Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 7:41 PM AWST
23/07/2026 7:41 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Test and maintain automatic fire sprinklers
Test and maintain automatic fire sprinklers
Unit of competency
National Code
CPCPFS3047A
CPCPFS3047A
State Code
WI770
WI770
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
20/06/2014
Field of Education
039905 - Fire Technology
Original Release Date
20/06/2014
Nominal Hours
40
Description
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to test and maintain automatic fire sprinkler installations in the full range of commercial, industrial or residential situations.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Prepare for work.
- 1.1 Plans, specifications, maintenance manuals, previous maintenance reports, and equipment data are obtained and reviewed.
- 1.2 Work health and safety (WHS) requirements associated with testing and maintaining automatic fire sprinklers, and workplace environmental requirements, are identified and applied to planning.
- 1.3 Quality assurance requirements are identified according to workplace requirements.
- 1.4 Tasks are planned and sequenced in conjunction with others involved in or affected by the work.
- 1.5 Tools, equipment and materials for testing and maintaining automatic fire sprinklers, including personal protective equipment, are selected and checked for serviceability.
- 1.6 Work area is prepared to support efficient testing and maintenance of automatic fire sprinklers.
2 Perform routine maintenance tasks.
- 2.1 Maintenance tasks detailed in maintenance schedule are performed to specification.
- 2.2 Mechanical equipment and system components are checked using appropriate instruments according to standards and job specifications.
- 2.3 Faulty items or components are identified and appropriate service procedure is selected.
3 Repair or replace faulty components and test job.
- 3.1 WHS requirements, workplace environmental requirements and quality requirements are applied to work tasks.
- 3.2 System is isolated and drained down, as required, to complete tasks without causing water damage.
- 3.3 Faulty items or components are removed using appropriate procedures, tools and equipment.
- 3.4 Replacement items or components are selected and fitted according to manufacturer recommendations and site specifications.
- 3.5 Adjustments are made to equipment or components to ensure specifications are met.
- 3.6 System is recharged with water according to specifications.
- 3.7 Operational check of system is carried out to ensure compliance with job specifications.
- 3.8 Maintenance report is documented in format required by maintenance specification.
- 3.9 Sustainability principles and concepts are observed when preparing for and undertaking work process.
4 Clean up.
- 4.1 Work area is cleared and waste materials disposed of or recycled according to statutory and regulatory authority requirements.
- 4.2 Tools and equipment are cleaned, checked, maintained and stored according to manufacturer recommendations and workplace procedures.
- 4.3 Information is accessed and documentation completed according to regulatory authorities’ and workplace requirements.
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 firefighting 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)
hand and power tools
ladders
scaffolds
testing equipment.
Materials may include:
actuating devices
alarms initiating devices
control valve assemblies
fittings and connections
sprinkler heads.
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.
Sustainability principles and concepts:
cover the current and future social, economic and environmental use of resources
may include efficient:
energy use
use and recycling of material
water use, harvesting and disposal.
Statutory and regulatory authorities may include:
state or territory statutory authority
statutory gasfitting 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 testing and maintaining automatic fire sprinklers
safety data sheets (SDS)
signage
verbal, written and graphical instructions, including manufacturer specifications and instructions where specified
work bulletins
work schedules, plans and specifications.
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 firefighting 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)
hand and power tools
ladders
scaffolds
testing equipment.
Materials may include:
actuating devices
alarms initiating devices
control valve assemblies
fittings and connections
sprinkler heads.
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.
Sustainability principles and concepts:
cover the current and future social, economic and environmental use of resources
may include efficient:
energy use
use and recycling of material
water use, harvesting and disposal.
Statutory and regulatory authorities may include:
state or territory statutory authority
statutory gasfitting 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 testing and maintaining automatic fire sprinklers
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 and maintain automatic fire sprinklers
apply safety requirements throughout the work sequence, including the use of personal protective clothing and equipment
as a minimum, given a faulty automatic fire sprinkler system, the ability to conduct routine testing and maintenance to diagnose and repair faults and perform component service or replacement, ensuring:
application of sustainability principles and concepts
conduct of operational checks to confirm system is operating to specification
isolation and draining down of the system, as required
diagnosis of faults and conduct of necessary repairs or replacement of faulty components
identification and accurate reporting of faults in tools, equipment or materials to appropriate personnel
identification of the requirement for, and then the conduct of, system testing and maintenance
selection and use of appropriate processes, tools and equipment
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.
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 and maintain automatic fire sprinklers
apply safety requirements throughout the work sequence, including the use of personal protective clothing and equipment
as a minimum, given a faulty automatic fire sprinkler system, the ability to conduct routine testing and maintenance to diagnose and repair faults and perform component service or replacement, ensuring:
application of sustainability principles and concepts
conduct of operational checks to confirm system is operating to specification
isolation and draining down of the system, as required
diagnosis of faults and conduct of necessary repairs or replacement of faulty components
identification and accurate reporting of faults in tools, equipment or materials to appropriate personnel
identification of the requirement for, and then the conduct of, system testing and maintenance
selection and use of appropriate processes, tools and equipment
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.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WF879 | CPCPFS3039A | Test and maintain automatic fire sprinklers | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCO19 | CPCPFS3047 | Test and maintain automatic fire sprinklers | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J790 | CPC32813 | Certificate III in Fire Protection | Qualification |