Required skills

communication skills to interact with clients from diverse social economic and cultural backgrounds in an ethical manner

decisionmaking and problemsolving skills to make recommendations for improving thermal performance based on the outputs of NatHERS software tools and other evaluative criteria

learning skills to maintain currency of own knowledge of options for enhancing thermal performance of residential buildings

literacy skills to read and interpret a variety of texts including legislation regulations and conduct and ethical standards

numeracy and data analysis skills to interpret and extract outputs of NatHERS software tools data associated with conducting thermal performance assessments such as Uvalue Rvalue reflectivity absorptance and emissivity

research skills to identify and locate documents and information on the thermal properties of building materials

technology skills to

operate computer equipment and peripherals

enter data and use the functions of NatHERS software tools

timemanagement skills to provide advice in a timely costefficient manner

Required knowledge

building materials

constraints on choice of building materials

cost

practicality

size

space

thermal performance properties of common building materials

building thermal performance

benefits of thermal performance assessment

energy loads heating and cooling loads and latent heat

impact of building materials on building thermal performance

impact of building and materials condition on building thermal performance

impact of building design on building thermal performance

relationship between building thermal performance and thermal comfort

thermal comfort

definition of thermal comfort

physical factors that influence thermal comfort

requirement for thermal comfort

role of thermal comfort in building thermal performance assessments

thermal performance principles

glazing shading and insulation for controlling temperature

orientation for heating

thermal mass for storing

ventilation for cooling

thermal performance standards

current standards

documentation

legal requirements

uses

ways of improving the thermal performance of planned residential buildings

construction materials

draught proofing

floor coverings

glazing

insulation levels

landscaping and planting

orientation

overshadowing

passive heating and cooling

shade

structural changes

thermal mass

ventilation

window coverings

window size location and type

zoning and layout

commonwealth state and territory and local government legislation and regulations impacting on thermal performance assessment relating to

building and construction

building thermal performance

consumer protection fair trading and trade practices

energy conservation

environment protection

occupational licensing

work health and safety

NatHERS software tools

assumptions inherent in NatHERS software protocol

criteria for the selection of particular NatHERS software tools

NatHERS and Australian Building Codes Board Protocol for House Energy Rating software

properties of materials such as heat transfer coefficients and Uvalue thermal resistance and Rvalue reflectivity absorptance solar heat gain coefficient and emissivity

passive building design principles

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 options and making recommendations on ways of enhancing the 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

identify options for improving the thermal performance of buildings using knowledge of passive building design principles and the thermal performance of buildings and materials

apply accredited NatHERS software tools to model the impact of different options for improving the thermal performance of buildings

establish and apply evaluative criteria for assessing options and making recommendations for improving the thermal performance of buildings

explain recommendations for improving thermal performance of buildings to clients

provide clients with reliable information and details of additional sources of information on options for improving thermal performance of buildings

provide clients with reliable information on potential impact on other health safety amenity and sustainability aspects of the dwelling or building

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 offsite 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

NatHERS software tools

relevant codes standards and government regulations

building plans and specifications for residential buildings to be assessed

computer equipment suitable for using NatHERS software tools

technical reference library with current publications on passive building design thermal performance of building materials building thermal performance NatHERS and manufacturer product information on building products and materials

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 andor oral assessment

observed documented andor firsthand testimonial evidence of the candidate evaluating options and making recommendations on ways of enhancing the thermal performance of residential buildings

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

Options for improving thermal performance may include changes to:

Criteria may include:

Client may include:

Effective communication strategies may include:

Sources of information may include: