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 includes:
interpretation of plans and specifications
sizing and documenting layout of fire sprinkler systems for applications, including residential, commercial and industrial.

Design requirements may include:
architectural specifications
builder specifications
owner requirements
relevant statutory authorities
specialist design applications.

Cost-benefit analysis may include:
comparison of range of suitable materials and system choices available to enable cost-effective choices to be made without compromising project integrity.

Fire department, statutory, regulatory, Australian and New Zealand standards and relevant building code requirements may include:
relevant Acts, regulations and local and state government policies
AS/NZS2118 Automatic fire sprinkler systems - general requirements
AS2419 Fire hydrant installations - system design, installation and commission
material and authorisation standards specified by:
National Construction Code (NCC)
statutory authorities.

Manufacturer requirements may include:
material specifications and standards
pump tables
sizing tables
sprinkler heads and components
technical and trade manuals.

Flow and pressure tests may include:
results of flow and pressure tests conducted by a contractor
on-site measurement of flow (l/s) and pressure (kPa).

Desktop study may include:
collection and interpretation of existing data for design purposes from:
architectural and building plans
council requirements
developer requirements
regulatory requirements
environmental, social and economic considerations
other documents and reports as appropriate.

Performance requirements may include:
flow, velocity, pressure and discharge requirements, established using Australian and New Zealand standards and local statutory authorities’ plans.

Layout of pipework systems:
may include:
appropriate water supply
grid systems
ring main
tree system
should have principles of economy, serviceability, durability and fit for use applied.

Fittings and valves may include:
fittings:
mechanical fittings
bends
elbows
tees
unions
valves:
backflow prevention
pressure relief
isolating
pressure limiting
pressure reduction
strainers
water-saving devices.

Backflow prevention devices:
may be testable or non-testable devices and installed as:
individual protection
zone protection
containment protection.

Alarm and valve assemblies may include:
wet
dry
deluge
pre-action
mechanical and electrical alarms
ancillaries and trims.

Calculations may include:
hazard classification
hydraulic
pressure and flow
density of discharge
velocity
volume
friction
area of operation (including shapes).

Materials may include:
chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC)
copper
steel
fittings and fixtures
other approved materials.

Jointing methods may include:
silver braze
welded
solvent welded
flanged
mechanical joints
threaded
other approved methods of jointing.

Booster assemblies may include:
cabinet and block plans
non-return and isolating valves
fire appliance (hard stand) access
pressure gauges
appropriate booster assembly.

Pipe fixings may include fire and load rated:
masonry fixing
vertical support fixing
pipe supports spacings and locations
bedding and thrust blocks
corrosion protection
cover
material requirements.

Water storage systems may include:
automatic controls
inlet valve design and sizing
outlet valve design and sizing
overflow requirements
safe tray requirements
tank sizes
vortex plates
tank siting.

Pump, pump controls and pumproom requirements may include:
manual and/or automatic controls
inlet and outlet design requirements
installation and mounting requirements
pump selection
space requirements
electrical supply requirements
valve requirements
ventilation requirements
heating
exhaust extraction.

Test points and associated drainage systems may include:
design and sizing of collection points and tundishes to prevent spillage, overflow and damage to building finishes
design and sizing of drainage systems to cater for maximum flow conditions
specification of materials for systems, including copper, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and galvanised piping
other approved materials.

Installation requirements may include:
corrosion and elements protection
installation details
jointing requirements
supports
workmanship and quality control.

Sprinkler system configurations may include:
deluge
drencher
dry
pre-action
special hazard
wet.

Sustainability principles and concepts:
cover the current and future social, economic and environmental use of resources
may include:
selecting appropriate material to ensure minimal environmental impact
efficient use of material
efficient energy usage
efficient use and recycling of material
disposing of waste material to ensure minimal environmental impact
efficient water usage, harvesting and/or disposal
life cycle cost-benefit analysis
consideration of the Green Building Council of Australia rating scheme.

Plans may include:
axonometrics
cross-sections
details
elevations
isometrics
schematics, which may be produced using:
computer generation
drawing equipment
sections
submission for client approval
pipework fabrication sheets and stores lists
service coordination.

Specification may include:
support and specialised components
jointing
manufacturer
materials
valve selection
quality control/workmanship.

Testing may include:
air pressure test
hydrostatic test
flush system
quality assurance (QA) audit.

Commissioning schedule may include:
direct inspection
flow test
system operation.

Operation and maintenance manual may include:
hydraulic calculations and water supply details
as installed drawings
relevant standards of maintenance of all maintainable equipment
manufacturer data
system description and operating instructions
certificate reference.

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.
It may be assessed on its own or as part of an integrated assessment activity involving preparing designs and associated documentation for fire sprinkler systems for two different categories of wide span and high-rise buildings.

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:
evaluating and documenting design parameters, including client, fire authority, regulatory, manufacturer, NCC and Australian and New Zealand standard requirements for a range of fire sprinkler systems
planning and detailing system components, including:
applying sustainability principles and concepts
alarm and valve assemblies
preparing a specification for a fire sprinkler system
preparing a testing and commissioning schedule
preparing an operation and maintenance manual
preparing plans for a range of fire sprinkler systems
sprinkler heads
water storage systems.

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
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
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.