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.
Scope of work must include:
interpreting plans and specifications, and sizing and documenting layout of solar water heating systems for applications including residential, commercial and industrial buildings for new projects or an existing structure being renovated, extended, restored or maintained
heat transfer mechanism analysis, including conduction, convection and radiation (long wave and short wave), and the evaluation of transmittance, absorption and emittance properties of materials used in solar collectors
solar radiation calculations, including:
calculations of efficiency
calculations of radiation falling on collectors
daily, monthly and yearly calculations.

Design requirements may include:
architectural plans
building specifications
fire rating of penetrations
frost protection
integration with other heat sources
limitations of various systems
overheating protection
owner requirements
pipework identification
specialist heated water use applications.

Efficiency must include:
angle of collector in relation to latitude
comparison of demand and efficiency curves for various types of solar collectors
current and potential shading
direction in relation to north
efficiency in relation to:
ambient temperature
flow
location
pollution
prevailing wind conditions
magnetic north as opposed to true north.

Cost-benefit analysis:
compares the range of suitable materials and system choices available to enable cost-effective choices to be made without compromising the integrity of the project
may include:
design styles
energy costs
expected design life
labour costs
material costs
safety factors
speed of installation
suitable materials
comparison and evaluation of capital cost, simple pay back and lifecycle cost of solar and other heat sources
comparison of initial set-up costs to the energy savings available and establishment of cost-recovery period.

Statutory and regulatory requirements and relevant Australian standards and codes may include:
Acts, regulations, and commonwealth, state or territory, and local government requirements
Australian standards:
AS/NZS3500 National plumbing and drainage
AS2200 Design charts for water supply and sewerage
AS2369.1 Materials for solar collectors for swimming pool heating - rubber materials
AS2369.2 Materials for solar collectors for swimming pool heating - flexible or plasticised polyvinyl chloride
AS/NZS2535.1 Test methods for solar collectors - thermal performance of glazed liquid heating collectors including pressure drop
AS/NZS2712 Solar and heat pump water heaters design and construction
AS3634 Solar heating systems for swimming pools
AS/NZS4234 Solar water heaters domestic and heat pump - calculation of energy consumption
AS/NZS4445.1 Solar heating domestic water heating systems performance rating procedure using indoor test methods
DR04527 Amendment 1 to AS/NZS2712 Solar water heaters design and construction
National Construction Code.

Manufacturer requirements may include:
heater maintenance and servicing
material specifications
provision for heater pressure and temperature discharge
protection for freezing and overheating
recommended specific fixings for pipework
sizing tables
technical and trade manuals
limitations of use.

Desktop study may include:
collection and interpretation of data for design purposes, such as:
architectural and building plans
developer plans
manufacturer’s data
documents, which may include:
applications
brochures
forms
policies
other reports as available
local authorities’ requirements
area suitability for solar
shadow studies
comparison of performance of various types of solar water heaters in terms of design, location and predicted solar fraction.

Performance requirements are established using relevant Australian standards, codes, commonwealth, state or territory and local authority plans and may include:
flow rate requirements
pressure
system design
velocity
water quality and its effect on the system.

Layout of pipework systems:
must include:
dual feed
ring main
single pipe
should not unduly affect building integrity and aesthetic appeal
should have principles of economy, serviceability, durability and fit for use applied.

Fittings and valves may include:
fittings:
bends
elbows
tees
unions
valves:
backflow prevention
excess pressure
frost protection devices
isolating
location of valves
over temperature
pressure limiting
pressure reduction
strainers.

Proprietary solar heated water systems may include:
alternative supplementary fuel sources, including:
coal
electricity
fuel oil
gas
heat pump
waste heat recovery (mechanical plant)
wood
circulating systems
clarifiers
close coupled, split systems
direct and indirect heating systems
heat exchange systems
heated water heaters
pool heaters
solar pre-heaters
spa heaters
storage systems
sun track systems.

Solar water heating system calculations may include:
area locality
circulation calculations
energy balance equation
flow calculations
heat loss calculations, covering:
collector losses
overnight losses
standing losses
incoming water temperature
temperature and energy equations
varying inlet temperature and flow rate effect on the performance of a solar collector
volume calculations.

Components may include:
collectors
differential controllers
electronics
expansion tanks
filters
fittings
flow and return pipework
heat exchangers
insulation
overflows
pumps
safe trays
storage vessels
suitable type and size of circulating pumps
supplementary heat sources
support frames
timers and mechanical components
valves
water treatment.

Methods to prevent freezing and protect from over performance may include:
circulating systems
drain back systems
dump valves
heat trace systems
indirect systems
insulation.

Pipe size, velocity, flow and pressure calculations must include:
rate of discharge
temperature
velocities
volume.

Pipe supports may include:
anchors
bracket spacing
corrosion protection
hanging brackets
manufacturer-recommended specific fixings
material requirements
provision for expansion
saddles.

Materials may include:
copper (Cu)
other approved materials.

Jointing methods may include:
brazing
compression
flaring
mechanical joints
other approved jointing methods.

Installation requirements include:
pipe protection, which may include:
corrosion
impact
fire rating
level of workmanship
manufacturer-recommended specific fixings
pipe support
provision for expansion
serviceability and access
system structure support.

Solar collector design may include:
collector housing
fin and tube collectors
glass
insulation
pipe collectors
pre-heat systems
sun tracking systems
vacuum tube.

Sustainability principles and concepts:
cover the current and future social, economic and environmental use of resources
may include:
efficient use of material
efficient energy use/capital outlay comparison
selecting energy efficient water heater
reusing water, such as rainwater, greywater and recycled non-drinking water
consideration of the Green Building Council of Australia rating scheme
selecting appropriate components to ensure minimal environmental impact.

Plans:
may include:
axonometrics
cross-sections
details
elevations
isometrics
schematics
sections
may be produced using:
computer generation
drawing equipment.

Specification may include:
support
jointing
flow requirements
manufacturer requirements
materials
safety (WHS)
specialised components
testing
valve selection
workmanship.

Testing may include:
air pressure
defect inspection
hydrostatic
mains pressure
performance
quality assurance (QA) audit.

Commissioning schedule may include:
balancing the system
checking and flushing the system
checking and maintaining heat transfer fluid levels
temperature setting
disinfection
flow test
leak check
pressure test
system certification
system defects
system functions as per design
valve operation.

Operation and maintenance manual may include:
as installed drawings
certification documentation
results of commissioning test
heater detail, setting and operations
maintenance schedules
manufacturer brochures and technical information
valve function
safety management system
system detail, setting and operations.

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 who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to, as a minimum, provide evidence of the ability to:
design, size and document the layout details using two methods of providing solar-heated water systems;
one to be a gas-boosted commercial solar system; one to be a heat pump-boosted system
develop a specification for each of the following projects:
a high-rise mixed development building to a minimum of 29 floors, inclusive of a basement, to include fixtures on each floor level (fixtures are included in the basement)
a wide span project, such as a school
specifications for each of the projects, to include:
evaluating and documenting design parameters, including client, regulatory, manufacturer and relevant Australian standard and code requirements for a range of solar water heating systems
evaluating health risks associated with heated water supplies
conducting a cost-benefit analysis
planning and detailing system components, including:
circulating systems
solar collectors
valve and piping systems
designing a range of residential, commercial and industrial solar water heating systems
designing solar pre-heat systems
designing solar pool and spa heating systems
preparing plans and specifications for a range of solar water heating systems
preparing testing and commissioning schedules
producing operation and maintenance manuals
applying sustainability principles and concepts throughout the design
communicating with others to ensure safe and effective work site operations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.
Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards’ requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
an induction procedure and requirement
realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the minimum task requirements
relevant specifications and work instructions, including design brief drawings, specifications, codes, design concepts and construction schedules
tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices, including computers, software and calculators
workplace instructions relating to safe working practices and addressing hazards and emergencies
material safety data sheets
research resources, including industry-related systems information.
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.

Method of assessment
Assessment methods must:
satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and 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.
Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:
competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's demonstrated ability and applied knowledge
all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.
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.
Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.