Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to research current and incoming legislative requirements for environmental sustainability of residential, commercial and industrial buildings covered by the Building Code of Australia (BCA) section of the National Construction Code (NCC), except construction Type A buildings. It involves reviewing site conditions; evaluating sustainability options; and recommending to clients cost-effective options for sustainability that meet compliance requirements, as well as client preferences and budget for building design projects.
The unit supports recommending sustainability solutions for alterations and additions, heritage restorations, new buildings, and residential or commercial or industrial projects. The work involves small-scale building design projects, including factories, motels, offices, restaurants, retail and service outlets, warehouses. It applies to building designers who incorporate sustainable design solutions into small-scale building design projects that fall within the clients’ budget.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency 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. | Research trends in sustainable design. | 1.1. | Current and incoming legislation relating to sustainable design requirements for new buildings is researched and analysed in relation to small-scale building design projects. |
1.2. | Global trends in sustainable design for new buildings are researched and analysed. | ||
1.3. | Locally produced components and materials for sustainable design are researched and analysed. | ||
1.4. | Research is recorded, filed and regularly updated according to workplace procedures. | ||
2. | Assess client’s sustainability requirements, preferences and budget. | 2.1. | Compulsory requirements and trends in sustainable design are explained to client in relation to specific building design project. |
2.2. | Client’s preferences for sustainable design solutions are clarified, assessed against current and incoming requirements, and discussed. | ||
2.3. | Client’s project budget is clarified and budgetary constraints on sustainable design preferences are discussed. | ||
3. | Evaluate and recommend design options for sustainability. | 3.1. | Sustainable design options specific to project location and site conditions are researched and evaluated. |
3.2. | Generic sustainable design options for small-scale building design project are researched and evaluated. | ||
3.3. | Sustainable design options are assessed against client preferences and budget, and cost-effective solutions are recommended to client. | ||
3.4. | Client’s decisions on sustainable design options are recorded and actioned according to workplace 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 develop a body of current research findings relating to sustainable designs for:
one Class 1 residential building of three storeys
one residential extension of at least 50 square metres
one of the following non-residential projects which must be of a maximum area of 2000 square metres:
incorporating Classes 2, 5, 6 and 7a
incorporating Classes 3 and 9c
incorporating Classes 7b and 8.
In doing the above, the person must:
systematically document and store research findings
analyse sustainable design options in relation to a range of different projects and locations
communicate with clients to finalise sustainable design solutions.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
structural engineering principles sufficient to interpret and apply the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC)
building designers’ duty of care to ensure quality and safety of designs
construction materials and methods used in sustainable design, including costs
legislation, codes and standards that apply to sustainable design requirements for small-scale building design projects specified in the performance evidence
organisational scope of business and client demographics, including:
geographic areas of operation
trends in clients’ sustainable design preferences
types of building design projects that form the core business of the organisation
principles of sustainable design
sources of reliable information on:
current and incoming legislation
local and global trends in sustainable design.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
computer with internet access and business software currently in use in building design practices
materials:
documentation for the three projects specified in the performance evidence
specifications:
access to applicable and current building control legislation, regulations, codes and standards; and state, territory or local authority planning policies.
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: | identify reliable sources of information on sustainable design options plan and arrange professional development activities to update own knowledge base. |
Numeracy skills to: | estimate costs of sustainable design options identify and select cost-effective products and materials that contribute to sustainable development. |
Oral communication skills to: | develop relationships, interact and exchange information with clients and contacts, including presenting design options interact with builders, consultants, manufacturers and suppliers network with access consultants and other design professionals. |
Reading skills to: | interpret complex information, including legislation, regulations, codes and standards. |
Writing skills to: | prepare reports that explain options to clients, including expressing technical concepts in simple terms. |
Initiative and enterprise skills to: | develop innovative ideas and designs to meet sustainability targets work out optimum compliant and cost-effective design solutions. |
Planning and organising skills to: | manage documents manage time, including planning and prioritising work. |
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. | |
Legislation relating to sustainable design requirements must include: | environmental heritage protection land rights planning renewable energy sustainability water use. |
Sustainable design must include: | carbon dioxide reduction methods energy-efficient design minimal impact on site ecosystem and natural water passive solar design renewable energy appliances sustainable building materials, including: locally produced recycled water-efficient design. |
Clients must include at least one of the following: | companies individuals families target groups for standard housing products. |
Sectors
Building design