This unit of competency supports the work of Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) assessors engaged in assessing, and making recommendations for improving, the thermal performance of planned and existing residential buildings.
Not applicable.
1 | Source documents required for NatHERS assessment. | 1.1 | Documentation required to support NatHERS assessment is confirmed, identified and accessed in line with organisational and regulatory requirements. |
1.2 | Fees and charges associated with accessing documentation are identified and paid in line with organisational procedures. | ||
1.3 | Documents are copied with appropriate authorisations, returned to source, or stored for future reference in line with organisational procedures. | ||
1.4 | Copyright, licensing and privacy considerations are adhered to when accessing documentation, in line with organisational procedures and regulatory requirements. | ||
1.5 | Documents are provided to clients as required in line with organisational and regulatory requirements. | ||
1.6 | Information required for NatHERS assessment is extracted from documents, accurately recorded, and checked in line with organisational procedures and regulatory requirements. |
2 | Conduct on-site measurements to gather data for NatHERS assessment. | 2.1 | Purpose and types of measurements required for NatHERS assessment are confirmed in line with organisational procedures and regulatory requirements. |
2.2 | Preparation for measurement tasks is implemented in line with organisational procedures. | ||
2.3 | Measuring equipment is operated in line with organisational procedures and manufacturer instructions. | ||
2.4 | Sufficient measurements are taken, confirmed and recorded to ensure reliable data is obtained for NatHERS assessment purposes. | ||
2.5 | Environmental/site conditions and any other observations are recorded that may impact on data quality, in line with organisational procedures and regulatory requirements. | ||
2.6 | Measuring equipment and materials are cleaned, checked for serviceability, calibrated, maintained and stored in line with organisational procedures. | ||
2.7 | Environmental impacts of measurements are minimised and waste is disposed of in line with organisational procedures and regulatory requirements. |
3 | Appraise building to gather data for NatHERS assessment. | 3.1 | Purpose of appraising building for NatHERS assessment is confirmed in line with organisational procedures. |
3.2 | Preparation for building appraisal is implemented in line with organisational procedures. | ||
3.3 | Building appraisal is conducted in line with organisational procedures, manufacturer instructions and regulatory requirements. | ||
3.4 | Information on building is gathered for NatHERS assessment and recorded in line with organisational procedures and regulatory requirements. | ||
3.5 | Gaps in information are identified and documented in line with organisational procedures. | ||
3.6 | Equipment and materials are cleaned, checked for serviceability, and stored in line with organisational procedures. | ||
3.7 | Environmental impacts of inspection are minimised and waste is disposed of in line with organisational procedures and regulatory requirements. |
4 | Collate information required to support NatHERS assessment. | 4.1 | Information obtained from documents, measurements and building appraisal is collated and organised in a manner suitable for use in a NatHERS assessment. |
4.2 | Information is stored in line with organisational procedures and regulatory requirements. |
Required skills |
communication skills to interact with clients from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds in an ethical manner decision-making and problem-solving skills to identify information required for NatHERS assessment purposes literacy skills to read and interpret a variety of texts, including legislation and regulations numeracy, data analysis and recording skills to: take measurements and perform calculations interpret and extract data from technical references relevant to NatHERS assessments record data associated with thermal performance assessments research skills to identify and locate information on the thermal properties of building materials technology skills to: operate computer equipment and peripherals use measuring equipment access online technical references and databases of legislation, building information, building drawings and other documents relevant to NatHERS assessments time-management skills to organise and schedule work activities so that they are completed in a timely, cost-efficient manner |
Required knowledge |
aspects of building appraisal for gathering data for NatHERS assessment: building appraisal purpose and procedures hazards, risks and organisational safety procedures associated with building appraisals need for accuracy and evidence of observations techniques for recording information gathered through building appraisal type of information collected through building appraisal commonwealth, state and territory, and local government legislation and regulations impacting on thermal performance assessment relating to: building and construction building thermal performance consumer protection, fair trading and trade practices environment protection privacy work health and safety construction methods documentation for gathering data for NatHERS assessment: approved building plans and specifications Australian building and construction standards building codes, including National Construction Code building drawings copyright inclusions in NatHERS assessment licensing arrangements manufacturer and supplier documents product specifications relevant state or territory legislation and regulations relevant state, territory and local authority planning and other approval documents scope of NatHERS assessment standard industry reference materials technical reports technical specifications measurements for gathering data for NatHERS assessment: hazards, risks and organisational safety procedures associated with measurements undertaken on site measurement recording procedures measurement units need for accuracy of measurements purpose of measurements types and function of measuring equipment types and function of recording equipment work practices and required personal protective equipment to ensure safety and security of self, others and property when undertaking measurements and appraising buildings to inform a NatHERS assessment |
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 by candidates gathering supporting information required to undertake thermal performance assessments. This includes taking on-site measurements, appraising buildings, and sourcing relevant documentation. |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | A person should demonstrate the ability to: conduct on-site measurements and collect data to gather information for NatHERS assessments conduct building appraisals to gather information for NatHERS assessment identify, source and extract information from documents for use in conducting NatHERS assessment follow established work practices and use personal protective equipment to ensure safety and security of self, others and property when conducting on-site data gathering activities demonstrate environmentally sustainable practices. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment of this unit: must be in the context of the work environment may be conducted in an off-site context, provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills must meet relevant compliance requirements. Resource implications for assessment include: relevant codes, standards and government regulations access to residential buildings from which building information required for conducting a building thermal performance assessment may be obtained computer hardware and software suitable for searching online catalogues for documentation relating to NatHERS assessments technical reference library with current publications on passive building design, thermal performance of building materials and buildings, NatHERS, and manufacturers’ building product information. |
Method of assessment | Assessment for this unit must verify the practical application of the required skills and knowledge, using one or more of the following methods: written and/or oral assessment observed, documented and/or first-hand testimonial evidence of the candidate gathering supporting information required to undertake thermal performance assessments, by: taking on-site measurements appraising buildings sourcing relevant documentation. |
Guidance information for assessment | This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function. 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. | |
Documentation may include: | Australian building and construction standards building approvals building drawings manufacturer and supplier documents National Construction Code product and technical specifications relevant state or territory legislation and regulations relevant state, territory and local authority planning and other approval documents standard industry reference materials technical reports. |
Documentation may be accessed from: | building and planning authorities commonwealth, state, territory and local government agencies libraries online catalogues and directories websites. |
Preparation for measurement tasks may include: | arrange transport identify site hazards liaise with relevant personnel to arrange site access prepare measuring and safety equipment undertake risk assessment. |
Measuring equipment may include: | calculators rulers, including laser rulers tape measures trundle wheels. |
Measurements may include: | linear measurements in metric scale measurements for calculating areas and volumes of regular and irregular shapes that are relevant in conducting thermal performance assessments, such as rectangles, squares, circles, triangles, trapeziums, cubes, cones, pyramids and cylinders. |
Recorded may include: | annotations electronic data entry sketches written notes. |
Preparation for building appraisal may include: | arrange transport identify site hazards liaise with relevant personnel to arrange site access prepare equipment for recording observations, such as: digital camera electronic tablet smart phone prepare safety equipment undertake risk assessment. |
Information may include: | building condition building construction building defects that impinge on thermal performance building extensions and modifications, both approved and unapproved building materials conformance of actual building to building drawings external elements and properties site constraints in accessing parts of the building for data collection sufficient information to ensure reliable data for NatHERS assessment purposes. |
Home sustainability assessment
This unit contains employability skills.
In some jurisdictions, this unit of competency may form part of the accreditation, licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements for NatHERS assessors.