Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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.
Fire systems design projects:
are defined as those projects that are developed as a fire risk solution to offer protection against business interruption by providing fire protection to specific equipment or facility, whose performance-based principles are often outside the ambit of the Building Code of Australia
must respond to the requirements specified by the client or the client's insuring body and may include the application of international standards for fire systems.
Project documentation includes:
fire engineer's design concepts and recommendations
construction drawings and plans
specific layout plans for other services, including plumbing, electrical and air conditioning.
Structural characteristics of the building or facility include:
fabrication methods used
size and layout.
Equipment or facility that will require special hazard fire systems includes that which stores high value or high risk assets, including:
data centres
computer rooms
electrical substations
documents (e.g. libraries and archives) and other collections (e.g. art galleries and museums)
fuel and gas storage and refineries
aeroplane hangars
chemical factories
warehouses containing highly volatile materials
any other storage facility for very high value individual items that would be destroyed by water-based fire suppression systems.
Regulatory requirements and applicable standards:
will typically include references to U.S. NFPA standards, including:
NFPA 2001 Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems
NFPA 11 Low, Medium and High Expansion Foam Systems
NFPA 13 The Installation of Sprinkler Systems
NFPA 15 Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire Protection
NFPA 16 Deluge Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems
NFPA 750 Water Mist Fire Protection Systems
relevant Australian standards, including:
AS4214 Gaseous fire extinguishing systems
AS2118 Automatic fire sprinkler systems Parts 1 to 6
AS1670 Fire detection, warning control and intercom systemsSystem design, installation and commissioning
AS1940 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids
AS4360 Risk management
AS4587 Water mist fire protection systems
also note:
increasingly, international ISO standards are being identified for the industry
special hazard fire systems are not referenced in the Building Code of Australia.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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, provided that the simulated or project-based assessment fully replicates workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.
This unit could be assessed as an activity involving the determination of the scope of and initiation of a range of fire systems designs for special hazards projects. This entails establishing effective project management processes; correctly interpreting design concepts, briefs or specifications; and conducting risk management processes to ensure the selection of appropriate fire detection and suppression systems that reflect client requirements and are compliant with relevant codes, standards and legislation.
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 the required skills and knowledge specified within this unit.
In particular the person should demonstrate:
project management skills to coordinate, schedule, resource and oversee the completion of special hazard projects
the ability to read and interpret a range of design documents, including concept briefs, design briefs, drawings, plans and specifications
knowledge of fire sciences sufficient to ensure the design of compliant and effective systems that address the specific conditions of the projects being undertaken
an understanding of and ability to apply legislation, codes, standards, and regulatory and insurance requirements that may apply to special hazard fire systems design projects, including U.S. NFPA standards
the ability to conduct risk assessment processes.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an off-site context. It is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
access to Australian and international codes and standards
access to legislation relevant to the jurisdiction
project documentation, including design brief, design drawings, specifications, construction schedules and other supporting documents
research resources, including product information and data
theoretical texts and other information to support the assessment of the unit's required skills and knowledge
relevant computer software packages and suitable hardware.
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.
Guidance information for assessment
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.