Assessor Resource

CPPHSA4015A
Assess impact of building elements on thermal performance of residential buildings

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


This unit of competency supports the work of Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) assessors engaged in assessing, and making recommendations for improving, the thermal performance of planned and existing residential buildings.

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to assess the impact of construction materials, design elements and building condition on thermal performance of residential buildings. It includes selecting appropriate building materials for improving thermal performance, identifying the impact of the construction of key elements of the building envelope on thermal performance, and identifying the correct use and installation of building materials to improve thermal performance.

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

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

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 by candidates evaluating the impact of construction materials, design elements, key features of the building envelope, and construction condition on thermal performance of residential buildings.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

A person should demonstrate the ability to:

assess the impact of:

construction materials on thermal performance of residential buildings

building design and external elements on thermal performance of residential buildings

residential construction methods on thermal performance

common building defects on thermal performance

explain the impact of the construction of key elements of the building envelope on thermal performance

research non-standard building materials and techniques

identify potential impacts of thermal performance improvements on other health, safety, amenity and sustainability aspects of building performance.

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:

access to existing buildings and building materials

relevant codes, standards and government regulations

computer equipment suitable for accessing online catalogues and references to source information on the thermal performance of construction materials

technical reference library with current publications on passive building design, thermal performance of building materials and construction methods, building thermal performance, house energy rating schemes, and common building defects.

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:

written and/or oral assessment

observed, documented and/or first-hand testimonial evidence of the candidate evaluating the impact of the following on thermal performance of residential buildings:

construction materials

design elements

key features of the building envelope

construction condition.

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.

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

literacy skills to:

apply correct building industry terminology for construction materials and methods

read and interpret written sources of information on the thermal performance of construction materials

numeracy and data analysis skills to calculate and interpret statistical information on the thermal performance of different construction materials and methods

research skills to identify and locate documents and information required to assess the impact of construction materials, methods and condition on the thermal performance of residential buildings

technology skills to:

operate computer equipment and peripherals

access online catalogues and references to source information on the thermal performance of construction materials

time-management skills to provide advice on the impact of construction materials and design elements on thermal performance to clients in a time-efficient manner

Required knowledge

building regulations, including National Construction Code requirements

building construction materials, including types, correct industry terms, and sources of information on their thermal performance

building construction methods: types, materials, benefits and limitations, and implication for thermal performance of structure

building defects that impact on thermal performance

building design features that may influence the thermal performance of a building:

common walls

convection

eaves

floor type

glazing

insulation

landscaping

mass

materials

orientation

shading

siting

thermal mass

ventilation

windows

zoning and layout

building envelope components:

flooring

roof

wall

windows

building life cycle, and impact on energy use, costs and sustainability

building materials:

constraints on choice of building materials:

cost

practicality

size

space

correct terminology for building materials

causes of and remedies for condensation

passive building design principles

properties of building materials that can influence thermal performance:

emissivity

R-value

reflectivity

solar absorptance

U-value

properties of glazing units that can influence thermal performance:

solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)

U-value

visible light transmission (VLT)

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.

Properties of construction materials may include:

emissivity

R-value

reflectivity

solar absorptance

U-value.

Properties of glazing units may include:

SHGC

U-value

VLT.

Ways in which the use of building materials may influence the thermal performance of buildings may include:

heat loss

heat transfer

thermal insulation.

Physical constraints may include:

cost

practicality

size

space.

Correct use and installation of materials mayinclude:

draught proofing

glazing

insulation

mass.

Building design features may include:

convection

glazing

insulation

landscaping

mass

orientation

shading

ventilation

zoning and layout.

Residential construction methods may include:

brick veneer (BV)

cavity brick (CB)

light weight (LW)

reverse brick veneer (RBV).

Key components of the building envelope may include:

flooring

roof

walls

windows.

Common building defects and poor construction techniques may include:

air leakage

draughts

inadequate or missing insulation

inadequate ventilation.

Measures for improving thermal performance may include:

airtightness measures

insulation.

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
Properties of construction materials that may influence thermal performance of buildings are identified. 
Properties of glazing units that may influence the thermal performance of buildings are identified. 
Ways in which the use of building materials may influence the thermal performance of buildings are identified. 
Impact of climate on the choice of construction materials that improve the thermal performance of buildings is identified. 
Ways in which physical constraints may influence the choice of building materials when improving the thermal performance of buildings are identified. 
Construction materials are identified that meet requirements for improving the thermal performance of residential buildings. 
Correct use and installation of materials to improve thermal performance are identified. 
Condition of materials and the effect of condition on degrading thermal performance are identified. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CPPHSA4015A - Assess impact of building elements on thermal performance of residential buildings
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

CPPHSA4015A - Assess impact of building elements on thermal performance of residential buildings

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: