Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to explain to clients the principles of residential building thermal performance. This includes explaining the process of heat transfer in residential buildings; the factors that impact on thermal comfort; how climatic conditions, building design and materials influence the thermal performance of residential buildings; and the principles of passive design.
The unit supports the work of Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) assessors engaged in providing information on residential buildings’ thermal performance.
In some jurisdictions, this unit of competency may form part of the accreditation, licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements for NatHERS assessors.
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. | Explain the impact of building thermal performance on domestic energy use to clients. | 1.1. | Building thermal performance is explained to clients. |
1.2. | Impact of building design and materials on thermal performance of building is identified and communicated to clients. | ||
1.3. | Relationship between building thermal performance, heating and cooling, and energy consumption is explained to clients. | ||
1.4. | Main uses of energy in buildings and the proportion attributed to heating and cooling are explained to clients. | ||
1.5. | Correct industry terminology for energy use is applied when communicating with clients. | ||
1.6. | Correct units of measurement are applied when describing power and energy. | ||
1.7. | Environmental and social impacts of energy use are explained to clients. | ||
2. | Explain the process of heat transfer in residential buildings to clients. | 2.1. | Heat transfer is explained to clients. |
2.2. | Meanings of key terms used to describe heat transfer are explained to clients. | ||
2.3. | Ways in which residential buildings lose and gain heat are explained to clients. | ||
3. | Explain factors that impact on thermal comfort to clients. | 3.1. | Thermal comfort and its use in building thermal performance assessments are explained to clients. |
3.2. | Physical factors that influence thermal comfort are explained to clients. | ||
3.3 | Requirements for thermal comfort are established based on occupant needs and are explained to clients. | ||
4. | Explain how climatic conditions influence residential building thermal performance to clients. | 4.1. | Major Australian climatic zones are identified and their key characteristics relevant to thermal performance assessments explained. |
4.2. | Types and uses of climate data used in carrying out thermal performance assessments are explained to clients. | ||
4.3. | Impact of local climatic conditions on building thermal performance is explained to clients. | ||
4.4. | Ways of improving thermal performance appropriate to the relevant climatic zone are explained to clients. | ||
5. | Explain the role of passive design in improving thermal performance to clients. | 5.1. | Principles of passive design are explained to clients. |
5.2. | Application of principles of passive design to planned and existing residential buildings is explained to clients. | ||
5.3. | Factors that diminish the thermal performance of buildings are explained to clients. | ||
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 competently explain the principles of residential building thermal performance to two different clients.
In doing the above, the person must:
use correct terminology
explain the process of heat transfer in residential buildings, including the ways in which residential buildings lose and gain heat
explain the factors that impact on thermal comfort
explain how climatic conditions influence thermal performance of residential buildings, including the ways of improving thermal performance appropriate to particular climatic zones
explain the principles of passive design, their application in planned and existing residences, and the factors that diminish thermal performance.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
Australian climatic zones:
characteristics of climatic zones
climate data used in thermal performance assessment:
diurnal temperature range
humidity
irradiance
maximum and minimum temperature
solar geometry
wind speed and direction
impact of climate on thermal performance of residential buildings
environmental and social impacts of energy use:
climate change
energy cost
energy security
global warming
greenhouse gas emissions:
operational costs
resource depletion
heat transfer in residential buildings:
impact on heating and cooling
mechanisms:
evaporation
radiation
convection
conduction
modelling
U and R-values of building materials
R-values of wall constructions
Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) scheme:
assessors
key features
NatHERS software tools:
accreditation
building and external elements included in a NatHERS thermal performance assessment
features and types of software tools
function
protocol
scope
objectives
passive building design principles:
building envelope
construction materials
construction methods
glazing
house plan ratio
insulation
orientation
thermal mass
ventilation
zoning
sources of information on climate
thermal comfort:
definition of thermal comfort
role of thermal comfort in building thermal performance assessments
influences on thermal comfort:
air movement
humidity
radiation
temperature
models of thermal comfort
requirements for thermal comfort
thermal sensitivity of individuals
thermal performance:
factors that diminish and enhance the thermal performance of buildings
impact of local climatic conditions on building thermal performance principles
relationship between building thermal performance, heating and cooling and energy consumption.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
computer equipment suitable for accessing online information on thermal performance of residential buildings
materials:
clients who require information on thermal performance of residential buildings
relevant codes, standards and government regulations
technical reference library with current publications on:
passive building design
thermal performance of building materials
building thermal performance
NatHERS
manufacturer product information on building products and materials
relationships with team members and supervisor:
assessment activities are performed on an individual basis under general supervision.
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: | maintain up-to-date knowledge of the environmental and social impacts of energy use. |
Numeracy skills to: | interpret climatic data displayed in graphical and tabular forms. |
Oral communication skills to: | present at times complex technical information to ensure client understanding of building thermal performance. |
Reading skills to: | read and interpret a variety of texts, both print and electronic, on residential building thermal performance. |
Technology skills to: | access online information on the thermal properties of building materials. |
Writing skills to: | prepare brief routine reports for clients about the thermal performance of buildings. |
Self-management skills to: | interact with clients from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds. |
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. | |
Environmental and social impacts must include at least three of the following: | climate change energy cost energy security greenhouse gas emissions operational costs resource depletion. |
Key terms must include: | conduction convection radiation. |
Physical factors | air movement humidity radiation temperature. |
Principles of passive design must include: | building envelope construction materials construction methods glazing house plan ratio insulation orientation thermal mass ventilation zoning. |
Sectors
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