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.
Work health and safety requirements must comply with commonwealth, state and territory legislation and regulations, and may include:
handling of materials
hazard control
personal protective clothing and equipment prescribed under legislation, regulations and workplace policies and practices
safe operating procedures, including recognising and preventing hazards associated with:
electricity
hazardous materials and substances
service lines
surrounding structures and facilities
trip hazards
use of tools and equipment
work site visitors and the public
working at heights
working in proximity to others
use of first aid equipment
use of pressure-testing equipment
workplace environmental health and safety.
Environmental requirements:
cover water quality management
may include:
clean-up protection
stormwater protection
waste management.
Quality assurance requirements may include:
Australian standards
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements
internal company quality assurance policy and risk management strategy
International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards
site safety plans
workplace operations and procedures.
Tools and equipment may include:
elevated work platforms (EWPs)
fall protection devices
hand and power tools
ladders
scaffolds
testing equipment.
Sustainability principles and concepts:
cover the future social, economic and environmental use of resources
may include efficient:
energy use
use and recycling of materials
water use, harvesting and disposal.
Types and locations of tests are to be determined according to the type of system and the requirements of:
manufacturer
Australian standards
regulatory authority.
Isolation and draining down must include:
identifying the correct system
isolating:
alarm initiating devices
alarm signalling equipment
control and indicating equipment (CIE)
emergency warning system
water supply
operating the main drain valve
identifying and operating low drain point valves, if present
checking system for residual water pressure
applying drain-down water management techniques to prevent water damage.
Statutory and regulatory authorities may include:
state or territory statutory authority
statutory plumbing authority.
Information may include:
charts, drawings and sketches
instructions issued by authorised organisational or external personnel
memos
organisation’s work requirements
regulatory and legislative requirements, particularly those relating to:
building codes
WHS and environmental requirements
plumbing regulations
relevant Australian standards
safe work procedures relating to the use of pressure testing equipment for ensuring the integrity of fire protection systems
safety data sheets (SDS)
signage
verbal, written and graphical instructions, including manufacturer specifications and instructions where specified
work bulletins
work schedules, plans and specifications.

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 in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment providing that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate plumbing and services workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person should demonstrate the ability to:
locate, interpret and apply relevant information, standards and specifications to test the integrity of water-based fire protection systems using pressure
apply safety requirements throughout the work sequence, including the use of personal protective clothing and equipment
as a minimum, given both a fire sprinkler system and a fire hydrant system, the ability to conduct an air pressure test on one and a water pressure test on the other to achieve design and performance specifications of each system, ensuring:
application of sustainability principles and concepts
identification of requirements, design and details of the systems
selection and use of appropriate processes, tools and equipment
isolation and draining down of system and repair of leaks
completion of work to specification
compliance with regulations, standards and organisational quality procedures and processes
effective communication with others
safe work practices.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this unit:
must be in the context of the work environment
may be conducted in an off-site context, provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills
must meet relevant compliance requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
an induction procedure
realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the minimum task requirements
relevant specifications and work instructions
tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices
support materials appropriate to activity
workplace instructions relating to safe work practices and addressing hazards and emergencies
safety data sheets, job safety analyses and safe work method statements
research resources, including industry-related systems information.
Method of assessment
Assessment for this unit must verify the practical application of the required skills and knowledge, using one or more of the following methods:
direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions
questioning to confirm the ability to identify and interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function.
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.