Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to participate in individual or panel peer review processes that are designed to ensure the quality and consistency of Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) assessments. It includes preparing for the peer review, conducting the peer review, recording and reporting the outcomes of the review, and evaluating the review process.
The unit supports the work of NatHERS assessors engaged in peer review processes.
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. | Prepare to participate in peer review of a NatHERS assessment. | 1.1. | Plan for peer review of NatHERS assessment is established. |
1.2. | Information to be provided by NatHERS assessor is confirmed. | ||
1.3. | Risks associated with building design assessed by the NatHERS assessor are determined to identify areas of data to be reviewed. | ||
1.4. | Specialist support required for peer review is identified. | ||
2. | Undertake peer review. | 2.1. | NatHERS assessment supplied by assessor is evaluated. |
2.2. | Supplementary information or clarification of submitted NatHERS assessment is sought, if required. | ||
2.3. | Specialist advice is sought, if required. | ||
2.4. | Professional judgement is applied to evaluate NatHERS assessment based on the available evidence. | ||
2.5. | Peer review decision is made. | ||
2.6. | Outcomes of peer review, including clear and constructive feedback, are communicated to NatHERS assessor. | ||
3. | Record and report outcomes of peer review. | 3.1. | Outcomes of peer review are recorded promptly and accurately. |
3.2. | Report on peer review is completed and processed. | ||
4. | Evaluate peer review process. | 4.1. | Peer review process is evaluated. |
4.2. | Outcomes of evaluation of peer review process are documented. | ||
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 undertake a peer review, on either an individual basis or as part of a panel, of one Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) assessment.
In doing the above, the person must:
prepare for the peer review, including identifying the risks associated with the building design assessed by the NatHERS assessor to determine areas of data to be reviewed
make a professional judgement on a NatHERS assessment during the conduct of the peer review process
provide the outcomes of the peer review process and feedback for the NatHERS assessor
evaluate the peer review process with a view to indicating aspects for future improvement
demonstrate knowledge of organisation’s peer review policy and procedures.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
National Construction Code (NCC) energy efficiency requirements
NatHERS:
accredited software
administrative and governance arrangements
assessor accreditation
assessor accrediting organisations
regulatory framework
organisation’s quality management system
peer review:
individual and group peer review processes
organisational policies and procedures
principles of assessment
privacy and confidentiality
purpose of peer review
security of information.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
computer equipment suitable for preparing reports and accessing information relevant to the peer assessment process
materials:
NatHERS reports to be peer reviewed
relevant codes, standards and government regulations
technical reference library with current publications on peer review and the administrative and governance arrangements for NatHERS
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 thermal efficiency features of residential buildings. |
Numeracy skills to: | accurately verify data in NatHERS assessments that are subject to peer review. |
Oral communication skills to: | consult and negotiate with other members of peer review panels. |
Reading skills to: | read and interpret NatHERS assessment reports. |
Technology skills to: | use computer software and hardware to analyse NatHERS assessments prepare reports on outcomes of peer review processes. |
Writing skills to: | prepare detailed text identifying outcomes of peer reviews. |
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. | |
Peer review must include at least one of the following: | group process individual process. |
Sectors
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