CPPACC4005
Conduct building access audits


Application

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to inspect existing buildings in order to assess their accessibility for people with disabilities. The assessment process involves interpreting and implementing the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), current building codes and standards, and ‘when built’ legislation. It involves communicating with regulatory authorities, and building owners and managers regarding access compliance requirements.

The unit supports access audits of existing buildings and building upgrades. It applies to access consultants working alone or as a member of a team to complete building access audits on behalf of clients, who may be building developers, owners and managers; architects, building designers and builders; potential building purchasers; and building certifiers and surveyors.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.


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.

Respond to client inquiry regarding building access audit.

1.1.

Client requesting building access audit is identified and their authority to act is established according to organisational requirements.

1.2.

Client requirements are discussed, clarified and confirmed according to organisational requirements.

1.3.

Own competence and organisational capability to respond to client needs are determined and assessed.

1.4.

Client brief for audit and authority to proceed are negotiated with client and documented according to organisational requirements.

1.5.

Contractual arrangements for audit are negotiated, confirmed, documented and stored according to client, organisational and legislative requirements.

2.

Prepare for access audit.

2.1.

Copies of documentation required for audit are obtained.

2.2.

Building access arrangements are negotiated and contact person is identified according to client and organisational requirements.

2.3.

Access audit checklist suited to scale of task and building is prepared.

2.4.

Required audit personnel are sourced and briefed.

2.5.

Required tools and equipment are identified, sourced and checked for serviceability in line with manufacturer specifications.

3.

Conduct access audit.

3.1.

Building is accessed according to agreed access arrangements and following work health and safety (WHS) procedures.

3.2.

Extent to which external areas within property boundary comply with building legislative requirements for access for people with disabilities is determined using access audit checklist criteria.

3.3.

Aspects of building that do not meet minimum requirements of audit checklist or comply with access requirements of legislation are determined.

3.4.

Strategies that address areas of access non-compliance are developed, including strategies for alternative means of providing full access for users.

4.

Finalise access audit report.

4.1.

Draft access audit report for client that satisfies contractual arrangements is prepared according to organisational requirements.

4.2.

Feedback on draft report is sought and incorporated according to organisational requirements, and report is completed.

4.3.

Access audit report and associated documentation are forwarded to client according to organisational requirements and contractual arrangements.

4.4.

Audit report follow-up with client is provided as required and according to organisational requirements and contractual arrangements.

4.5.

Copy of access audit report and associated documentation is retained according to organisational and legislative requirements.

Evidence of Performance

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.

The person must also:

conduct an access audit of one existing building or one building upgrade

develop and apply an access audit checklist for the above building, detailing building-specific criteria for consideration in audit

provide a report relating to the above audit, that:

describes building accessibility, with clear links to the building-specific audit checklist criteria

interprets the impact of the full range of disabilities and the limitations that each disability places on the individual’s ability to access the environment

advises on building compliance with legislative requirements and usability by people with disabilities

fulfils contractual requirements with client

recommends, where required, corrective actions to:

enhance building accessibility

overcome areas of access non-compliance, including strategies for alternative means of providing full access for users.

In conducting the above access audit, the person must:

use effective consultation skills with clients and other key stakeholders to confirm and elicit access audit information

read and interpret building plans

interpret and apply building legislative requirements relating to disability access and evaluate the provision of access in relation to those requirements

interpret how the full range of environmental barriers impacts on people with a range of disabilities and impairments

use research skills to source information that assists in developing potential solutions to the provision of adequate access

use measurement tools in line with manufacturer specifications and record collected data accurately

apply and adhere to building-specific work health and safety (WHS) requirements.


Evidence of Knowledge

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:

key requirements of the following relating to determining building accessibility and conducting building access audits:

anti-discrimination legislation

Australian standards relating to site accessibility

Building Code of Australia

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

DDA Premises Standards

international standards relating to site accessibility

state and territory building legislation

local government building regulations

disability awareness to inform building audit, including:

range of disabilities to be considered when conducting building audit

disability-specific physical barriers to accessing building and its facilities

disability-specific minimum requirements for enhancing building accessibility

organisational requirements relating to conducting building access audits, including:

client service standards

procedures for developing building-specific audit checklists

client privacy, confidentiality and security requirements

processes for recording collected audit data and administering records

procedures for writing and storing access audit reports

quality assurance requirements

limitations of own work role, responsibility and professional abilities with regard to above access audit

WHS procedures relating to building access audits, including procedures for:

identifying hazards and controlling risks associated with conducting access audits

selecting and using personal protective equipment (PPE) required for above access audit.


Assessment Conditions

The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:

equipment:

PPE required for the building access audit specified in the performance evidence

computer and software to access, retrieve, store and distribute audit-specific documentation

specifications:

Australian standards specified in the range of conditions

Building Code of Australia

DDA

DDA Premises Standards

international standards relating to building accessibility

manufacturer specifications relating to equipment required to conduct access audit

state and territory building legislation

local government building regulations

relationships, including consultation with:

diverse range of clients, including:

building owners and managers

building developers

regulatory authorities, including state, territory and local government representatives

colleagues.

Timeframe:

in line with timeframe in audit contractual arrangements.

Assessor requirements

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.


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:

maintain knowledge of current codes, standards, regulations, practices and industry updates relating to building access matters.

Numeracy skills to:

interpret and use ratios and scales to analyse design and dimensions of building and external areas within property boundary against access requirements and provision.

Oral communication skills to:

facilitate discussion with clients to explore audit needs and proposed audit recommendations, demonstrating:

command of language to convey information relating to the provision of access in a clear and accessible manner

communication techniques suited to individual clients and required to clarify and elicit information

convey knowledge and ideas through oral and visual means.

Reading skills to:

read a range of complex texts and extract information relating to access requirements and specific building audits

identify and assess information in complex text, site plans, diagrams, graphs and charts to track compliance of buildings with accessibility requirements

interpret building industry terminology.

Writing skills to:

write plain English audit reports that meet client requirements and detail accessibility audit outcomes that:

are based on consultation with stakeholders and a detailed analysis of building environmental and physical characteristics impacting on access

represent and convey the needs of diverse disabilities and impairments.

Digital literacy skills to:

apply information technology and computer skills when accessing and preparing audit support documentation and reports.

Initiative and enterprise skills to:

use opportunities to facilitate change for greater disability access.


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.

Documentation required for audit must include:

manufacturer specifications relating to audit tools and equipment

plans of building to be audited.

Building access arrangements must include:

access and egress points

keys, passes and security clearances

timing of access

WHS requirements, including required personal protective equipment (PPE).

Access audit checklist must include:

access audit report form

building or facility identification and data sheet

minimum requirements summary sheets for building spaces and special areas for:

accessible paths of travel to and within all spaces in the building required by legislation to be accessible

accessible entrances

additions and alterations

controls for doors, switches, and power points

historic preservation, where applicable

on-site parking, reserved disability parking, and passenger set-down zones

rooms and spaces, such as assembly areas and fitting rooms

security alarm pads and help points

signage

site-accessible paths and elements

special purpose facilities, such as restaurants, medical facilities, shops and libraries

tactile ground surface indicators

toilets and bathrooms

technical requirements for access audit forms additional to above minimum requirements:

automated teller machines

drinking fountains

entrances and exits, including safe havens to await rescue

external access paths

gates and doors

internal access, including lobbies and corridors

lifts and platform lifts

ramps, including kerb ramps and step ramps

stairs

telephones

special purpose building technical requirement audit forms:

restaurants and cafeterias

medical facilities

retail shops

libraries

hotels and motels

transportation premises.

Required audit personnel must include at least one of the following:

identified audit contact

site manager

site owner

site supervisor.

Building legislative requirementsmust include:

anti-discrimination legislation

Australian standards relating to building accessibility, including:

AS 1428.1 Design for access and mobility - General requirements for access - New building work

AS 1428.4.1 Design for access and mobility - Means to assist the orientation of people with vision impairment - Tactile ground surface indicators

AS 1428.5 Design for access and mobility - Communication for people who are deaf or hearing impaired

AS 2890.6 Parking facilities - Off-street parking for people with disabilities

Building Code of Australia

DDA

DDA Premises Standards

state and territory building legislation

international standards relating to site accessibility

local government building regulations.

Access audit reportmust include:

advice on compliance with existing legislation and usability by people with disabilities

description of accessibility

where required by client brief, recommendations for corrective action.


Sectors

Access consulting