Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to monitor construction work and provide advice to clients, including architects, buildings designers and construction contractors, on meeting compliance requirements for construction work on both new and existing buildings of all classes, defined by the Building Code of Australia, and up to three storeys. It involves arranging and conducting site visits during construction.
The unit supports the work of private building surveyors who provide consultancy services during the construction phase of a project and who assist in finding solutions to problems, including construction faults and compliance issues.
Building surveyors must operate within the regulatory constraints that govern the relationship between their advisory and statutory roles and ensure that no conflict of interest arises.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit in some States. Relevant state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm those requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Plan and manage construction monitoring and advisory services. | 1.1. | Scope and nature of construction monitoring services and advice required by clients are determined and details of services to be offered at different stages of projects, timelines and fees are identified and confirmed. |
1.2. | External personnel required to provide advice at different stages of projects, or on specialist areas of expertise, are identified, engaged and briefed. | ||
1.3. | Site visits are scheduled and work health and safety (WHS) requirements are identified and confirmed with client and other relevant project personnel according to project and workplace requirements. | ||
1.4. | Project management processes are implemented and monitored to ensure accurate and timely advice is provided within the scope of specified service levels. | ||
1.5. | Project documentation is obtained and approved designs, compliance requirements, construction methods and materials specified are analysed. | ||
1.6. | File management processes are implemented and monitored according to workplace requirements. | ||
2. | Identify and advise on construction faults. | 2.1. | Construction work is monitored according to agreed schedule and assessed against approved designs, specifications and compliance requirements. |
2.2. | Faults in construction work are identified, documented and discussed with relevant on-site personnel according to project and workplace requirements. | ||
2.3. | Options for rectifying construction faults are developed and evaluated in consultation with client and relevant on-site personnel. | ||
2.4. | Rectification work is assessed to ensure it meets compliance requirements and assessment documentation is completed and provided to client according to project and workplace requirements. | ||
3. | Advise on construction problems. | 3.1. | Advice on interpretation of compliance requirements, working drawings and specifications is provided to on-site personnel according to agreed service levels. |
3.2. | Problems arising during construction work are analysed and discussed with client and on-site personnel according to project and workplace requirements. | ||
3.3. | Solutions to construction problems are developed and evaluated in consultation with client and relevant on-site personnel. | ||
3.4. | Detailed sketches and notes relating to solutions to construction problems are developed and provided to client and relevant on-site personnel according to project and workplace requirements. | ||
4. | Prepare reports. | 4.1. | Drawings and documentation from different site visits to construction project are collated and reviewed. |
4.2. | Details of monitoring and advisory services to the construction project are reported, including faults and problems addressed. | ||
4.3. | Report is submitted to and discussed with client, and questions are invited and addressed. | ||
4.4. | Solutions to construction faults and problems relevant to future workplace projects are reported and processed according to workplace procedures. | ||
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. The person must monitor and advise on construction faults and problems in the following three different buildings as defined in the Building Code of Australia (BCA), up to three storeys:
one class 1 building
two projects selected from:
a project incorporating classes 2, 5, 6 and 7a
a project incorporating classes 3 or 9c
a project incorporating classes 7b and 8.
For each of the above buildings, the person must:
scope and plan construction monitoring and advisory services
engage external personnel as required
analyse project documentation
schedule and conduct site inspections
identify faults and negotiate solutions with on-site personnel
re-assess resolved construction faults
advise on construction problems and interpretation of compliance requirements
report to client on monitoring and advisory services.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
BCA classification and definitions for all classes of buildings
construction methods and materials suitable for all classes of buildings up to three storeys
regulatory constraints that govern the relationship between the advisory and statutory roles of building surveyors
drawing symbols, notations, acronyms and construction terminology used in the National Construction Code (NCC), Australian standards, working drawings, building design specifications, and building permit documentation
range of, and variations in, compliance requirements for buildings and structures in different climatic, geographic and planning zones, including:
building control legislation and regulations
NCC
Australian standards referenced by building control legislation and regulations and the NCC
state, territory or local authority planning policies
legislative and regulatory requirements for critical stage inspections relating to buildings and structures at the following stages of construction:
site preparation
foundations and footings
framing.
Assessment Conditions
Suitable assessment of performance requires:
equipment:
computer with internet access and business software currently in use in building surveying practices
materials:
documentation for the three projects specified in the performance evidence
personal protective equipment (PPE)
physical conditions:
access to the projects specified in the performance evidence
specifications:
access to relevant and current building control legislation, regulations, codes and standards and state, territory or local authority planning policies.
Assessor requirements
Assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
In addition, assessors must also demonstrate current membership of a relevant industry association and have current registration on the National Building Professionals Register in the Building Industry Control category (level 1) or be accredited under the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) National Accreditation Scheme at Building Surveyor level.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Learning skills to: | independently access and interpret a range of complex technical information relating to compliance requirements for all classes of buildings, including specific requirements for particular geographic and climatic areas and different planning schemes and codes. |
Numeracy skills to: | extract and interpret a range of mathematical information contained in technical documentation relating to construction work, including: ratios, rates and proportions detailed plans. |
Oral communication skills to: | determine client requirements regarding nature and scope of advice sought, through open-ended questioning, active listening, paraphrasing and summarising understand and use specialised construction industry vocabulary in a variety of situations, for example explanations, descriptions and discussions with architects, building designers and specialist personnel use communication style and technical construction vocabulary to develop and maintain cooperative and professional relationships with building contractors. |
Reading skills to: | use different reading strategies to locate specific compliance requirements in a range of resources, including the National Construction Code (NCC) interpret technical texts with complex structures, specialised vocabulary, acronyms and diagrams specific to design drawings, specifications and compliance requirements for all classes of buildings monitor own understanding of technical texts and apply a range of strategies to ensure correct interpretation of compliance requirements. |
Writing skills to: | use accurately-spelled technical construction vocabulary relating to solutions to construction problems in notes, diagrams and specifications. |
Problem-solving skills to: | identify and analyse construction faults and problems and develop a range of possible solutions that comply with NCC performance requirements. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Options for rectifying construction faults must include: | alternative solutions that meet the performance requirements of the NCC deemed-to-satisfy NCC solutions solutions that meet the requirements of: state or territory and local government legislation and regulations statutory authorities governing: environment fire protection services. |
Solutions to construction problems must include: | alternative solutions that meet the performance requirements of the NCC deemed-to-satisfy NCC solutions solutions that meet the requirements of: state or territory and local government legislation and regulations statutory authorities governing: environment fire protection services. |
Sectors
Construction
Competency Field
Building surveying