This unit of competency supports the attainment of skills and knowledge necessary for the effective and efficient design of special hazard fire suppression and detection systems.

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Select appropriate special hazard fire suppression solutions.

1.1. Research is conducted to determine the appropriate fire suppression solutions to address the building or facility's risk profile and the special hazard standards that have been identified for use.

1.2. A cost-benefit and efficiency analysis of the range of fire suppression systems is conducted.

1.3. Recommendations for the selection of preferred solutions are made to the appropriate personnel.

2. Select appropriate special hazard fire detection and occupant warning solutions.

2.1. Research is conducted to determine the appropriate fire detection and occupant warning solutions to address the building or facility's risk profile, ambient conditions and the selected fire suppression solution.

2.2. A cost-benefit and efficiency analysis of the range of fire detection and warning systems is conducted.

2.3. Recommendations for the selection of preferred solutions are made to the appropriate personnel.

3. Set up special hazard fire systems design drawing.

3.1. Relevant project drawings and documentation are requested, received, named and filed according to workplace procedures.

3.2. Drawings are cleaned to leave minimal essential information.

3.3. Layers showing designs of other services are imported into clean architectural or structural drawings.

3.4. Details from drawings of floor or building adjacent to the areas under design consideration are added if these affect the design.

3.5. The detailed design drawing is named, filed and backed up according to workplace procedures.

4. Lay out the special hazard system design.

4.1. A site visit is conducted if possible to confirm dimensions and assess installation risks and constraints.

4.2. The interactions between the various systems are identified and planned.

4.3. The exact locations of sprinklers and other fittings are determined and notated on the drawing according to relevant codes and standards.

4.4. The most efficient and workable layout and location of system components are determined and notated on the drawing.

4.5. Dimensions are calculated, checked and notated on the drawing.

5. Calculate the requirements for the special hazard solutions.

5.1. Calculations to identify and confirm the required capacity of the special hazards systems are undertaken.

5.2. Infrastructure to support the special hazard solution is identified and quantified.

5.3. Shortfalls in water pressure are determined and the sizes of pumps and tanks required for water spray systems are calculated.

6. Evaluate and implement special hazard fire system solutions.

6.1. The components of the special hazard fire system solution are gathered from relevant expert personnel as required.

6.2. Special hazard system design drawings are evaluated for efficiency and effectiveness.

6.3. Design drawings are submitted to relevant personnel within the scheduled timeframe.

6.4. Required amendments to design drawings are made or negotiated as required.

6.5. Final approved design drawings are processed and distributed according to project and workplace requirements.

6.6. Fittings and components are selected and ordered.

Required skills

accurate measuring

accurate naming and filing of drawings, including:

formal document control

formal amendments, including:

history

transmittal notices

editing and creating drawings, including:

layout

section

detail

external references

freezing layers

fluent detailed hand-drawing and sketching ability to convey information to on-site workers

operating computer software packages and systems, including:

word processing

spreadsheet

email

internet

proprietary project management software

proprietary hydraulic calculation software

proprietary estimating software

parametric modelling software

numeracy skills for:

calculating:

dimensions

pipe lengths

piping friction loss

pump capacity

motor output

performing calculations for electrical systems:

voltage drops

battery capacity

battery back-up

power supplies

performing fluid mechanic calculations

determining cost-benefit of solutions

language and literacy skills for:

listening to and communicating clearly with colleagues, fitters, suppliers and contractors

participating in meetings, such as negotiations with fire engineering consultant, architect, builder or other service contractor

researching, accessing, reading, interpreting and applying current relevant legislation, codes and standards

letter writing, especially to formalise:

recognition of conflicts and errors on drawings supplied by other service contractors

agreements with other services, for example whichever service is fitted last must fit around existing services

reading and interpreting drawings, plans and specifications, including:

architectural

structural

mechanical

hydraulic

electrical

report writing

developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with project team members, workplace colleagues, suppliers, fitters and clients

negotiation and conflict management

initiating and running meetings with lead contractor and other service contractors

project management

organising own work, including creating personal systems and checklists for planning, managing and checking work

managing detailed input to concurrent fire systems design projects at different stages of the process and with diverse sets of regulatory requirements

Required knowledge

workplace design tools and processes

naming conventions for design drawings and drawing register

fire science, including:

fire behaviour and dynamics

impact of fire on structures and materials

products of combustion

fire control strategies

fire retardants

fire detection technologies

fire suppression technologies

fire containment

fire engineering principles, including:

engineered solutions

innovative fire systems

fire modelling

proprietary fire engineering and modelling programs

parametric modelling of services coordination using proprietary software, such as Navis-Works or MEP-REVIT

computer software functions and operation, including:

word processing

spreadsheet

email

internet

proprietary project management software

proprietary hydraulic calculation software

proprietary estimating software

relevant current legislation, codes and standards, including:

building Acts

building regulations

infrastructure supply regulations

the Building Code of Australia

Australian standards for fire systems

international standards for fire systems

other fire system standards commonly required by building insurers

protection requirements for different buildings, including the existence of special zones, the egress requirements of occupants, and the construction materials used

passive fire safety elements, including:

identification of passive elements

impact of fire systems design on passive elements

specifications required to safeguard integrity of passive fire element performance where penetrations are necessitated by the fire systems design

fire systems' technology and components, including:

water-based systems, including:

wet pipe sprinkler systems

deluge and drencher systems

dry pipe sprinkler systems

pre-action sprinkler systems

early suppression fast response (ESFR)

hydrants, hose reels and monitors

water supply tanks

fire pump sets

detection and warning systems, including:

emergency warning and intercommunications systems (EWIS)

fire detection and alarm systems

smoke control systems

emergency lighting systems

special hazard fire systems, including:

foam systems (low expansion, medium expansion and high expansion)

gaseous agent systems (carbon dioxide, inert gas and halocarbon gases)

water spray systems (deluge, medium/high velocity water spray and high speed deluge)

chemical systems, including:

powder

wet chemical

purpose and operation of fire systems, including:

layout

special products and hazards

system operation

performance requirements

maintenance standards

system activation and operation

characteristics and limitations of products and materials used in fire systems and issues relating to material capability

interconnection of fire systems, including:

cause and effect matrix

interface with other services

instruments used in commissioning and measuring fire system performance

basic principles of structural engineering

characteristics of building materials

construction industry terminology

roles and responsibilities of relevant building project personnel, including:

architect

lead contractor

mechanical engineer

hydraulic engineer

electrical engineer

on-site issues that can arise during the construction phase and impose changes to the designs of fire systems and other services

installation methods, including:

access requirements

health and safety requirements

water supplies, including:

common water sources

conservation requirements

in-ground reticulation

booster configurations

fluid mechanics and hydraulics relating to:

water supply

pressure

pump selection

tank selection

pressure vessels

pipe range

sustainability requirements and ratings, including:

energy conservation

water conservation

pipe fabrication methods and constraints

mathematic principles, equations and calculation methods, including:

financial calculations, for example to assess cost-effectiveness of fire systems

trigonometry, for example to amend dimensions of pipe allowing for fittings

flow calculations, including:

area of operations

discharge rates and quantities

discharge times

pressure gain and loss

K-factors

pressure, temperature and volume relationship

Hazen-Williams equation

Darcy Weisbach equation

computational fluid dynamics

electrical calculations (alarm systems), including:

voltage drops

battery sizes

battery back-up

power supplies

cabling range

system calculations for gas or special hazard fire systems

principles of organic and inorganic chemistry, including basic chemical substances and reactions

principles of basic physics, including an understanding of:

Boyle's Law

Charles' Law

Dalton's Law

Henry's Law

principles of thermodynamics, including:

effects of heat

stratification of gases

smoke and heat dynamics

electrical and electronics theory, including:

units used to measure current (AC and DC), power, capacitance, inductance and sound attenuation

effects of AC and DC current in series and parallel circuit paths that includes resistive, inductive and capacitive loads

relationship between voltage drops around a circuit and applied voltage

definition of voltage ratings as defined in communication and electrical safety regulations, including extra low voltage, low voltage and hazardous voltages

layout of electrical wiring systems to meet communication and electrical safety regulations applicable to fire detection and warning systems

basic operation of common electronic and electrical components used in fire detection and warning systems

basic operation of communication protocols on addressable systems, peripheral devices (printers) and high-level interfaces to other communication devices used in fire detection and warning systems

acoustics and speech intelligibility for occupant warning systems

human psychology, especially fire avoidance behaviour

organisational frameworks and functions, including:

industry associations

enterprises

government bodies

financial management, including:

budgeting

cost-effectiveness

contractual processes

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, provided that the simulated or project-based assessment fully replicates workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.

This unit could be assessed as an activity involving the analysis, design and evaluation of complex special hazard fire systems, including the application of appropriate codes and standards in accordance with the design requirements of the client.

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 within this unit.

In particular the person should demonstrate:

knowledge of fire sciences sufficient to ensure the design of compliant and effective systems that address the specific conditions of the projects being undertaken

numeracy skills sufficient to ensure accurate calculations of system capacities and performance

the ability to read and interpret a range of design documents, including concept briefs, design briefs, drawings, plans and specifications

an understanding of and ability to apply legislation, codes, standards, and regulatory and insurance requirements that may apply to special hazard fire systems design projects, including U.S. NFPA standards

the ability to research appropriate special hazard fire detection and warning systems

the ability to produce accurate technical drawings of the layout for the special hazard design

the ability to design integrated solutions encompassing fire detection, warning and suppression components for special hazard fire systems as they apply to at least three different types of hazards requiring the application of different technical solutions.

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:

access to relevant Australian and international codes and standards

access to legislation relevant to the jurisdiction

project documentation, including design brief, design drawings, specifications, construction schedules and other supporting documents

research resources, including product information and data

theoretical texts and other information to support the assessment of the unit's required skills and knowledge

relevant computer software packages and suitable hardware.

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.

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.

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.

Fire suppression solutions include:

gaseous agent systems, including:

carbon dioxide

inert gases

halocarbon systems

FM-200

FE-25

Inergen

foam systems, including:

low expansion foams

medium expansion foams

high expansion foams

water spray systems, including:

deluge systems

medium and high velocity water spray systems

high speed deluge systems.

The risk profile of the building or facility will reflect the usage of the building, including:

the need to protect people

the value of the goods stored

the susceptibility of the stored goods to water or other forms of damage.

The special hazard standards include:

U.S. NFPA standards, including:

NFPA 2001 Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems

NFPA 11 Low, Medium and High Expansion Foam Systems

NFPA 11A Medium and High Expansion Foam Systems

NFPA 13 The Installation of Sprinkler Systems

NFPA 16 Deluge Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems

relevant Australian standards, including:

AS4214 Gaseous fire extinguishing systems

AS2008 Part 1

AS2008 Part 3

also note:

building insurers may specify the standards they require to issue cover on buildings and facilities

increasingly, international ISO standards are being identified for the industry

special hazards are not referenced in the Building Code of Australia.

Fire detection and occupant warning solutions include:

smoke-sensing detectors

heat-sensing detectors

fire alarms

flame detectors

fire gas detectors.

Project drawings and documentation may include:

architectural

structural

mechanical

electrical

hydraulic

fire engineer's or estimator's specifications.

Interactions between multiple systems on a complex site are analysed to:

ensure the most effective selection of systems to protect different assets

maximise the effectiveness of the systems

maximise the efficiency of the installation process.

Efficient and workable layout and location relate to:

penetrations

conflict with other services

occupational health and safety risks

access constraints

installation problems

aesthetic requirements

efficiencies to facilitate work on site

reduction of labour costing.

System components may include:

discharge nozzles

pipework

brackets

system valves

zone valves

fire panels.

Calculations that relate to the various forms of special hazard systems include:

water-spray system calculations

hydraulic calculations to assess pressure requirements and confirm pipe sizes

gaseous system calculations

foam system calculations.

Infrastructure for special hazard solutions include:

pipework

storage containers

delivery systems for the suppression agent (e.g. foam, gas or water)

tanks.

Large and complex projects may use expert personnel to:

design sub-components of a total solution, for example electrical components.

Negotiated changes may be made due to:

non-compliance with applicable legislation, codes and standards

impact on installation risks and constraints

impact on cost-effectiveness.

Fittings and components may include:

hangers

sprinkler heads

elbows

tees

pumps

tanks

control valves.

Unit sector

Fire systems design

Senior management

Nil

This unit contains employability skills.