SIFEMWK019
Design a mortuary


Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify and prepare a design brief for a mortuary. It applies to funeral services managers who are responsible for managing mortuary operations, and ensuring all work is carried out according to legislative and budgetary requirements.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Identify mortuary requirements.

1.1 Determine expected work requirements of mortuary including the calculation of anticipated volume of work, number of staff and workflow.

1.2 Assess physical characteristics of the space in relation to its capacity to meet operational mortuary requirements.

1.3 Evaluate safety and environmental issues that may impact on the organisation of space.

1.4 Establish available budget and any constraints to mortuary design.

2. Prepare design brief.

2.1 Seek advice from specialist personnel to determine cost and timeframe projections for required materials and labour.

2.2 Develop design specifications according to organisational requirements and operational mortuary requirements.

2.3 Analyse relevant data to develop design brief according to operational mortuary requirements, budgetary limitations and legislative requirements.

2.4 Review design brief to check for compliance with all requirements and develop solutions to address any inconsistencies.

3. Provide advice and recommendations

3.1 Consult relevant staff to gain feedback on design brief and to ensure all organisational requirements have been met.

3.2 Provide recommendations on use of mortuary facilities and design services to meet identified needs.

3.3 Prepare final design brief in accessible format according to organisational requirements.

3.4 Present final design brief within designated timelines and provide supporting documentation.

Evidence of Performance

Evidence of the ability to:

source and analyse relevant information required to design a specific mortuary, including information for developing environmentally effective solutions

prepare and present a mortuary design in an accessible format according to organisational requirements

negotiate solutions to address inconsistencies between design brief and organisational and legislative requirements.

Evidence of performance preparing one or more design briefs for a mortuary is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.


Evidence of Knowledge

Demonstrated knowledge of:

federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations relating to mortuary operations, work health and safety/occupational health and safety, infection control and handling human remains

design elements and principles for space use

building control legislation, codes and relevant Australian standards, and local planning requirements

building construction practices

constraints that may impact on a design, including:

local, state or federal legislative requirements

building codes

space restrictions

cash flow restrictions

overall cost ceiling

time constraints

identification of formal and informal barriers

range of specialists and technical experts to advise on building design

environmental impact of a building over its life cycle, from construction to demolition:

efficient use of energy

efficient use of resources required for construction and maintenance

elimination or minimisation of hazardous and toxic materials

minimisation of water use

reduced use of non-renewable resources

re-use and recycling of materials

use of solar or other alternative forms of energy

waste reduction

products and services that support improved sustainability

components of design specifications and brief including floor plan, anticipated cost, timelines, resources and contingency plans.


Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that is as industry realistic as possible. In a simulated environment, it is essential that assessment is conducted:

using suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:

comprehensive and sufficient information about a new or existing mortuary facility and its operational and work requirements to allow the individual to design a mortuary

computer and software

organisational budget

under industry operating conditions where there is:

integration of tasks with possible interruptions to work typical of the job role

interaction with specialist personnel as required

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.


Foundation Skills

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed below:

Learning skills to identify and assess safety and environmental impacts and to stay abreast with changing design concepts and materials.

Initiative and enterprise skills to generate a range of design options against organisational and operational requirements.


Sectors

Embalming


Competency Field

Mortuary Work and Embalming