Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to clean fabric upholstery. The unit covers identifying the backing materials used, classifying the fibre, and assessing the furniture construction. It also covers selecting equipment, chemicals and methods to perform the cleaning task safely and efficiently.
The unit supports cleaners who work alone or in teams. It applies in a range of commercial and residential work sites.
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. | Identify upholstery construction. | 1.1. | Job requirements are identified, upholstery is assessed, and yarn type and fibre form are identified and confirmed. |
1.2. | Weave type and texture style are determined by observation and tactile methods according to company requirements. | ||
2. | Assess and classify upholstery fabric. | 2.1. | Upholstery fabric sample is obtained and tested to identify fibre according to manufacturer specifications, company and health and safety requirements. |
2.2. | Fibre is inspected to determine probable dye methods used during manufacture. | ||
2.3. | Pre-existing conditions are identified and reported according to company requirements. | ||
2.4. | Colour-fastness of fabric upholstery is tested and any previously applied topical treatments are identified. | ||
3. | Assess furniture construction. | 3.1. | Backing materials and cushion filling are identified by opening cushioning where possible or inspecting behind buttons according to company requirements. |
3.2. | Filling material in piping is inspected and classified according to manufacturer specifications and company requirements. | ||
4. | Determine cleaning methods. | 4.1. | Type of soil is identified and cleaning techniques are selected according to company requirements. |
4.2. | Cleaning processes and expected outcomes are explained clearly to client and client approval to proceed is obtained. | ||
5. | Prepare to apply cleaning techniques to fabric upholstery. | 5.1. | Work site hazards are identified and risks controlled according to company, legislative, and health and safety requirements. |
5.2. | Health and safety requirements for the site and type of work to be undertaken are identified and applied to planning. | ||
5.3. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected and used according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
5.4. | Equipment is selected according to job requirements, checked for serviceability, and faults are rectified or reported before starting work. | ||
5.5. | Chemicals are selected and prepared according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
5.6. | Signs and barricades are selected and installed according to health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
6. | Apply cleaning techniques to fabric upholstery. | 6.1. | Furniture and fittings are removed to allow cleaning tasks to be performed. |
6.2. | Soil is removed and fabric upholstery is cleaned according to manufacturer specifications and company requirements. | ||
7. | Tidy work site. | 7.1. | Collected soil and waste are disposed of according to client and company specifications, and legislative, environmental, and health and safety requirements. |
7.2. | Furniture and fittings are returned to original position according to client requests, work order, and health and safety requirements. | ||
7.3. | Signs and barricades are removed according to work order, and health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
8. | Clean and safety check equipment, and store equipment and chemicals. | 8.1. | Equipment and PPE are cleaned, safety checked and stored according to manufacturer specifications and environmental, health and safety, and company requirements. |
8.2. | Unused chemicals are stored or disposed of according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company 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:
clean three of the following different types of fabric upholstery:
acetate
acrylic
cotton
jute
linen
nylon
polyester
polypropylene
rayon
silk
wool
for each cleaning task, remove three of the following different types of soil:
beverage
blood
candle wax
chewing gum
dye stuffs
food
glue
grease
human and animal waste
hydrocarbons
lipstick
medicine
mud and dirt
nail polish
paint
plant stains
shoe polish
tar.
In doing the above work, the person must:
identify site hazards and control risks before commencing the task
analyse data gathered during visual and tactile inspection of fabric upholstery to identify type and characteristics of fabric upholstery to be treated
identify type of yarns, fibres, methods, dyes, filling material and backing used in upholstery making
correctly and safely test the colour-fastness of the fabric using one or more of the following tests:
burn test
chemical test
sink and float test
select and prepare equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and chemicals required for the task
prepare the work site and apply safe and efficient fabric upholstery cleaning methods
comply with company and environmental requirements relating to cleaning fabric upholstery.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
environmental requirements relating to cleaning fabric upholstery, including:
clean-up, containment and isolation procedures
low-energy cleaning methods
low environmental impact chemicals
low-moisture cleaning methods
low water-use equipment and other water-efficient cleaning methods
non-chemical cleaning methods
types and characteristics of different upholstery textures and implications for cleaning:
crushed velvet
damask
glazed
moire
quilted
types and characteristics of different upholstery yarns and implications for cleaning:
novelty
plied
single
textured
twist
types and characteristics of different upholstery weaves and implications for cleaning:
flat
jacquard
knitted
satin
twill
velvet
types and characteristics of different upholstery fibre forms and implications for cleaning:
continuous filament
staple yarn
construction methods, including:
backing
dying
filling
manufacturing
key requirements of legislation, regulations, codes of practice and industry advisory standards relating to upholstery cleaning, including:
AS/NZS 4849.1 Upholstery cleaning – Fabric upholstery
industry advisory standards and codes, such as dangerous goods codes
safe handling techniques for working with hazardous chemicals, including:
emergency chemical spill control measures
routes of entry and potential symptoms of exposure to chemicals
safe methods for diluting chemicals
working according to safety data sheets (SDS)
procedures for applying fabric upholstery testing methods
processes for conducting colour-fastness tests, including:
burn test
chemical test
sink and float test
processes for safely handling and disposing of waste, including:
chemicals past their expiry date
machine exhaust emissions
obsolete equipment
used containers
used or contaminated PPE
used or unused chemicals.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
as listed in the range of conditions
PPE as listed in the range of conditions
materials:
fabrics as listed in the range of conditions
specifications:
AS/NZS 4849.1 Upholstery cleaning – Fabric upholstery
equipment operating manuals
product labels
SDS
physical conditions:
work site or venue with upholstered furniture
relationships with team members and supervisor:
work may be conducted alone or as part of a team
relationship with client:
communication with the client are required to confirm and clarify job requirements.
Timeframe:
as specified by the task.
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: | recognise different fabrics, fibres and upholstery methods of construction based on previous experience. |
Numeracy skills to: | dilute and mix required chemicals using whole numbers and routine fractions. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify job requirements respond clearly and concisely to client questions. |
Reading skills to: | interpret directions and safety instructions, including: equipment operating manuals product labels safety data sheets (SDS). |
Writing skills to: | document and report faults in equipment to manufacturer and other personnel. |
Teamwork skills to: | work collaboratively with others when cleaning at the same work site. |
Initiative and enterprise skills to: | identify and rectify faults in own 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. | |
Fabrics must include at least three of the following: | acetate acrylic cotton jute linen nylon polyester polypropylene rayon silk wool. |
Health and safety requirements must include: | access to communication devices when working alone compliance with Safe Work Australia regulations and guidelines electrical equipment test and tag compliance emergency response procedures environmental controls hazard signs and barricades health and safety induction and refresher training manual handling techniques processes for safely dispensing chemicals risk assessment procedures, including: hazardous chemicals register hierarchy of control job safety analyses (JSA) for low-risk situations safe work method statements (SWMS) for high-risk situations incident reporting SDS selection and use of required PPE storage and maintenance of equipment according to manufacturer specifications use of first aid according to SDS information. |
Testing of colour-fastness must use at least one of the following: | burn test chemical test sink and float test. |
Types of soil must include at least three of the following: | beverage blood candle wax chewing gum dye stuffs food glue grease human and animal waste hydrocarbons lipstick medicine mud and dirt nail polish paint plant stains shoe polish tar. |
Hazards that must be assessed include: | biological and animal waste blood and blood-stained products confined and restricted spaces contaminated clothing, materials and equipment dust and fibres electrical hazards heights inadequate lighting and ventilation indoor air quality infectious diseases noise. |
Personal protective equipment must include at least two of the following: | disposable respirators eye protection gloves safety shoes. |
Equipment must include at least one of the following: | air filtration device dehumidification equipment extraction tools and units moisture detection equipment. |
Cleaned must include | selecting and using required: equipment PPE chemicals cleaning techniques. |
Sectors
Cleaning operations