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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Evaluate design parameters.

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to

communicate with others to ensure safe and effective work practices

confirm job specifications and client requirements

enable clear and direct communication using questioning to identify and confirm requirements share information listen and understand

use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences

use and interpret nonverbal communication such as hand signals

initiative and enterprise skills to develop creative and responsive approaches

literacy skills to

prepare documentation including

operation and maintenance manual

plans specifications and schedules

read and interpret

documentation from a variety of sources

plans specifications drawings and design briefs

standards and manufacturer requirements and manuals

statutory and regulatory requirements

numeracy skills to interpret data and to apply measurements and calculations

planning and organising skills to

research collect organise and understand information relating to the design of solar water heating systems

take initiative and make decisions

problemsolving skills to analyse requirements consider options and design an appropriate system

technical skills to design solar water heating systems

technology skills to

access and understand sitespecific instructions in a variety of media

use mobile communication technology

Required knowledge

application of

relevant Australian standards including ASNZS National plumbing and drainage

manufacturer specifications including hazards identified in relation to devices and systems used

other codes or standard operating procedures

state or territory regulatory authorities requirements

common terminology and definitions used in design of solar water heating systems

principles of technology used in design of solar water heating systems

work health and safety WHS requirements including relevant statutory regulations codes and standards

Evidence Required

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 projectbased 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 who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to as a minimum provide evidence of the ability to

design size and document the layout details using two methods of providing solarheated water systems

one to be a gasboosted commercial solar system one to be a heat pumpboosted system

develop a specification for each of the following projects

a highrise mixed development building to a minimum of floors inclusive of a basement to include fixtures on each floor level fixtures are included in the basement

a wide span project such as a school

specifications for each of the projects to include

evaluating and documenting design parameters including client regulatory manufacturer and relevant Australian standard and code requirements for a range of solar water heating systems

evaluating health risks associated with heated water supplies

conducting a costbenefit analysis

planning and detailing system components including

circulating systems

solar collectors

valve and piping systems

designing a range of residential commercial and industrial solar water heating systems

designing solar preheat systems

designing solar pool and spa heating systems

preparing plans and specifications for a range of solar water heating systems

preparing testing and commissioning schedules

producing operation and maintenance manuals

applying sustainability principles and concepts throughout the design

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 offsite 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 including design brief drawings specifications codes design concepts and construction schedules

tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices including computers software and calculators

workplace instructions relating to safe working practices and addressing hazards and emergencies

material safety data sheets

research resources including industryrelated 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 persons 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


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.

Scope of work must include:

interpreting plans and specifications, and sizing and documenting layout of solar water heating systems for applications including residential, commercial and industrial buildings for new projects or an existing structure being renovated, extended, restored or maintained

heat transfer mechanism analysis, including conduction, convection and radiation (long wave and short wave), and the evaluation of transmittance, absorption and emittance properties of materials used in solar collectors

solar radiation calculations, including:

calculations of efficiency

calculations of radiation falling on collectors

daily, monthly and yearly calculations.

Design requirements may include:

architectural plans

building specifications

fire rating of penetrations

frost protection

integration with other heat sources

limitations of various systems

overheating protection

owner requirements

pipework identification

specialist heated water use applications.

Efficiency must include:

angle of collector in relation to latitude

comparison of demand and efficiency curves for various types of solar collectors

current and potential shading

direction in relation to north

efficiency in relation to:

ambient temperature

flow

location

pollution

prevailing wind conditions

magnetic north as opposed to true north.

Cost-benefit analysis:

compares the range of suitable materials and system choices available to enable cost-effective choices to be made without compromising the integrity of the project

may include:

design styles

energy costs

expected design life

labour costs

material costs

safety factors

speed of installation

suitable materials

comparison and evaluation of capital cost, simple pay back and lifecycle cost of solar and other heat sources

comparison of initial set-up costs to the energy savings available and establishment of cost-recovery period.

Statutory and regulatory requirements and relevant Australian standards and codes may include:

Acts, regulations, and commonwealth, state or territory, and local government requirements

Australian standards:

AS/NZS3500 National plumbing and drainage

AS2200 Design charts for water supply and sewerage

AS2369.1 Materials for solar collectors for swimming pool heating - rubber materials

AS2369.2 Materials for solar collectors for swimming pool heating - flexible or plasticised polyvinyl chloride

AS/NZS2535.1 Test methods for solar collectors - thermal performance of glazed liquid heating collectors including pressure drop

AS/NZS2712 Solar and heat pump water heaters design and construction

AS3634 Solar heating systems for swimming pools

AS/NZS4234 Solar water heaters domestic and heat pump - calculation of energy consumption

AS/NZS4445.1 Solar heating domestic water heating systems performance rating procedure using indoor test methods

DR04527 Amendment 1 to AS/NZS2712 Solar water heaters design and construction

National Construction Code.

Manufacturer requirements may include:

heater maintenance and servicing

material specifications

provision for heater pressure and temperature discharge

protection for freezing and overheating

recommended specific fixings for pipework

sizing tables

technical and trade manuals

limitations of use.

Desktop study may include:

collection and interpretation of data for design purposes, such as:

architectural and building plans

developer plans

manufacturer’s data

documents, which may include:

applications

brochures

forms

policies

other reports as available

local authorities’ requirements

area suitability for solar

shadow studies

comparison of performance of various types of solar water heaters in terms of design, location and predicted solar fraction.

Performance requirements are established using relevant Australian standards, codes, commonwealth, state or territory and local authority plans and may include:

flow rate requirements

pressure

system design

velocity

water quality and its effect on the system.

Layout of pipework systems:

must include:

dual feed

ring main

single pipe

should not unduly affect building integrity and aesthetic appeal

should have principles of economy, serviceability, durability and fit for use applied.

Fittings and valves may include:

fittings:

bends

elbows

tees

unions

valves:

backflow prevention

excess pressure

frost protection devices

isolating

location of valves

over temperature

pressure limiting

pressure reduction

strainers.

Proprietary solar heated water systems may include:

alternative supplementary fuel sources, including:

coal

electricity

fuel oil

gas

heat pump

waste heat recovery (mechanical plant)

wood

circulating systems

clarifiers

close coupled, split systems

direct and indirect heating systems

heat exchange systems

heated water heaters

pool heaters

solar pre-heaters

spa heaters

storage systems

sun track systems.

Solar water heating system calculations may include:

area locality

circulation calculations

energy balance equation

flow calculations

heat loss calculations, covering:

collector losses

overnight losses

standing losses

incoming water temperature

temperature and energy equations

varying inlet temperature and flow rate effect on the performance of a solar collector

volume calculations.

Components may include:

collectors

differential controllers

electronics

expansion tanks

filters

fittings

flow and return pipework

heat exchangers

insulation

overflows

pumps

safe trays

storage vessels

suitable type and size of circulating pumps

supplementary heat sources

support frames

timers and mechanical components

valves

water treatment.

Methods to prevent freezing and protect from over performance may include:

circulating systems

drain back systems

dump valves

heat trace systems

indirect systems

insulation.

Pipe size, velocity, flow and pressure calculations must include:

rate of discharge

temperature

velocities

volume.

Pipe supports may include:

anchors

bracket spacing

corrosion protection

hanging brackets

manufacturer-recommended specific fixings

material requirements

provision for expansion

saddles.

Materials may include:

copper (Cu)

other approved materials.

Jointing methods may include:

brazing

compression

flaring

mechanical joints

other approved jointing methods.

Installation requirements include:

pipe protection, which may include:

corrosion

impact

fire rating

level of workmanship

manufacturer-recommended specific fixings

pipe support

provision for expansion

serviceability and access

system structure support.

Solar collector design may include:

collector housing

fin and tube collectors

glass

insulation

pipe collectors

pre-heat systems

sun tracking systems

vacuum tube.

Sustainability principles and concepts:

cover the current and future social, economic and environmental use of resources

may include:

efficient use of material

efficient energy use/capital outlay comparison

selecting energy efficient water heater

reusing water, such as rainwater, greywater and recycled non-drinking water

consideration of the Green Building Council of Australia rating scheme

selecting appropriate components to ensure minimal environmental impact.

Plans:

may include:

axonometrics

cross-sections

details

elevations

isometrics

schematics

sections

may be produced using:

computer generation

drawing equipment.

Specification may include:

support

jointing

flow requirements

manufacturer requirements

materials

safety (WHS)

specialised components

testing

valve selection

workmanship.

Testing may include:

air pressure

defect inspection

hydrostatic

mains pressure

performance

quality assurance (QA) audit.

Commissioning schedule may include:

balancing the system

checking and flushing the system

checking and maintaining heat transfer fluid levels

temperature setting

disinfection

flow test

leak check

pressure test

system certification

system defects

system functions as per design

valve operation.

Operation and maintenance manual may include:

as installed drawings

certification documentation

results of commissioning test

heater detail, setting and operations

maintenance schedules

manufacturer brochures and technical information

valve function

safety management system

system detail, setting and operations.