Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Rules and regulations may include:
dangerous goods regulations
environmental regulations
fire protection industry codes of practice
licensing arrangements, such as EAHL
manufacturers’ system manuals
ODS and SGG legislation, codes and regulations, including penalties and policing
OHS legislation, regulations and codes
other relevant legislation relating to fire protection equipment, including:
international shipping codes
marine codes for different Australian States
requirements of Australian petroleum industry
relevant agreements and protocols
relevant Australian standards, such as:
AS 1851 Maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment
note: Australian standards are frequently revised and users must always check for currency and amendments
relevant federal, state and territory Acts, regulations and codes.
Requirements may be confirmed with:
colleagues
managers
supervisors
team leaders.
Work procedures may include:
assignment instructions
equipment manufacturers’ requirements
instructions from colleagues, supervisor or manager
personal protective equipment requirements
reporting and documentation requirements
specific customer requirements.
Checking compliance requirements may include ensuring that:
persons trading in ODS and SGG hold the appropriate trading authorisation or ODS and SGG permit
scope of work to be undertaken is covered by the appropriate license.
Action may include:
advising customer
documenting non-compliance
making equipment safe
reporting, as required.
Types of extinguishing agent handling licence include:
control systems installation, commissioning and decommissioning
fixed system installation and decommissioning
fixed system testing and maintenance
portable fire extinguisher maintenance
recovery, reclamation, fill and recycling
warehouse maintenance.
Entitlements of licensees include:
portable fire extinguisher maintenance licence entitles holder:
to charge and recharge a portable fire extinguisher with non-ODS and SGG agent
note: a reclaim and refill licence is required to charge or recharge a portable extinguisher with ODS or SGG
repair the extinguisher valve
fixed system installation and decommissioning licence entitles holder to:
install and decommission a gaseous fire-extinguishing system (fire protection equipment) including to:
install and disconnect actuation devices (mechanisms) to and from container valves
install and disconnect gaseous agent containers
install and disconnect interconnections to other gaseous system containers
install and disconnect ancillary equipment connections to manifold and pipework
attach and remove transport equipment, such as valve outlet and actuator port caps, plugs and locking devices installed to prevent accidental discharge
commission actuation control devices set to operate and engage safety devices as needed and decommission these devices
fixed system testing and maintenance licence entitles holder to:
test and maintain a gaseous fire-extinguishing system (fire protection equipment), including to:
test actuation release systems
disconnect and reconnect actuation devices (mechanisms)
disconnect and reconnect interconnections to other gaseous system containers
disconnect and reconnect ancillary equipment connections from containers to manifold and pipework
test actuation devices (mechanisms)
perform tests and maintenance on any fire detection and alarm system, including any remote operation panel and actuation and control system that interfaces with or forms part of a gaseous fire-extinguishing system
perform tests and maintenance on gaseous agent containers and ancillary equipment connections from containers to manifold and pipework
recovery, reclamation, fill and recycling licence entitles holder to:
recover, reclaim, fill and recycle an extinguishing agent into and from a fire extinguisher and gaseous fire-extinguishing system container, from and to a bulk agent container
warehouse maintenance licence entitles holder to:
monitor for leakage stocks of extinguishing agent bulk agent containers in a warehouse and, as needed, to transfer extinguishing agent from a leaking storage container
control systems installation, commissioning and decommissioning licence entitles holder to:
install, commission and decommission a fire detection and alarm system, including any remote operation panel and actuation and control system that interfaces with or forms part of a gaseous fire-extinguishing system.
Ozone layer facts include:
composed of ozone (O3), which is a form of oxygen in which the oxygen molecule contains three atoms of oxygen instead of the usual two
ozone forms less than 0.4 parts per million of the atmosphere
about 90% of ozone is in upper part of atmosphere (stratosphere)
most ozone is in the layer from 20 to 25 km above the earth’s surface.
Global warming involves:
carbon dioxide found in small quantities (about 350 parts per million) in the atmosphere
carbon dioxide trapping infra red (heat) radiation and warming the atmosphere - the greenhouse effect.
ODS and SGG extinguishing agents may include:


Note list format:
product name (other names) use

Check the latest amendments to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act for the current list of ODS and SGG extinguishing agents.
ODS and SGG extinguishing agents commonly used in Australia:
FM200 (FE-227 Heptafluoropropane, HFC-227ea) used as a total flooding extinguishing agent and as a replacement for Halon 1301
Halon 1211 (BCF, Halon 1211 BCF, Bromochlorodifluoromethane) used as a streaming agent - requires a special permit in Australia
Halon 1301 (BTM, Halon 1301 BTM, Bromotrifluoromethane) used as a total flooding agent - requires a special permit in Australia
NAF-P-III (HCFC Blend C) used as a streaming agent
NAF-P-IV (HCFC Blend E) used as a streaming agent
NAF-S-III (HCFC Blend A) used as a total flooding agent
SF6 (Sulfurhexafluoride) used as an inerting agent in sealed high voltage switchgear
ODS and SGG extinguishing agents not commonly used in Australia:
Blitz III (HCFC Blend D) used in flooding systems
CFC-11 (Trichlorofluoromethane) may be found as a propellant in some powder fire extinguishers (this product is banned in Australia but may be found on incoming foreign vessels)
FC-2-1-8 (CEA-308) used in flooding systems
FC-3-1-10 (CEA-410) used in flooding systems
FC-5-1-14 (CEA-614) used as a streaming agent
FE-13 (Trifluoromethane, HFC-23) used as a total flooding agent
FE-241 (Chlorotetrafluoroethane, HCFC-124) used as a total flooding agent for non-occupied spaces and as a streaming agent
FE-25 (Pentafluoroethane, HFC-125) used in inerting and explosion suppression applications
FE-36 (Hexafluoropropane, HFC-236fa) used in portable fire extinguishers - is a replacement for Halon 1211 and Halon 1301
FM100 (HBFC-22B1) used in portable fire extinguishers
Halon 2402 (Dibromotetrafluoroethane) limited use in military systems - requires a special permit in Australia
Halotron I (HCFC Blend B or HCFC-123) used as a total flooding agent and streaming agent
Halotron II (blend of HFC-143a and HFC-125) used as a total flooding agent and as a replacement for Halon 1301
HCFC-22 (Chlorodifluoromethane) used as a propellant in some powder fire extinguishers (this product is banned in Australia but may be found on incoming foreign vessels)
HFC-134a (Unsymmetric tetrafluoroethane) used as a propellant in some powder fire extinguishers.
Effect of ozone depletion and global warming on human health and the environment may include:
changes to work practices, including those in the fire protection industry
constraints on:
aquatic ecosystems
human immune system
increased:
incidence of photochemical smog
risk of:
cataracts
skin cancer
inhibited growth of plants
reduced production of agriculture.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
This unit of competency could be assessed by oral or written questioning covering:
underpinning knowledge of the effects of ODS and SGG emissions and current arrangements
workplace examples of action taken to reduce risk of emissions and responses to potential or actual breaches of legislation.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the required skills and knowledge specified in this unit.
In particular the person should demonstrate the ability to:
apply understanding of ozone layer depletion and global warming for:
discussing the effect of ODS and SGG emissions on the ozone layer and global warming
describing the impact of ozone depletion and global warming on human health and the environment
assessing impact on fire protection industry work practices
proposing changes to fire protection industry work practices to meet ODS and SGG legal requirements
taking action to respond to potential and actual breaches of ODS and SGG regulations
locate, interpret and explain:
ODS and SGG legal requirements for handling extinguishing agents in the fire protection industry
EAHL types, associated responsibilities, usage permits and trading authorisations
agreements, protocols, regulatory requirements, fire protection industry code of practice, and Australian standards relevant to EAHL.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an off-site context. It is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards’ requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
assessment documentation
necessary legislation and regulatory documents, manuals, textbooks and other relevant documentation
training and assessment record books.
Method of assessment
Assessment methods must:
satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Property Services Training Package
include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.
Guidance information for assessment
Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.
Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.
This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function.