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 may include:
interpretation of plans and specifications
sizing and documenting layout of fire hydrant and hose reel systems, including:
combined fire sprinkler, hydrant and hose reel systems
combined hydrant and hose reel systems
emergency egress
separate hydrant and hose reel systems
equipment that may be for residential, commercial and industrial projects and for a new or an existing structure being renovated, extended, restored or maintained.

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

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
life cycle cost-benefit analysis.

Statutory and regulatory requirements may include:
Acts and regulations
local and state government policies.

Australian and New Zealand standards may include:
AS/NZS3500 National plumbing and drainage: Part1
AS2419 Fire hydrant installations - system design, installation and commission
AS2441 Installation of fire hose reels
AS/NZS2118 Automatic fire sprinkler systems - general requirements
NCC.

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

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.

Flow and pressure tests may include:
results of flow and pressure tests
on-site measurement of flow (l/s), velocity (m/s) and pressure (kPa).

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

Layout of pipework may include:
dual feed
ring main
single pipe.

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

Materials may include:
copper
galvanised steel
fittings and fixtures
other approved materials.

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

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

Booster and standpipe assemblies may include:
cabinet and block plans
non-return and isolating valves
fire appliance (hard stand) access
pressure gauges
suction and delivery outlets
testing points
signage.

Hose reel assemblies may include:
Australian standards’ requirements for clearances and requirements
non-return and backflow prevention valves
pipe sizes.

Design elements of thrust blocks may include:
designed and installed to AS/NZS3500
design details for tees, elbows and valves
keying and anchorage points
sizes
soil characteristics
velocity and flow forces to be resisted.

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

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

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

Delivery systems may include:
gravity feed
mains pressure
pump supply.

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
workmanship and quality control.

Testing may include:
air pressure test
flow
hydrostatic test.

Commissioning schedule may include:
checking and flushing the system
inspecting for defects
flow testing
checking system operation.

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

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 effective performance and application of principles used to design fire hydrant and hose reel systems.
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:
establishing and evaluating design parameters for a range of fire hydrant and hose reel systems
planning system components for a range of fire hydrant and hose reel systems, including:
application of sustainability principles and concepts
booster assemblies
hose reels
hydrants
storage tanks
thrust blocks
complying with WHS regulations applicable to workplace operations
applying organisational quality procedures and processes within context of restoring plastered surfaces to conservation requirements
designing and sizing a range of fire hydrant and hose reel systems
developing a checklist with all information and formulas required to carry out flow and pressure tests
preparing plans for a range of fire hydrant and hose reel systems
preparing a specification for a fire hydrant and hose reel system
preparing a testing and commissioning schedule
producing an operation and maintenance manual
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
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.