Assessor Resource

CPCSFS7001A
Define scope of and initiate special hazard fire systems design projects

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit of competency supports the attainment of skills and knowledge necessary for the effective and efficient scoping of special hazard fire suppression and detection systems in preparation for the technical development of the design.

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to define the scope of a project to design a complex special hazard fire system and put in place mechanisms to support the design work.

The unit addresses the careful clarification of the special hazards project's scope, including an assessment of the level of risk attached to the equipment or facility for which the fire system is being designed, and the development of fire risk solutions. The unit covers the conduct of a thorough analysis of any relevant standards as well as of the project brief itself.

Processes to guide and manage the special hazard fire systems design project are also covered. The development of a fire systems design project is subject to significant complexities due to the typical requirement to integrate multiple fire suppression and detection systems.

Special hazard fire systems include gaseous, foam and water spray solutions which offer protection for life safety, and to facilities and equipment vital to business operation and success.

Special hazard fire systems may fall outside the ambit of the Building Code of Australia. Client requirements may specify use of the U.S. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit and so the varying state or territory requirements should be confirmed with the relevant body.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Nil

Co-Requisites

Nil

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

accurate measuring

accurate naming and filing of drawings, including:

formal document control

formal amendments, including:

history

transmittal notices

editing and creating drawings, including:

layout

section

detail

external references

freezing layers

fluent detailed hand-drawing and sketching ability to convey information to on-site workers

operating computer software packages and systems, including:

word processing

spreadsheet

email

internet

proprietary project management software

proprietary hydraulic calculation software

proprietary estimating software

parametric modelling software

using BASIC computer programming language to write logic for electronic system interfaces

numeracy skills for:

calculating:

dimensions

pipe lengths

piping friction loss

pump capacity

motor output

performing calculations for electrical systems:

voltage drops

battery capacity

battery back-up

power supplies

performing fluid mechanic calculations

language and literacy skills for:

listening to and communicating clearly with colleagues, fitters, suppliers and contractors

participating in meetings, such as negotiations with fire engineering consultant, architect, builder or other service contractor

researching, accessing, reading, interpreting and applying current relevant legislation, codes and standards

letter writing, especially to formalise:

recognition of conflicts and errors on drawings supplied by other service contractors

agreements with other services, for example whichever service is fitted last must fit around existing services

reading and interpreting drawings, including:

architectural

structural

mechanical

hydraulic

electrical

report writing

developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with project team members, workplace colleagues, suppliers, fitters and clients

negotiation and conflict management

initiating and running meetings with lead contractor and other service contractors

project management

organising own work, including creating personal systems and checklists for planning, managing and checking work

lateral thinking and problem solving

maintaining concentration, focus and attention to detail for long periods

managing detailed input to concurrent fire systems design projects at different stages of the process and with diverse sets of regulatory requirements

Required knowledge

workplace design tools and processes

level of accuracy required in detailed design drawings

naming conventions for design drawings and drawing register

fire science, including:

fire behaviour and dynamics

impact of fire on structures and materials

products of combustion

fire control strategies

fire retardants

fire detection technologies

fire suppression technologies

fire containment

fire engineering principles, including:

engineered solutions

innovative fire systems

fire modelling

proprietary fire engineering and modelling programs

parametric modelling of services coordination using proprietary software, such as Navis-Works or MEP-REVIT

computer software functions and operation, including:

word processing

spreadsheet

email

internet

proprietary project management software

proprietary hydraulic calculation software

proprietary estimating software

relevant current legislation, codes and standards, including:

building Acts

building regulations

infrastructure supply regulations

the Building Code of Australia

Australian standards for fire systems

other fire system standards commonly required by building insurers

protection requirements for different buildings, including the existence of special zones, the egress requirements of occupants, and the construction materials used

passive fire safety elements:

identification of passive elements

impact of fire systems design on passive elements

specifications required to safeguard integrity of passive fire element performance where penetrations are necessitated by the fire systems design

fire systems' technology and components, including:

water-based systems, including:

wet pipe sprinkler systems

deluge and drencher systems

dry pipe sprinkler systems

pre-action sprinkler systems

early suppression fast response (ESFR)

hydrants, hose reels and monitors

water supply tanks

fire pump sets

detection and warning systems, including:

emergency warning and intercommunications systems (EWIS)

fire detection and alarm systems

smoke control systems

emergency lighting systems

special hazard fire systems, including:

foam systems (low expansion, medium expansion and high expansion)

gaseous agent systems (carbon dioxide, inert gas and halocarbon gases)

water spray systems (deluge, medium/high velocity water spray and high speed deluge)

chemical systems, including:

powder

wet chemical

purpose and operation of fire systems, including:

layout

special products and hazards

system operation

performance requirements

maintenance standards

system activation and operation

characteristics and limitations of products and materials used in fire systems and issues relating to material capability

interconnection of fire systems, including:

cause and effect matrix

interface with other services

instruments used in commissioning and measuring fire system performance

basic principles of structural engineering

characteristics of building materials

construction industry terminology

roles and responsibilities of relevant building project personnel, including:

architect

lead contractor

mechanical engineer

hydraulic engineer

electrical engineer

on-site issues that can arise during the construction phase and impose changes to the designs of fire systems and other services

installation methods, including:

access requirements

health and safety requirements

water supplies, including:

common water sources

conservation requirements

in-ground reticulation

booster configurations

fluid mechanics and hydraulics relating to:

water supply

pressure

pump selection

tank selection

pressure vessels

pipe range

sustainability requirements and ratings, including:

energy conservation

water conservation

pipe fabrication methods and constraints

mathematic principles, equations and calculation methods, including:

financial calculations, for example to assess cost-effectiveness of fire systems

trigonometry, for example to amend dimensions of pipe allowing for fittings

flow calculations, including:

area of operations

discharge rates and quantities

discharge times

pressure gain and loss

K-factors

pressure, temperature and volume relationship

Hazen-Williams equation

Darcy-Weisbach equation

computational fluid dynamics

electrical calculations (alarm systems), including:

voltage drops

battery sizes

battery back-up

power supplies

cabling range

system calculations for gas or special hazard fire systems

principles of organic and inorganic chemistry, including basic chemical reactions and substances

principles of basic physics, including an understanding of:

Boyle's Law

Charles' Law

Dalton's Law

Henry's Law

principles of thermodynamics, including:

effects of heat

stratification of gases

smoke and heat dynamics

electrical and electronics theory, including:

units used to measure current (AC and DC), power, capacitance, inductance and sound attenuation

effects of AC and DC current in series and parallel circuit paths that includes resistive, inductive and capacitive loads

relationship between voltage drops around a circuit and applied voltage

definition of voltage ratings as defined in communication and electrical safety regulations, including extra low voltage, low voltage and hazardous voltages

layout of electrical wiring systems to meet communication and electrical safety regulations applicable to fire detection and warning systems

basic operation of common electronic and electrical components used in fire detection and warning systems

basic operation of communication protocols on addressable systems, peripheral devices (printers) and high-level interfaces to other communication devices used in fire detection and warning systems

acoustics and speech intelligibility for occupant warning systems

human psychology, especially fire avoidance behaviour

organisational frameworks and functions, including:

industry associations

enterprises

government bodies

financial management, including:

budgeting

cost-effectiveness

contractual processes

risk management processes

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.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Project management roles, responsibilities and lines of communication are established. 
Required project outcomes are consulted, clarified and finalised with the client. 
Relevant project scheduling and sequencing information is established. 
Tasks in the design process are assigned to relevant personnel, and mechanisms to coordinate their input are established and communicated. 
Project file-sharing and communication systems and tools are determined. 
Workplace quality assurance checks to ensure accuracy and validity of design are determined and procedures to ensure that these are conducted are established. 
Stages where regulatory or other approval is required for the design are determined and procedures to ensure that these are obtained are established. 
The nature and purpose of the fire systems design are determined. 
Project documentation is gathered and assessed for completeness and use in the design of effective special hazard fire systems. 
Structural characteristics of the equipment or facility are identified and analysed. 
Functions and occupancies of buildings or facilities are determined from initial project documentation. 
Clarification of specific building details is sought from the client or relevant contractors and consultants. 
The appropriate hazard classification for the building or facility is researched and confirmed. 
Regulatory requirements and applicable standards for the special hazard fire system are determined. 
Insurance requirements impacting on applicable codes and standards for the special hazard fire system project are determined. 
A risk assessment is documented to identify or confirm the type or types of special hazard detection and suppression system that will be used. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CPCSFS7001A - Define scope of and initiate special hazard fire systems design projects
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Assessment Record Sheet

CPCSFS7001A - Define scope of and initiate special hazard fire systems design projects

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