CPPHSA4014A
Meet regulatory requirements when completing NatHERS assessments

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to meet the regulatory requirements associated with Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) assessments. It involves identifying relevant regulatory requirements, complying with them when undertaking NatHERS assessments, and responding to incidents of non-compliance.

Application

This unit of competency supports the work of NatHERS assessors engaged in assessing, and making recommendations for improving, the thermal performance of planned and existing residential buildings.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

1

Identify regulatory requirements.

1.1

Current, comprehensive information on legislation and regulatory requirements applicable to NatHERS assessment is accessed.

1.2

Legislative and regulatory requirements are clarified and confirmed with relevant personnel to ensure accuracy and consistency of interpretation and application.

2

Respond to regulatory requirements.

2.1

Work duties and responsibilities are performed in line with legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements.

2.2

Personal performance is evaluated and feedback is sought from others to ensure compliance with legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements.

2.3

Process for monitoring changes to legislative and regulatory requirements that impact on own job role and workplace is identified and followed in line with organisational policy and procedures.

3

Respond to incidents of non-compliance with regulatory requirements.

3.1

Breaches of regulatory framework are handled in line with organisational policy and procedures and regulatory requirements.

3.2

Inadequacies in workplace procedures that may contribute to non-compliance with regulatory framework are handled in line with organisational policy and procedures.

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to consult on complex information, such as legislation and regulatory requirements impacting on NatHERS assessments

data analysis skills to interpret and extract data from codes of practice, legislation and regulations relevant to NatHERS assessments

decision-making and problem-solving skills to check compliance of NatHERS assessments with key aspects of the regulatory framework

literacy skills to read and interpret a variety of texts, including legislation, regulations and codes of practice

research skills to identify and locate information relevant to the regulatory requirements impacting on NatHERS assessments

technology skills to access online sources of information on the legislative and regulatory requirements impacting on NatHERS assessments

Required knowledge

building regulations, including National Construction Code

commonwealth, state and territory, and local government legislation and regulations impacting on thermal performance assessment relating to:

anti-discrimination and equal opportunity

building and construction

building thermal performance

consumer protection, fair trading and trade practices

employment and industrial relations

environment protection

occupational licensing

privacy

sale and lease of residential property

work health and safety

NatHERS administrative and governance arrangements, including:

accredited software

assessor accreditation:

accreditation process

training, examination and audit requirements

code of conduct

assessor accrediting organisations

competency standards for NatHERS assessors

regulatory framework

NatHERs assessment:

assessor legal responsibilities

building and external elements included in a NatHERS thermal performance assessment

documentation requirements

information required to be provided to a client and/or regulatory authority

scope and functions of NatHERS software tools

use of ratings and current performance standards and certification requirements

when thermal performance assessments are required for a building or building design

organisational policies and procedures for ensuring compliance with legislation and regulatory framework

organisational process for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of legislation and regulatory framework

relevant bodies with carriage and enforcement responsibilities for legislation and regulatory framework

variance in legislation and regulatory framework across jurisdictions

Evidence Required

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 identifying and complying with the regulatory, legislative and organisational requirements that apply to NatHERS assessment.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

A person should demonstrate the ability to:

identify the legislation and regulatory requirements applicable to NatHERS assessment

demonstrate compliance with relevant legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements when undertaking NatHERS assessments

implement procedures for monitoring changes to legislative and regulatory requirements applicable to NatHERS assessors

implement procedures for responding to incidents of non-compliance with regulatory requirements applicable to NatHERS assessors.

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

computer equipment suitable for accessing information on the regulatory framework applicable to NatHERS assessment

technical reference library with current versions of the National Construction Code; NatHERS protocols; NatHERS administrative and governance arrangements; and relevant commonwealth, state, territory and local government legislation and regulations.

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 identifying and complying with the regulatory, legislative and organisational requirements that apply to NatHERS assessment.

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.


Range Statement

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.

Legislation and regulatory requirements may include:

building codes:

jurisdictional codes

National Construction Code

commonwealth, state and territory, and local government legislation and regulations impacting on NatHERS assessment relating to:

anti-discrimination and equal opportunity

building and construction

building thermal performance

consumer protection, fair trading and trade practices

contracts

conveyancing

employment and industrial relations

energy efficiency

environment protection

occupational licensing

privacy

residential tenancies

sale of residential property

work health and safety

NatHERS:

accredited software

administrative and governance arrangements

assessor accreditation

assessor accrediting organisations

competency standards for NatHERS assessors

regulatory framework.

Relevant personnel may include:

professional associations

regulatory and licensing bodies

supervisors

work colleagues.

Work duties and responsibilities may include:

awareness of information required to be provided to a client or regulatory authority

awareness of the use of ratings, assessments, certificates and current thermal performance requirements

awareness of when thermal performance assessments are required for a building or building design

completing documentation requirements

complying with accreditation requirements for NatHERS assessors

complying with assessor legal responsibilities

conducting thermal performance assessments

meeting licensing requirements for NatHERS assessors.

Breaches of regulatory framework may include:

intentional and unintentional breaches by staff or supervisor

negligence.

Inadequacies in workplace procedures may include:

inadequate resources available

invalid policies and procedures due to changes in regulations, work environment or legislation

lack of training to support understanding and compliance with procedure

insufficient timeframes for completion of tasks

unrealistic procedures that hinder the capacity to comply with legislation.


Sectors

Home sustainability assessment


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

In some jurisdictions, this unit of competency may form part of the accreditation, licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements for NatHERS assessors.