Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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.
Legislative and industry requirements may include:
dangerous goods regulations
environmental regulations
licensing arrangements
OHS legislation, regulations and codes
relevant commonwealth and state or territory building Acts, regulations and codes, such as Building Code of Australia (BCA)
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
other relevant legislation relating to fire protection equipment, including:
international shipping codes
marine codes for different Australian states
requirements of Australian petroleum industry.
Organisational requirements may be located in quality assurance and procedures manuals and may include:
client-specific contractual requirements
documentation and information systems and processes
legal and organisational policy and guidelines
legislation relevant to service operation
personnel practices and guidelines outlining work roles, responsibilities and delegations
use of electronic job scheduling and communication devices.
Checking for compliance may include:
applying inspections, tests and survey requirements to equipment and systems, according to relevant Australian standards, to determine that they are:
capable of operating as intended when originally installed
still suitable for the fire hazard or risk being protected, as no change in occupancy or use of the area protected has occurred since the equipment or system was installed or last modified
providing the coverage and protection needed to meet original design and performance requirements
reviewing documentation to verify that installed systems comply with legislative and industry requirements, such as:
building's essential services or fire safety measures listing
relevant commonwealth and state or territory building Acts, regulations and codes
relevant Australian standards listed on essential service listing
environmental regulations.
Action may include:
advising client
documenting non-compliance
making equipment safe
reporting, as required.
Annual functionaltesting:
is inspection, testing and surveying according to AS 1851 Maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment for water-based fire-suppression systems
includes:
annual frequency inspection, testing and surveying activities, except water flow proving testing
operating:
pressure reducing valves to verify operation is at required pressures
pressure relief valves to verify operation is at required pressures
accelerator/exhauster and double interlock valves to verify operation is at required pressures and delivery time on dry pipe or pre-action systems.
Complex components may include:
components of a water-based fire-suppression system associated with:
double interlock systems
pressure reducing systems
accelerator/exhauster systems.
Water-based fire-suppression systems include systems defined in:
AS 2118 Automatic fire sprinkler systems (known as the SAA code for automatic fire sprinkler systems)
AS 2419 Fire hydrant installations, including systems such as:
alternate wet and dry systems
combined sprinkler and hydrant systems
deluge systems
dry systems
hydrant systems
pre-action or recycle systems
residential and domestic systems
tail-end systems.
Key control valves may include those:
specified in AS 2118 Automatic fire sprinkler systems
installed in the:
associated control valve trim
activation small bore pipework to the alarm and control valve assembly.
Installation and design survey may include:
annual survey required by AS 1851 Maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment to determine that water-based fire-suppression system's design and installation are not impaired by changes to:
building structure
occupant use
environment
conducted from floor level to identify:
design standard suitable for current building occupation requirements:
building classification
storage heights
external sprinkler requirements
pipework corrosion or damage
sprinkler head:
compatibility and ambient conditions
head condition
head location and spacing
head obstructions
spray pattern
temperature rating and response time index (RTI).
Sustainability principles and concepts:
cover the social, economic and environmental use of resources to meet current and future needs
may include:
efficient use of material
efficient energy and water use
rain harvesting and disposal.
System interfaces may include:
components, such as:
flow switches
pressure switches
tamper switches
valve positioning switches
devices that operate signals between the water-based fire-suppression system and other services, such as:
building heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) services
fire brigade monitoring providers
other life safety systems, such as:
warning systems
fire indicator panel.
Frequency schedules are:
schedules of work conducted at regular frequencies as defined in AS 1851 Maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment (general section) that relate to the work scope for annual inspection, and testing and survey maintenance schedules.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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 observation of practical demonstration of the inspection and testing procedures to verify that complex water-based fire-suppression system equipment functions as intended.
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 sustainability principles and concepts when conducting annual functional testing of complex water-based fire-suppression systems
apply safety requirements throughout the work sequence, including electrical safety, personal protective clothing and equipment
conduct relevant annual inspection and test requirements (other then water flow testing) according to the current Australian standard on water-based fire suppression systems, including complex components for the following systems:
general sprinkler systems with no pumpset system
general sprinkler systems with pumpset system and tank
combined sprinkler and hydrant systems
deluge systems
pre-action or recycle systems
pressure reducing valves
pressure relief valves
perform an installation and design survey on a Class 5 to 9 building of at least 5 stories or greater then 10,000 square metre building to produce an inspection report on:
pipework external condition
sprinkler head condition
sprinkler head obstructions
sprinkler head location and spacing
sprinkler head compatibility and ambient conditions (RTI and sprinkler head and spray pattern)
external sprinkler requirements
design standard suitable for current building occupation requirements, such as classification and storage heights.
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:
adequate water supply and draining or recycling arrangements to operate water-based fire-suppression system
necessary tools, specialist equipment, manuals and relevant documentation
operational water-based fire-suppression system
pictures and cut-away sections of control assemblies and valves to show operation
training and assessment record book.
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, for example:
CPCPFS3020A Conduct basic functional testing of water-based fire-suppression systems
CPCPFS3021A Inspect and test fire pumpsets
CPCPFS3023A Conduct functional water flow testing.