inventory, in a reserve fund study of a corporation, of each item of the common elements and assets of the corporation that requires, or is expected to require within at least 30 years of the date of the study, major repair or replacement where the cost of replacement is not less than $500;

Jony,

Yes you can trust engineering firms. I believe ours is one in the trust category and we would be happy to discuss your corporation's RFS needs.

I have several RFS related posts on the CCI Forum. Have a read through those, see if the things put forward seem sensible to you, then give us a call.

Regards,

Jonathan H. Juffs, C.E.T., ACCI
Operations Manager
GRG Building Consultants
355 Harry Walker Parkway North, Unit 6
Newmarket, ON L3Y 7B3
Phone: 905 895 7558 or 800 838 8183
Fax: 905 895 7568
Cell: 905 717 7838
Website: www.grgbuilding.com

ATTENTION UNIT OWNERS AND DIRECTORS: PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT CAFCOR DOES NOT APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF "GRG BUILDING CONSULTANTS". AS WE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS FIRM WE CAN MAKE NO RECOMENDATION.

Doubleu,

Thanks for the exact quote from the Regulations.

Still, for items that will not be deemed to fall under a RFS the Board should still have the Engineer recommend when they will need to be repaired or replaced, and for the aprox. cost. A lot of $400 jobs can add up in one year.