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 observation of practical demonstration of the ability to identify the fire equipment and systems outlined in the range statement at customers’ premises.

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 in this unit.

In particular the person should demonstrate the ability to:

identify a range of fire safety equipment and systems, including:

automatic fire-suppression systems

electrical life safety equipment and systems

fire hydrant systems

fire pumpsets

first attack equipment

passive products and systems

report on fire safety equipment and systems installed at customers’ premises.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an off-site context. It is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards’ requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include:

actual or simulated work environment

product examples or clear photographs/drawings of relevant products

assessment documentation

training and assessment record book.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must:

satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Property 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.

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function, for example:

CPPFES2005A Demonstrate first attack firefighting equipment

CPPFES2006A Prepare for installation and servicing operations.

Required skills

language, literacy and numeracy skills to:

communicate with others clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing

read and comply with work instructions and specifications

use effective questioning and listening techniques

recognising installed fire safety equipment and systems

Required knowledge

purpose and range of Australian colour-coding system for portable and wheeled fire extinguishers, including pictographs

purpose and types of:

automatic fire detection and alarm systems

automatic sprinkler alarm systems

delivery lay flat fire hoses

emergency exits and lighting units and system

fire and smoke door sets

fire blankets

fire hose reels

fire pumpsets

gaseous fire-suppression systems

intercom systems for emergency purposes

major components of fire hydrant systems

portable and wheeled fire extinguishers

pre-engineered fire-suppression systems

service penetration products

smoke and heat alarms

sound systems for emergency purposes

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.

Portable fire extinguisher types include:

cartridge

rechargeable and non-rechargeable

reversible

stored pressure.

Extinguishants may include:

carbon dioxide

foam

powder

vaporising liquid

water

wet chemical.

Expellants may include:

carbon dioxide

dry air

nitrogen.

Wheeled fire extinguisher types include:

cartridge

stored pressure.

Fire hose reel types may include:

swing-hinged

vehicle-mounted

wall-mounted.

Delivery lay flat fire hoses may include:

percolating and non-percolating

low, medium and high classes

range of different hose diameters.

Delivery lay flat fire hose couplings may include:

British instantaneous couplings (BIC)

Storz system couplings

threaded.

Fire blanket containers may include:

metal tubes

plastic and vinyl covers.

Major components of fire hydrant systems may include:

backflow prevention valves

external hydrant valves

fire brigade booster connections

internal hydrant valves:

points

landing valves

outlets

pressure reducing valves (ratio valves)

reticulating pipework

town main reticulated hydrant ‘street’ valves

water supply system, including:

tanks

pumpsets.

Fire door sets may include:

automatic closing

one-hour or two-hour fire rated assemblies

self-closing or sliding.

Smoke door sets may include:

automatic closing

self-closing or sliding

solid core or fire-resistance rated.

Service penetration products may include:

fire-rated gap-fillers, such as:

mortars

grouts

sealants

caulks

putties

fire-rated pillows

fire stop collars.

Fire pumpsets may include:

dedicated pumpset driven by an electric or diesel motor

combination of both motors that supply fire systems, such as hydrants and sprinklers.

Automatic sprinkler alarm systems may include:

standard sprinkler systems that use:

concealed sprinklers

conventional sprinklers

dry pendant, dry sidewall and dry upright sprinklers

enlarged orifice sprinklers

fast response sprinklers

flush sprinklers

large, extra large and very large orifice sprinklers

recessed sprinklers

sidewall sprinklers

spray or pendant sprinklers

special sprinkler systems that use:

early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers

extended coverage sprinklers, including enhanced protection extended coverage (EPEC) sprinklers

large drop sprinklers

residential sprinklers

sealed water mist nozzles.

Pre-engineered fire-suppression systems may include:

ducting used for extraction of fumes or particles

electrical equipment installed in a cabinet

exhaust ducting

large mining vehicles

mobile and transportable equipment, such as systems installed for the protection of cooking equipment

major components, including:

alarm system devices

automatic fire detection devices linked to automatic release mechanism

containers of extinguishant agent

manual release mechanism

nozzles connected to pipework or tubing

pipework or tubing connected to extinguishant containers.

Gaseous fire-suppression systems may include:

total flood systems using a variety of extinguishing agents:

inert gaseous fire-extinguishing agents

local application systems using mainly carbon dioxide

synthetic gaseous fire-extinguishing agents – extinguishing agent handling licences (EAHL) required

major components, including:

alarm system devices

automatic fire detection devices

containers of extinguishant agent

local control stations

nozzles connected to pipework

pipework connected to extinguishant containers

warning devices and signs at entry points to protected space.

Automatic fire detection and alarm systems may include:

flame detectors, including:

infra-red

ultraviolet

combination of both

gas sensing fire detectors, including semiconductor and catalytic element types

heat detectors, including point and linear types

smoke detectors, including ionisation, photoelectric and air sampling

warning devices, such as bells, speakers and lights.

Smoke alarms and heat alarms may include:

fixed temperature

ionisation

photoelectric.

Sound systems for emergency purposes may include:

warning devices, such as speakers and lights independently operated by control and indicating equipment (CIE) fit for purpose.

Intercom systems for emergency purposes may include:

warden intercommunication points, such as telephones, distributed throughout a building and independently operated by CIE fit for purpose and separate from all other communication equipment.

Emergency exits and lighting may include:

central systems consisting of emergency luminaires powered by a battery bank with battery charger supply

self-contained emergency luminaires

combination of self-contained emergency luminaires and house artificial lighting

emergency exit luminaire signs.

Communication may include:

email messages

facsimiles

multimedia messages (MMS)

online reporting system

pager messages

SMS text messages

verbal reports

written reports.

Relevant persons may include:

colleagues, including those in other organisations

customers

licensing and regulatory bodies

managers

supervisors

system and component manufacturers and suppliers

team leaders

trades people and contractors.