This unit of competency supports the needs of experienced tradespeople with a responsibility for designing solar water heating systems for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Evaluate design parameters.

1.1. Scope of work is established for solar water heating system design.

1.2. Design requirements are determined from plans, specifications and client briefs.

1.3. Locations of solar collectors are assessed and effect of each location on efficiency is evaluated.

1.4. Cost-benefit analysis is conducted comparing a range of materials and system designs.

1.5. Environmental and community benefits of solar water heating systems are evaluated.

1.6. Statutory and regulatory requirements and Australian and New Zealand standards for the design of solar water heating systems are analysed and applied.

1.7. Manufacturer requirements and trade and technical manuals are interpreted.

1.8. Additional research, including a desktop study, is conducted to outline design parameters.

1.9. Performance requirements are established.

2. Plan and detail system components.

2.1. Layout of pipework systems and type and location of fittings and valves are planned.

2.2. Range configuration and application of proprietary solar heated water systems, and materials and valves to be selected, are evaluated.

2.3. Solar water heating system calculations are performed.

2.4. Typical configuration of a hydraulic circuit (flow and return) and its components for a pumped-storage solar water heating system is designed.

2.5. Water quality and water pre-treatment methods are specified.

2.6. Suitable types and levels of insulation for system components are specified and a range of methods for freezing protection is detailed.

2.7. Pipe size, velocity, flow and pressure calculations are performed for a range of applications.

2.8. Pipe fixings are designed for a range of applications.

2.9. Approved materials, jointing methods and installation requirements for solar water heating systems are specified.

3. Design and size systems.

3.1. Solar collector is designed.

3.2. Residential, commercial and industrial solar water heating systems are designed.

3.3. Solar pre-heat systems are designed.

3.4. Solar pool and spa heating systems are designed.

3.5. Solar water heating systems are designed and sized using computer software packages.

4. Prepare documentation.

4.1. Plans are prepared for a range of solar water heating systems.

4.2. Specification for a solar water heating system is prepared.

4.3. Testing and commissioning schedule is prepared.

4.4. Operation and maintenance manual is produced.

Required skills

Required skills for this unit are:

communication skills to:

communicate with others to ensure safe and effective work practices

confirm job specifications and client requirements

enable clear and direct communication, using questioning to identify and confirm requirements, share information, listen and understand

read and interpret:

documentation from a variety of sources

plans, specifications, drawings and design briefs

standards and manufacturer requirements and manuals

statutory and regulatory requirements

use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences

use and interpret non-verbal communication, such as hand signals

written skills to prepare documentation, including:

operation and maintenance manual

plans, specifications and schedules

innovation skills to develop creative and responsive approaches

numeracy skills to interpret data and to apply measurements and calculations

planning and organisational skills to:

research, collect, organise and understand information relating to the design of solar water heating systems

take initiative and make decisions

problem solving skills to analyse requirements, consider options and design an appropriate system.

Required knowledge

Required knowledge for this unit is:

common terminology and definitions used in design of solar water heating systems

principles of technology used in design of solar water heating systems

requirements of state regulatory authorities, Australian standards and manufacturer specifications, including hazards identified in relation to devices and systems used

workplace safety requirements, including relevant statutory regulations, codes and standards.

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 in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment providing that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate plumbing and services workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.

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:

evaluating and documenting design parameters, including client, regulatory, manufacturer and Australian and New Zealand standard requirements for a range of solar water heating systems

conducting a cost-benefit analysis

planning and detailing system components, including:

circulating systems

solar collectors

valve and piping systems

designing a range of residential, commercial and industrial solar water heating systems

designing solar pre-heat systems

designing solar pool and spa heating systems

preparing plans for a range of solar water heating systems

preparing specifications for solar water heating systems

preparing testing and commissioning schedules

producing operation and maintenance manuals.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include:

an induction procedure and requirement

realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the minimum task requirements

relevant specifications and work instructions, including design brief drawings, specifications, codes, design concepts and construction schedules

tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices, including computers, software and calculators

workplace instructions relating to safe working practices and addressing hazards and emergencies

material safety data sheets

research resources, including industry related systems information.

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.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must:

satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and 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.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace

where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's demonstrated ability and applied knowledge

all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.

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.

Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

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.

Scope of work includes:

interpreting plans and specifications, and sizing and documenting layout of solar water heating systems for applications including residential, commercial and industrial buildings for new projects or an existing structure being renovated, extended, restored or maintained

heat transfer mechanism analysis, including conduction, convection and radiation (long wave and short wave), and the evaluation of transmittance, absorption and emittance properties of materials used in solar collectors

solar radiation calculations, including:

calculations of efficiency

calculations of radiation falling on collectors

daily, monthly and yearly calculations.

Design requirements include:

architectural specifications

builder specifications

owner requirements

specialist water heating applications.

Efficiency includes:

angle of collector in relation to latitude

comparison of demand and efficiency curves for various types of solar collectors

current and potential shading

direction in relation to north

efficiency in relation to:

ambient temperature

flow

location

pollution

prevailing wind conditions

magnetic north as opposed to true north.

Cost-benefit analysis includes:

comparison and evaluation of capital cost, simple pay back and life cycle cost of solar and electric or gas heated water heaters

comparison of initial set-up costs to the energy savings available and establishment of cost-recovery period

comparison of range of suitable materials and system choices available to enable cost-effective choices to be made without compromising integrity of project.

Statutory and regulatory requirements and Australian and New Zealand standards include:

Acts, regulations, and local and state government policies

Australian and New Zealand standards:

AS/NZS3500 National plumbing and drainage set

AS2200 Design charts for water supply and sewerage

AS2369.1 Materials for solar collectors for swimming pool heating - rubber materials

AS2369.2 Materials for solar collectors for swimming pool heating - flexible or plasticised polyvinyl chloride

AS2535.1 Test methods for solar collectors - thermal performance of glazed liquid heating collectors including pressure drop

AS2712 Solar and heat pump water heaters - design and construction

AS3634 Solar heating systems for swimming pools

AS4234 Solar water heaters - domestic and heat pump - calculation of energy consumption

AS4445.1 Solar heating - domestic water heating systems - performance rating procedure using indoor test methods

DR04527 Amendment 1 to AS2712 Solar water heaters - design and construction

Building Code of Australia.

Manufacturer requirements include:

material specifications

pump tables

sizing tables

technical and trade manuals.

Desktop study includes:

collection and interpretation of existing data for design purposes from:

architectural and building plans

council plans

developer plans

other documents, including:

applications

forms

other reports as available

comparison of performance of various types of solar water heaters in terms of design, location and predicted solar fraction.

Performance requirements are established using Australian and New Zealand standards and local authority plans and may include:

discharge requirements

flow

pressure

velocity

water quality and its effect on system life.

Layout of pipework systems:

includes:

dual feed

ring main

single pipe

should not unduly affect building integrity and aesthetic appeal

should have principles of economy, serviceability, durability and fit for use applied.

Fittings and valves include:

fittings:

bends

elbows

tees

unions

valves:

backflow prevention

excess pressure

frost protection devices

isolating

location of valves

over temperature

pressure limiting

pressure reduction

strainers.

Proprietary solar heated water systems include:

alternative supplementary fuel sources, including:

coal

electricity

fuel oil

gas

wood

circulating systems

clarifiers

close coupled, split systems

direct and indirect heating systems

heat exchange systems

heated water heaters

pool heaters

solar pre-heaters

spa heaters

storage systems

sun track systems.

Solar water heating system calculations include:

circulation calculations

energy balance equation

flow calculations

heat loss calculations, covering:

collector losses

overnight losses

standing losses

temperature and energy equations

varying inlet temperature and flow rate effect on the performance of a solar collector

volume calculations.

Components include:

collectors

differential controllers

electronics

expansion tanks

filters

fittings

flow and return pipework

heat exchangers

insulation

overflows

safe trays

storage vessels

suitable type and size of circulating pumps

supplementary heat sources

support frames

timers and mechanical components

valves.

Methods for freezing protection include:

circulating systems

dump valves

heat trace systems.

Pipe size, velocity, flow and pressure calculations include:

rate of discharge

temperature

volume.

Pipe fixings include:

anchors

bracket spacing

corrosion protection

hanging brackets

material requirements

saddles

wall and ceiling brackets.

Materials include:

copper

fittings and fixtures

galvanised steel

glass

other approved pipe materials

polybutylene

protective coatings.

Jointing methods include:

brazing

compression

flaring

mechanical joints

soldering

threading.

Installation requirements include:

clipping

installation details

jointing requirements

level of workmanship

roof support.

Solar collector design includes:

box

fin and tube collectors

glass

insulation

pipe collectors

pre-heat systems

sun tracking systems.

Plans include:

axonometrics

cross-sections

details

elevations

isometrics

schematics, which may be produced using:

pencil

Indian ink

pigment liner

computer generation

sections.

Specification includes:

clipping

details of specialised components

jointing

manufacturer requirements

materials

valve selection

workmanship.

Testing includes:

air pressure test

defect inspection

hydrostatic test

mains pressure test

quality assurance (QA) audit.

Commissioning schedule includes:

flow test

leak check

pressure test

pump commissioning

system purge

valve operation.

Operation and maintenance manual includes:

leak detection

pump maintenance

valve maintenance

water and energy auditing

yearly inspection

yearly maintenance requirements.

Unit sector

Plumbing and services

Nil

This unit contains employability skills.