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 each of the following types of planned residential buildings for legislative, regulatory and compliance purposes:

single and two-storey residential buildings

single and two-level apartments

planned alterations or additions to residential buildings.

In each case the assessment must be undertaken using a NatHERS software tool that is accredited under NatHERS for regulatory purposes in a mode appropriate to 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 enter this information into a NatHERS software tool in regulator mode

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

identify and analyse the outputs of a thermal performance assessment tool

identify the limitations of the software and items that cannot be assessed

make recommendations to improve the thermal performance of a planned residential building to meet relevant regulatory and client requirements.

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 off-site 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:

Australian climatic zones

building design and materials

home energy rating system (HERS)

building thermal performance for planned buildings

manufacturer product information on building products and materials

NatHERS.

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 and/or oral assessment

observed, documented and/or first-hand testimonial evidence of the candidate undertaking thermal performance assessments.

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.

Required skills

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

decision-making and problem-solving skills to make recommendations based on the outputs of NatHERS software tools

literacy skills to:

complete standard forms

generate business correspondence and prepare reports

read and interpret a variety of texts, including legislation, regulations, and conduct and ethical standards

numeracy and data analysis skills to:

calculate and interpret the outputs of NatHERS software tools data associated with conducting thermal performance assessments, such as U-value, R-value, reflectivity, absorptance and emissivity

interpret and extract data from building plans and specifications

planning, organising and scheduling skills to undertake work-related 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

time-management skills to complete the assessment in a timely, cost-efficient 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 alterations and additions:

effects on building thermal performance

performance standards

regulations

type and scale of alterations and additions

building thermal performance:

benefits of thermal performance assessment

impact of building design and building materials on building thermal performance

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 standards:

current performance standards

documentation of assessments and ratings

legal requirements

uses

ways of improving 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

building materials:

constraints on choice of building materials:

cost

practicality

size

space

thermal performance properties of common building materials

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 efficiency

energy loads

heating and cooling loads

latent heat

power

primary energy source

environmental impact of energy use in residential buildings

units of measurement

greenhouse gas emissions:

potential ways of reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions through building design

relationship between building design, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

NatHERS software tools:

assumptions and limitations inherent in NatHERS software protocol and accredited software

building and external elements included in NatHERS thermal performance assessments

criteria for the selection of particular NatHERS software tools

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

operating procedures

properties of materials, such as heat transfer coefficients and U-value, thermal resistance and R-value, reflectivity, absorptance, solar heat gain coefficient and emissivity

scope and function of NatHERS software tools

star rating

types of NatHERS software tools

passive energy design:

benefits of passive design

principles of passive design

relationship between passive design and greenhouse gas emissions

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

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.

Need may include assessment for:

building design advice purposes

legislative, regulatory and compliance purposes.

Residential building refers to:

any building categorised as Class 1, 2, 4 and 10a of the National Construction Code or in accordance with jurisdictional requirements

part of building, including additions and alterations.

Client may include:

architect

builder

construction manager

government agency

owner

property developer.

Effective communication strategies may include:

active listening

being non-judgemental

exploring problems

expressing an individual perspective

providing sufficient time for questions and responses

providing summarising and reflective responses in conflict situations

using appropriate words, behaviour and posture

using clarifying and summarising questions

using clear and concise language

using culturally appropriate communication

using plain English

using verbal and non-verbal communication.

Risks may include:

awareness of current legislative and regulatory requirements

confidentiality

data accuracy

data integrity

data loss

insurance

privacy

professional indemnity

work health and safety.

Documentation may include:

building details

building drawings and specifications

checklists

client details

risk assessment

site details.

Information may include:

air leakage features:

fans

wall vents

attachments to other buildings externally

building sealing

construction materials

dimensions

electrical fittings:

ceiling fans

down lights

exhaust fans

floor coverings

glazing

insulation levels:

ceiling

floors

walls

orientation

overshadowing

shading

thermal mass

ventilation

windows:

coverings

size

style

type of frame

type of glass:

clear

tinted

zoning and layout.

Sources may include:

building appraisal and measurement

building plans and specifications

client

other building professionals.

Outputs may include:

cooling loads

heating loads

information on building properties

latent cooling

rating

temperature graphs.

Sources of technical advice may include:

architects

building designers

building thermal performance assessors

colleagues

consultants

government agencies

professional associations

research bodies

supervisors

suppliers of products relating to building thermal performance.

Assumptions may include:

climate data

comfort

material properties

occupancy profiles

thermostat settings

uses of windows, doors, curtains and blinds.

Options may include:

construction materials

glazing

insulation levels

landscaping and planting

orientation

overshadowing

passive heating and cooling

size

style

thermal mass

type of glazing

ventilation

window

zoning and layout.

Criteria may include:

cost

outputs of thermal performance assessment

practicality

thermal performance properties of building elements

type of building.

Results and recommendations may include:

compliance with regulatory requirements

cost implications

practicalities.