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.
Plumbing system may include:
air conditioning
compressed air
hose reels
hydrants
roofing
sanitary plumbing and drainage
sprinklers
steam
stormwater
trade waste
ventilation
wastewater
water supply.

Aspect of a plumbing system may include:
backflow prevention
flows
materials
solar heating
trapping
valves
ventilation
water heating.

Analysis may include:
durability, longevity and practicality
health issues and concerns
impacts, including:
environmental
financial
health
personal
system processes or aspect of the system
legislation
materials
needs or desired outcomes
practices and work or installation methods
safety systems and practices
sustainability.

Literature review and research may include:
industry personnel
internet
journals
legislation and standards
manufacturers' literature
textbooks
trade publications.

Evaluations should:
draw together key aspects of the project
identify interrelationships of elements identified through the analysis.

Alternatives and redundancies may include:
changes in community expectations
changes in legislation
duplication of tasks and processes
new work practices
outdated practices and systems, for example systems and processes replaced by new technologies.

Conclusions may be drawn:
on any or all aspects of the project but must be supported by analysis and research.

Recommendations should point to future directions and may include:
changes in materials to reduce impacts on cost, health, safety and the environment
changes in work practices
deletion of old systems and procedures
legislation changes
new systems and procedures.

Report:
should cover:
outline of the project
research and literature review
analysis
evaluation
alternative solutions
conclusions
recommendations
may be in any recognised and professional format
must be appropriately referenced.

Report may be published:
in journals
in textbooks
in trade publications
on the internet.

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 provide evidence of:
analysing and evaluating plumbing systems
trialling and evaluating alternative solutions
complying with WHS regulations applicable to workplace operations
applying organisational quality procedures and processes within context of analysing and reporting on technical plumbing systems
writing a report to professional standards
making appropriate supported recommendations
using appropriate techniques to publish reports
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.