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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. Calculate water use.

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

literacy skills to

prepare a water and energy audit report

read and interpret

plans specifications drawings and design briefs

standards and manufacturer requirements and manuals

statutory and regulatory requirements

initiative and enterprise skills to

comply with WHS and organisational quality procedures and processes

develop creative and responsive approaches to conserving water and energy

numeracy skills to apply measurements and calculations

planning and organising skills to

research collect organise and understand information relating to water use

take initiative and make decisions

problemsolving skills to

analyse requirements

carry out tests

consider options

recommend appropriate water and energy saving measures

teamwork skills to work with others to action tasks and relate to people from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

technical skills to

accurately apply design principles relating to hydraulic systems design concepts measurements and calculations

apply and interpret documentation from a wide range of sources including legislation standards drawings and specifications

technology skills to

access and understand sitespecific instructions in a variety of media

use mobile communication technology

Required knowledge

hazards associated with devices and systems used in the hydraulic sector

installation methods used in hydraulic systems

nature of materials and effect of their performance in a variety of conditions

preparation and interpretation of plans and specifications

requirements of commonwealth state or territory regulatory authorities relevant Australian standards and codes manufacturer specifications National Construction Code NCC and other relevant codes standards and operating procedures

terminology and definitions used in hydraulic design

variety of applications of technology principles in design of water and energyefficient usage systems for all classes of building

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

It could be assessed on its own or as part of an integrated assessment activity involving audit of water and energy use in at least two different types of building and the preparation of comprehensive reports

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

conduct a water audit and identify water saving initiatives for a

unit residential building

floor commercial office building

a commercial laundry

including

applying sustainability principles and concepts throughout the audit and identifying watersaving initiatives

conducting pressure and flow measurements

interpreting and applying statutory and local government requirements for the use of water

reporting water wasting practices and processes including leaks

specifying sensors and automatic systems for a range of applications

recommending recycling and reuse processes

preparing a water and energy audit report

conducting a costbenefit analysis including investment return period

identifying and reporting on environmental benefits and water savings

applying sustainability principles and concepts throughout the water audit and identify watersaving initiatives

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:

compiling reports

identifying:

procedures, practices and products to reduce water and energy consumption

wasted water

water-saving initiatives

producing a cost-benefit analysis.

Client requirements must include:

compliance with regulatory requirements

more efficient use of water resources

reduction in water and energy costs

maintaining satisfactory system performance.

Types of flow and pressure-measuring devices include:

applications, which may include:

domestic cold and heated water supply

cooling towers

industrial processes

irrigation

mechanical

sanitation

trade waste

measuring methods, which may include:

direct

electronic

hand-held

indirect

in-line

mechanical.

Flow and pressure tests may include:

interpretation of flow and pressure tests conducted by a contractor

on-site measurement of flow (l/s), velocity (m/s) and pressure (kPa).

Statutory and regulatory requirements may include:

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

National Construction Code

other relevant Australian standards and codes.

Manufacturer requirements must include:

flow and pressure requirements.

Desktop study includes:

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

research and evaluation of water-saving products, processes and procedures currently available.

Performance requirements must include:

maintenance of flow, velocity, pressure and discharge requirements of the client, using relevant Australian standards, National Construction Code, or other relevant codes and standards.

Leak identification processes may include:

electronic leak detection

listening devices

measuring equipment

cameras.

Sensors may include:

pressure switches

flow switches

high and low level

moisture.

Automatic systems may include:

electronic and mechanical timer

pressure-activated

user-activated.

Alternative processes and practices may include:

change in personal water habits

change in timing

discontinuation of a process

irrigation before sunrise and after sunset

lower water pressures

modifying a process

modifying wash-down cleaning procedures and order of operation

rainwater harvesting and usage

running dishwashers and washing machines with full loads

testing pipe systems with air instead of water

using water-efficient appliances and fixtures

waste water collection and reuse.

Alternative fixtures and fittings may include:

drip systems

irrigation systems

low-energy and water-use appliances, such as:

air cooling towers

dishwashers

dual flush low volume toilet flushing systems

tapware

waterless and sensor control urinals

washing machines

low-flow shower roses

outlet-flow control devices

pressure control devices.

Rainwater harvesting must include:

collection, storage and distribution of rainwater, including the use of tanks and dams.

Recycling and re-use processes may include:

black water treatment and reuse options

industrial processes

grey water treatment and reuse options

recovery of test water, such as fire.

Sustainability principles and concepts:

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

may include:

efficient energy usage/capital outlay comparison

selecting water efficient appliances and fixtures

using alternative water supplies

consideration of the Green Building Council of Australia rating scheme.

Cost-benefit analysis compares:

installation, set-up and running costs against the capital investment to determine the cost recovery period

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

Water and energy audit report is a comprehensive report written to industry standards that includes:

client brief

analysis

results

methodology

conclusions

recommendations.