Required skills

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

data analysis skills to interpret and extract data from building plans and specifications

decisionmaking and problemsolving skills to make recommendations based on the outputs of NatHERS software tools

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

numeracy skills to calculate and interpret the outputs of NatHERS software tools data associated with conducting thermal performance assessments

planning organising and scheduling skills to undertake workrelated tasks such as collecting data required for conducting thermal performance assessments

research skills to identify and locate documents and information on key matters associated with thermal performance assessments such as climatic zones and the thermal properties of building materials

technology skills to

operate computer equipment and peripherals

enter data and use the functions of NatHERS software tools and other general purpose software packages

timemanagement skills to complete the assessment in a timely costefficient manner

Required knowledge

Australian climatic zones

climate data used in thermal performance assessment

diurnal temperature range

humidity

irradiance

maximum and minimum temperature

solar geometry

wind speed and direction

climatic zones and characteristics

building thermal performance

benefits of thermal performance assessment

constraints on choice of building materials

cost

practicality

size

space

heat flows

impact of building materials on building thermal performance

impact of building design on building thermal performance

properties of building materials

capacitance

material thickness

resistance heat flow up and down

thermal bridging

relationship between building thermal performance and thermal comfort

thermal performance principles

glazing shading and insulation for controlling temperature

orientation for heating

thermal mass for storing

ventilation for cooling

thermal performance properties of common building materials

thermal performance ratings

current rating requirements

documentation of ratings

legal requirements

uses

ways of improving the thermal performance of residential buildings

condition of building

construction materials

draught proofing

floor coverings

glazing

insulation levels

landscaping and planting

orientation

overshadowing

passive heating and cooling

shade

siting of building

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

environment protection

occupational licensing

work health and safety

energy and power

terminology

energy loads

energy efficiency

heating and cooling loads

latent heat

power

primary energy source

units of measurement

uses cost and environmental impact of energy use in residential buildings

greenhouse gas emissions

relationship between building design energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through building design

NatHERS software tools

assumptions inherent in software protocol

criteria for the selection of particular 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

scratch file

types of software tools

passive energy design

benefits of passive design

passive design standards

Passivhaus Passive House Standard

principles of passive design

relationship between passive design energy use and operational greenhouse gas emissions

thermal comfort

definition of thermal comfort

models

physical factors that influence thermal comfort

requirement for and importance of thermal comfort

role of thermal comfort in building thermal performance assessments

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 undertaking thermal performance assessments of residential buildings with some of the following complex design features

buildings designed to fit a site with unique characteristics

buildings with complex levels shading and void arrangements

buildings with nonconventional building materials and configurations

earthfilled tyre

mud brick

solar tower

straw bale

underground house construction

Assessment must be undertaken using a NatHERS software tool that is accredited under NatHERS for regulatory purposes in a mode appropriate for the type of assessment

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

A person should demonstrate the ability to

gather the required building information from building plans specifications and other supporting documents required for a thermal performance assessment and correctly enter this information into a NatHERS software tool

conduct a thermal performance assessment of a complex residential building using a NatHERS software tool

identify and analyse the outputs of a thermal performance assessment tool

identify interactions of thermal performance with other health safety amenity and sustainability aspects of a dwelling

make recommendations to improve the thermal performance of a planned residential 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 and generating printed copies of reports

technical reference library with current publications on building design and materials building thermal performance for buildings NatHERS scheme Australian climatic zones 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 undertaking thermal performance assessments of residential buildings with complex design features

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

Need may include:

Residential building refers to:

Client may include:

Effective communication strategies may include:

Risks may include:

Documentation may include:

Information may include:

Available sources of information may include:

Complex features of building envelope may include:

Outputs may include:

External factors may include:

Sources of technical advice may include:

Assumptions may include:

Options may include:

Criteria may include:

Results and recommendations may include: