Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to manage the design of Type A constructions defined by the Building Code of Australia (BCA). It covers negotiation and liaison with clients, team members and other professional involved in the development of the project. The unit addresses the preparation of design solutions and drawings, and the presentation of documentation for approval by planning authorities.
Type A buildings and their design may frequently be complex and include constructions of three storeys for BCA Classes 2, 3 and 9 and four storeys or more for BCA Classes 5, 6, 7 and 8. Increased and specified fire resistance requirements and suitable building construction methods must be understood and applied. The unit also requires the application of creative design skills, knowledge of human lifestyles and cycles, and knowledge of safe and sustainable construction materials and methods.
The unit supports projects that may be residential projects, including alterations and additions, heritage restorations or new buildings; or they may be commercial and industrial projects, including car parks, factories, laboratories, motels, offices, restaurants, retail and service outlets, and warehouses. It applies to building designers who produce design drawings that meet client and compliance requirements for Type A constructions defined in the BCA section of the National Construction Code (NCC) and who consult and collaborate with technical experts, such as structural engineers, fire system designers, mechanical services engineers, and experts in the industry for which the building will be used.
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. | Analyse the requirements for Type A constructions. | 1.1. | BCA requirements for Type A constructions are identified and evaluated. |
1.2. | Scope and nature of the proposed construction are analysed to identify impact on the BCA’s performance requirements for proposed Type A design solution. | ||
1.3. | Analysis is undertaken to determine whether the construction will be designed to meet performance requirements of the BCA by the use of an alternative solution, a deemed-to-satisfy (DTS) solution, or a blend of solutions. | ||
1.4. | Performance characteristics of construction materials and methods are reviewed to ensure they conform to Type A constructions. | ||
2. | Produce initial design drawings. | 2.1. | Design drawings required in planning approval application documentation are confirmed with regulatory authorities. |
2.2. | Compliance requirements to be addressed in design drawings are confirmed with regulatory authorities. | ||
2.3. | Timelines and methodologies for producing final design drawings are established and followed. | ||
2.4. | Design drawings are set up, named and filed according to workplace procedures. | ||
3. | Integrate expert input to inform the design. | 3.1. | Professionals and technical experts required to provide input into and develop components of the design solution are sourced and briefed, and work is commissioned. |
3.2. | Consultations are facilitated between technical experts and the building design team to ensure cross-impacts of the solution are understood and conform to required performance standards. | ||
3.3. | Technical input, specifications and drawings developed by technical experts are prepared for integration into overall documentation. | ||
4. | Refine spatial, structural and technical elements of building designs. | 4.1. | Factors contributing to spatial requirements and relationships are analysed and incorporated into building designs. |
4.2. | Checks are conducted to ensure standards for required components of the construction have been adhered to and documented. | ||
4.3. | Structural systems for Type A constructions are reviewed, in consultation with technical experts as required, and suitable systems are incorporated into building designs. | ||
4.4. | Construction and technical elements for Type A buildings are reviewed, in consultation with technical experts as required, and suitable elements are incorporated into building designs. | ||
4.5. | Aesthetic fusion of design elements is visualised, analysed and refined in building designs. | ||
5. | Address health and safety issues in building designs. | 5.1. | Obligations of building designers for health and safety during construction and use of Type A constructions are identified and analysed. |
5.2. | Health and safety issues specific to design team, construction team and users are researched, in consultation with client and stakeholders, and analysed. | ||
5.3. | Risk analyses of construction and use of Type A constructions are conducted, and suitable controls are selected and applied to design drawings. | ||
5.4. | Health and safety documentation for the building is created, processed and communicated to nominated personnel according to workplace procedures. | ||
6. | Refine sustainable design elements of building designs. | 6.1. | Optimum sustainable construction materials and methods are selected and incorporated into building designs. |
6.2. | Systems for sustainable water use | ||
6.3. | Energy-efficient design principles and renewable energy sources are reviewed and suitable solutions are incorporated into building designs. | ||
7. | Review building design for conformance to standards and approval processes. | 7.1. | Design drawings are reviewed in preparation for finalisation. |
7.2. | Design documentation is tested and analysed to confirm that design will pass the assessment methods used by the planning authority to ensure conformity to the BCA. | ||
8. | Obtain client approval of final design drawings and supporting information. | 8.1. | Design drawings are assessed against client and compliance requirements and anomalies are addressed. |
8.2. | Supporting information to the plans and specifications is compiled, checked and finalised. | ||
8.3. | Design drawings are presented and explained to client and stakeholders according to workplace procedures. | ||
8.4. | Detailed client and stakeholder feedback is encouraged and discussed, and required amendments are negotiated. | ||
8.5. | Design drawings and documentation are amended as required, and client approval is obtained, documented and processed according to workplace procedures. |
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 produce sets of building design drawings and supporting information for three Type A projects:
two building design projects of three storeys or more for Class 2, 3 or 9 buildings
one building design project of four storeys or more for a Class 5, 6, 7 or 8 building.
In doing the above, the person must:
plan and organise the production of design drawings to meet planning approval requirements
integrate expert and specialist input from related professionals engaged to inform the development of the drawings
ensure that drawings and supporting information meet quality requirements and are completed within given timelines
consult with clients, including:
gaining feedback
negotiating and finalising adjustments.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
architectural styles and terminology that apply to the projects specified in the performance evidence
National Construction Code (NCC) requirements that apply to Type A constructions
structural engineering principles sufficient to interpret and apply the requirements of the NCC
building designers’ duty of care to ensure quality and safety of designs
building life cycles, including hazards of site, materials, construction practices and building use over time
contextual and site constraints to be reflected in managing the design
conventional and sustainable construction materials and methods, including their application, behaviour, characteristics, performance and interactions with other materials
design development and approval processes and implications of changes to design at each stage
design drawing and representation methods
legislation, codes and standards for sustainable design requirements for small-scale building design projects
organisational scope of business, service levels and fees relating to design process
planning processes and requirements
pricing of resources
principles of sustainable design
scientific and social principles of human interactions with the built environment
use of design software and systems that may include application of three-dimensional (3
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
computer with internet access and:
building information modelling (BIM)-capable building design software
business software currently used in drafting, architectural and building design practice
telephone
contingencies:
non-compliance issue on design for one project
specifications:
NCC and Australian standards
legislation, regulations, codes and other compliance documentation relating to each building design project specified in the performance evidence
project specifications for the two Type A projects specified in the performance evidence
relationship with client:
liaison with the client is required.
Timeframe:
according to tender brief.
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: | draw on past experience to apply compliance requirements, including drawing standards to new projects. |
Numeracy skills to: | work out optimum compliant and cost-effective design solutions produce accurate design documentation estimate costs. |
Oral communication skills to: | develop relationships, interact and exchange information with clients and other stakeholders, including planning and regulatory personnel and technical experts. |
Reading skills to: | interpret design requirements from a written brief interpret complex information, including legislation, regulations, codes and standards present design options to clients. |
Writing skills to: | document assessment methods used to test compliance of design solutions. |
Initiative and enterprise skills to: | develop innovative ideas and designs for sustainability test and analyse compliance of design solutions with performance standards. |
Planning and organising skills to: | manage time, including planning and prioritising work coordinate work across a range of disciplines lead the building design team and related project professionals. |
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. | |
Design drawings | include: drawings produced by building designers and technical experts elevations plans, including: contour demolition floor framing roof sections site analyses landscape designs services layout be produced using three-dimensional (3-D) drawing technologies. |
Regulatory authorities | local council planning department federal, state or territory government departments for: energy environment heritage infrastructure services regulatory authorities in country of project location. |
Compliance requirements must include: | Australian standards NCC codes and standards applicable: at project locations in particular conditions legislation, regulations and local by-laws relating to: conservation construction materials and methods energy environment fire resistance heritage health and safety planning water local authority planning schemes. |
Professionals and technical experts must include at least two of the following: | access consultant acoustics engineer or professional bushfire management professional construction contractor civil engineer energy efficiency expert fire systems designer or engineer hydraulic engineer landscape designer lighting specialist mechanical services engineer work health and safety (WHS) expert plumbing and drainage professional quantity surveyor service contractor soil testing or geo-technical engineer or expert structural engineer surveyor. |
Factors contributing to spatial requirements and relationships | air circulation and user movement patterns anthropometrics building occupancy and functions ergonomics landscaping massing scale transition. |
Users must include: | maintenance and service personnel occupants visitors users in subsequent life cycle stages of buildings. |
Health and safety documentation for the building | residual risk register information relating to: construction materials and methods location of services and machinery warranties. |
Optimum sustainable construction materials and methods must include at least one of the following: | cost-effective sustainable design solutions latest sustainable design technologies locally available sustainable construction materials. |
Systems for sustainable water use must include at least one of the following: | black water systems bladder storage filter beds grey water systems rainwater tanks run-off retention. |
Energy-efficient design principles must include: | appliance selection building location and orientation low energy lighting solar hot water systems star rated appliances window coverings and glazing. |
Renewable energy sources must include at least one of the following: | biomass energy geothermal energy hydroelectric energy solar energy wind energy. |
Assessment methods used by the planning authority to ensure compliance with the BCA must include: | application of A2.2 of the BCA, which allows the following evidence (in some cases subject to conditions) to be submitted in support of a proposal that a material, form of construction or design meets a performance requirement or a DTS provision: a a a a any other form of documentary evidence that adequately demonstrates suitability for use verification methods: calculations using analytical methods or mathematical models tests using a technical operation either on site or in a laboratory to directly measure one or more performance criteria of a given solution. |
Supporting information | alternative solutions for performance requirements of the BCA copies of compliance certificates relied upon copies of other documentary evidence relied upon fire safety measures and their fire resistance levels and ratings full details of the assessment methods used to establish compliance with the performance requirements. |
Sectors
Building design