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 handdrawing and sketching ability to convey information to onsite 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

numeracy skills for

calculating

dimensions

pipe lengths

piping friction loss

pump capacity

motor output

performing calculations for electrical systems

voltage drops

battery capacity

battery backup

power supplies

performing fluid mechanic calculations

determining costbenefit of solutions

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 plans and specifications 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

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

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 NavisWorks or MEPREVIT

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

international 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 including

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

waterbased systems including

wet pipe sprinkler systems

deluge and drencher systems

dry pipe sprinkler systems

preaction 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 mediumhigh 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

onsite 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

inground 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 costeffectiveness 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

Kfactors

pressure temperature and volume relationship

HazenWilliams equation

Darcy Weisbach equation

computational fluid dynamics

electrical calculations alarm systems including

voltage drops

battery sizes

battery backup

power supplies

cabling range

system calculations for gas or special hazard fire systems

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

principles of basic physics including an understanding of

Boyles Law

Charles Law

Daltons Law

Henrys 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 highlevel 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

costeffectiveness

contractual processes

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 projectbased assessment fully replicates workplace conditions materials activities responsibilities and procedures

This unit could be assessed as an activity involving the analysis design and evaluation of complex special hazard fire systems including the application of appropriate codes and standards in accordance with the design requirements of the client

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

knowledge of fire sciences sufficient to ensure the design of compliant and effective systems that address the specific conditions of the projects being undertaken

numeracy skills sufficient to ensure accurate calculations of system capacities and performance

the ability to read and interpret a range of design documents including concept briefs design briefs drawings plans and specifications

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 US NFPA standards

the ability to research appropriate special hazard fire detection and warning systems

the ability to produce accurate technical drawings of the layout for the special hazard design

the ability to design integrated solutions encompassing fire detection warning and suppression components for special hazard fire systems as they apply to at least three different types of hazards requiring the application of different technical solutions

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an offsite context It is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards requirements

Resource implications for assessment include

access to relevant 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 units 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

Fire suppression solutions include:

The risk profile of the building or facility will reflect the usage of the building, including:

The special hazard standards include:

Fire detection and occupant warning solutions include:

Project drawings and documentation may include:

Interactions between multiple systems on a complex site are analysed to:

Efficient and workable layout and location relate to:

System components may include:

Calculations that relate to the various forms of special hazard systems include:

Infrastructure for special hazard solutions include:

Large and complex projects may use expert personnel to:

Negotiated changes may be made due to:

Fittings and components may include: