Google Links

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

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Conduct inspections of the installation process
   • Determine whether staged inspections are required during the installation process to validate the fire safety system and associated fire safety sub-systems upon completion
   • Schedule and communicate timing of inspection to the client and, if required, to otherstakeholders
   • Check and confirm that the fire safety system and associated fire safety sub-systems are installed in accordance with relevant standards, codes and legislation, specification requirements and staged inspections
   • Identify and record non-compliance issues that impact on the fire safety system installation and test program
   • Identify and record local conditions and regulations that impact on the fire safety system installation and test program
   • Review remedial actions for non-compliance issues and the impact of local conditions on the test program, within area of expertise and responsibility
   • Communicate unresolved non-compliance issues and the impact of local conditions on the test program to client and other stakeholders
2. Monitor integration of the fire safety system with associated fire safety sub-systems
   • Establish the interdependence of the fire safety system with the associated fire safety sub-systems
   • Determine power supply needs and, if necessary, confirm with the relevant authority
   • Check that all associated sub-systems of the fire safety system are compatible and coordinated in their operation
   • Check that back-up systems are available, whererequired
   • Ensure the safe operation of any evacuation systemsnot coordinated with the fire safety system and associated fire safety sub-systems
3. Oversee the inspection, testing and preventative maintenance of the fire safety system and associated fire safety sub-systems
   • Compare inspection and test results with required performance data
   • Check that the maintenance program is carried out by competent personnel
   • Monitor the maintenance program to ensure that the program is conducted in accordance with the relevant standards and maintenance protocols
   • Monitor the identification of non-compliance and the impact of local conditions on the maintenance program
   • Communicate unresolved non-compliance issues and the impact of local conditions on the maintenance program to clientandrelevant stakeholders
   • Circulate the documented test protocol and resultant data to the clientandrelevant stakeholders
4. Collate and prepare summary fire safety system performance documentation
   • Collate documentation produced for the installation, commissioning and maintenance of the fire safety system and associated fire safety sub-systems
   • Confirm all modifications to original specifications and technical drawings and plans are documented and dated
   • Make reference to relevant standards, codes and legislation validating the performance and functionality of the fire safety system and associated sub-systems
   • Prepare recommendation for approval and/or compliance documentation and forms as appropriate
   • Produce reports, using agreed timelines and format which include areas tested, areas checked and assessed, and areas of non-compliance

Required Skills

Refer to Evidence Guide

Evidence Required

The evidence guide identifies the requirements to be demonstrated to confirm competence for this unit Assessment must confirm sufficient ability to use appropriate skills and knowledge to validate installation testing and maintenance of fire safety systems Assessment of performance should be conducted within an agreed timeframe covering all categories within the range statement applicable to normal work requirements

Critical aspects of competency

Observe installation and monitor maintenance programs for fire safety systems and associated fire safety subsystems

Determine the interdependence interface and compatibility of fire safety systems and associated fire safety subsystems with other fire safety systems

Identify and record local conditions and regulations that impact on the installation and testing of the fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems

Monitor testing and preventative programs and ensure compliance with relevant standards codes legislation specification requirements and test protocols

Interpret and match inspection and testing results against documented performance criteria

Confirm that fire safety systems and associated fire safety subsystems modifications to the original specifications are documented

Identify noncompliance issues and communicate effectively unresolved issues to clients and other stakeholders

Prepare clear and concise installation inspection and maintenance inspection reports including performance documentation and recommendations for approval within agreed timelines

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events The knowledge requirements embedded in performance include those listed below

Methods of identifying required information contained in standards codes and legislation relevant to the inspection of fire safety systems

Operating principles of fire safety systems and associated fire safety subsystems

Working knowledge of building elements chemistry fluid dynamics and electrical design

Procedures for determining if staged inspections are required for a specific fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems

Procedures for determining if local conditions and regulations impact on maintenance programs for a specific fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems

Procedures for checking that inspection and test data was validated against documented performance criteria

Methods of interpreting drafting standards and procedures and extracting relevant information

Procedures for identifying and recording noncompliance issues and the impact of local conditions on test protocols maintenance and test programs

Methods of determining the interdependence interface of the fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems

Methods of confirming that the fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems are functional and perform to the specified design and installation standards codes and legislation

Procedures for monitoring and accessing inspection and test data and confirming data against performance criteria

Methods and procedures for communicating unresolved noncompliance issues and the impact of local conditions on test protocols and maintenance programs to clients and other stakeholders

Procedures for confirming that modifications to the original fire safety system technical drawings and plans are documented

Procedures for preparing installation inspection reports and maintenance inspection reports for clients and other stakeholders

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria

To achieve the performance criteria some complementary skills are required These include the following

Recording and storing information

Recording noncompliance issues

Conducting andor witnessing tests to verify power supplies are of sufficient capacity to power subsystems in accordance with standards and legislative requirements

Conducting andor witnessing tests to verify the interdependence interface of the fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems do perform to design installation and maintenance standards and legislative requirements

Conducting andor witnessing tests to verify operation of evacuation system performs to design installation and maintenance standards and legislative requirements

Conducting andor witnessing tests to verify that performance maintenance tests are conducted in accordance with standards and legislative requirements

Using relevant testing equipment

Reviewing solutions developed to address noncompliance issues and the impact of local conditions on test protocols and testing programs

Active listening techniques

Effectively presenting information

Effective telephone techniques

Organising collecting and collating information

Assessing test data

Basic wordprocessing skills

Language literacy and numeracy skills necessary to process written and verbal information and perform basic calculations related to the job

Other units of competency that could be assessed with this unit

This unit of competency can be assessed on its own or in conjunction with any practical unit

Gaining evidence to assess this unit

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit the competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and be observed by the assessor

The competency is to be demonstrated in a range of situations which may include customerworkplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace

Assessment of competency may be made through practical demonstration in the work environment or in a simulated work environment

Key competency levels

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life that are required in all jobs They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions Some of these are covered by the key competencies although others may be added

Information below highlights how these processes are applied in this unit of competency

	Perform the process			Perform and administer the process		Perform administer and design the process
How can communication of ideas and information be applied						Prepare inspection reports present and discuss results and make recommendations about the outcomes of a fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems compliance inspection with clients and other stakeholders Document and discuss with clients and other stakeholders noncompliance issues the impact of local conditions on test protocols and test programs and unresolved noncompliance issues Ensure that modifications to the original fire safety systems documentation are documented included in the inspection report and discussed with clients and other stakeholders
How can information be collected analysed and organised						Obtain relevant fire safety system documentation from a variety of sources Analyse documentation to check for completeness identify and record noncompliance issues and the impact of local conditions on test protocols and test programs and ensure that testing is monitored against relevant standards codes legislative requirements and test protocols Compare and analyse test results against the documented performance data Make reference to relevant standards codes and legislation in inspection reports against performance data generated by fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems
How are activities planned and organised						Schedule fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems inspections to ensure that the client and other stakeholders are available and staged inspections occur if required
How can teamwork be applied						Apply teamwork to ensure that fire safety system and associated fire safety subsystems testing is performed efficiently by appropriate stakeholders
How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques be applied						Check testing calculations for accuracy and compare test results with documented performance data
How can problemsolving skills be applied						Discuss and listen to others involved in the noncompliance issues and the impact of local conditions on test protocols and test programs Develop appropriate strategies to resolve noncompliance issues
How can the use of technology be applied						Access and follow up documentation relevant to the inspection of fire safety systems and associated fire safety subsystems using appropriate technology such as personal computers database systems and the Internet

---

Range Statement

The range statement links the required knowledge and organisational and technical requirements to the workplace context. It describes any contextual variables that may be used or encountered when applying the competency in work situations. It allows for different work practices and work and knowledge requirements as well as for differences between organisations and workplaces. The following variables are listed in alphabetical order and may be present for this particular unit.

Clients and other stakeholders may include:

agents/agent representatives

builders

building architects

building owners/occupiers

building surveyors

federal/state/territory/local government authorities

fire and other regulatory authorities

fire engineers

fire safety system designers

fire safety system installers

industry associations

maintenance providers

other appropriate bodies or organisations

project managers/site managers.

Competent personnel require experience that may include:

awareness of the impact of local conditions on test protocols and test programs

experience with necessary testing equipment

hands-on experience

interpretation of performance-based or prescriptive-based sub-system requirements

relevant industry qualification(s)

understanding of recording and reporting protocols

working knowledge of Australian Standards, related to installation, maintenance and testing

working knowledge of each fire safety sub-system.

Evacuation systems may include:

automatic unlocking of exit doors e.g. secure environments

building evacuation procedures

illuminated exit signs.

Fire safety sub-systems may include:

dry chemical powder systems

emergency evacuation lighting systems

emergency luminaries and exit signs

emergency warning and intercommunication systems

external wall-wetting sprinklers

fire and smoke control systems

fire brigade hydrant and water supply booster and feed connections

fire brigade intervention plans

fire detection and alarm systems

fire fighting equipment

fire hydrants and fire hose reels

fire pump set systems

fire resistant door-sets and roller shutters

fire resistant sealing service penetrations and control joints

fire resistant separating building elements

fire sprinkler deluge systems

fire sprinkler pre-action and dry pipe systems

fire sprinkler systems - domestic, residential, commercial and industrial

gaseous agent suppression systems

high and medium velocity water spray systems

high expansion foam systems

low expansion foam systems

emergency warning and intercommunication system

portable fire extinguishers

smoke and heat venting systems

water mist systems

wet chemical systems.

Local conditions may include:

occupier/owner imposed restrictions

site constraints

trade union imposed restrictions.

Relevant standards and maintenance protocols may include:

Australian Communications Authority - cabling provider rules

Australian Dangerous Goods Code

Australian Standards

Building Code of Australia

building surveyor requirements

client and other stakeholder requirements

dispensations from fire and other regulatory authorities

enterprise operating procedures

federal/state/territory/local government authority legislation and regulations, including:

state or territory building legislation and regulations

state or territory environmental regulations

state or territory fire service legislation and regulations

industry codes of practice

international fire system and equipment standards

plumbing codes

product manufacturer's technical manuals and data sheets

updates and interpretations of the Building Code of Australia

workplace codes of practice.

Relevant standards, codes and legislation may include:

Australian Communications Authority - cabling provider rules

Australian Dangerous Goods Code

Australian Standards

Building Code of Australia

building surveyor requirements

client and other stakeholder requirements

dispensations from fire and other regulatory authorities

enterprise operating procedures

federal/state/territory/local government authority legislation and regulations, including:

state or territory building legislation and regulations

state or territory environmental regulations

state or territory fire service legislation and regulations

industry codes of practice

international fire system and equipment standards

plumbing codes

product manufacturer's technical manuals and data sheets

updates and interpretations of the Building Code of Australia

workplace codes of practice.

Specification requirements may include:

fire safety system design drawings

fire system Australian Standards

other fire safety system design documentation

project specifications.

Test protocols may include:

fire safety system design drawings

other fire safety system design documentation

standards and codes tested to and/or against.

---