UETTDRDS06B
Design underground distribution systems

1) 1.1) This Competency Standard Unit covers the technical design of underground distribution and sub transmission networks to relevant standards, including cable sizing and locations, soil resistivity and heat dissipation, backfill and trenching details, minor civil aspects and dynamic and cyclic ratings. It also includes the necessary established procedures to ensure the line design conforms to specific organisational technical standards, operational and system planning requirements and encompasses.

Application

4)

This Competency Standard Unit is intended to augment formally acquired competencies. It is suitable for employment-based programs under an approved contract of training.


Prerequisites

Prerequisite Unit(s)

2)

2.1) Competencies

Granting of competency in this unit shall be made only after competency in the following unit(s) has/have been confirmed:.

UETTDRDS13B

Develop HV and LV distribution protection systems

or

UETTDRDS15B

Organise and implement line and easement surveys.

For the full prerequisite chain details for this unit please refer to Table 3 in Volume 1, Part 2


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1

Plan and coordinate for the design of underground distribution systems

1.1

OHS practices/procedures and environmental and sustainable energy procedures, which may influence the design of underground distribution systems, are reviewed and determined.

1.2

Purpose of the design is established after data is analysed and expected outcomes of the work are confirmed with the appropriate personnel.

1.3

Organisational established procedures or policies and specifications for the design are obtained or established with the appropriate personnel.

1.4

Equipment/tools and personal protective equipment are selected and coordinated based on specified requirements and established procedures.

1.5

Work is prioritised and sequenced for the most efficient/effective outcome, completed within an acceptable timeframe to a quality standard and in accordance with established procedures.

1.6

Risk control measures are identified, prioritised and evaluated against the work schedule.

1.7

Relevant work permits are secured to coordinate the performance of work according to requirements and/or established procedures.

1.8

Resources including personnel, equipment, tools and personal protective equipment required for the job are identified, scheduled and coordinated and confirmed in a safe and technical working order.

1.9

Liaison and communication issues with other/authorised personnel, authorities, clients and land owners are resolved and activities coordinated to carry out work.

1.10

Site is prepared according to the work schedule and to minimise risk and damage to property, commerce, and individuals in accordance with established procedures.

2

Carry out and coordinate the design of underground distribution systems

2.1

Circuit/systems modelling is used to evaluate alternative proposals as per established procedures.

2.2

OHS and sustainable energy principles, functionality and practices to reduce the incidents of accidents and minimise waste are incorporated into the project in accordance with requirements and/or established procedures.

2.3

System design decisions are made on the basis of safety and effective outcomes according to requirements and/or established procedures.

2.4

Mathematical models for the design of the underground distribution system are used to analyse the effectiveness of the finished project as per requirements and established procedures.

2.5

Technical advice is given to potential hazards, safety risks and control measures so that monitoring and preventative action can be undertaken and/or appropriate authorities consulted, where necessary, in accordance with requirements and established procedures.

2.6

Essential knowledge and associated skills are applied to analyse specific data and compare it with compliance specifications to ensure completion of the project within an agreed timeframe according to requirements.

2.7

Solutions to non-routine problems are identified and actioned, using acquired essential knowledge and associated skills, according to requirements.

2.8

Quality of work is monitored against personal performance agreement and/or established organisational and professional standards.

3

Complete and coordinate the design of underground distribution systems

3.1

Final inspections of the design are undertaken to ensure they comply with all requirements and include all specifications and documentations needed to complete the project.

3.2

Appropriate personnel are notified of completion and reports and/or completion documents are finalised/commissioned.

3.3

Reports and/or completion documents are submitted to relevant personnel/organisations for approval and, where applicable, statutory or regulatory approval.

3.4

Approved copies of design documents are issued and records are updated in accordance with established procedures.

Required Skills

7) Essential Knowledge and Associated Skills (EKAS): This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired of designing underground distribution systems.

All knowledge and skills detailed in this unit should be contextualised to current industry practices and technologies.

The extent of the essential knowledge and associated skills (EKAS) required is given in Volume 2 - Part 2.2 EKAS. It forms an integral part of this unit.

E2.18.1

Occupational Health and Safety principles

E2.18.2

Electrical safe working practice

E2.18.8.2

Occupational health and safety , enterprise responsibilities

T2.1.1

Engineering applications of mathematical principles

T2.1.2

Engineering applications of mechanical principles

T2.1.3

Engineering applications of material properties

T2.2.2

Transmission, distribution and rail power systems

T2.2.12

Underground cable installation

T2.2.23

Underground cable construction

T2.3.1

Powerline safety practices

T2.3.2

Powerline safety - implementation and monitoring

T2.3.3

Statutory and safety considerations

T2.3.8

Safe design principles

T2.7.1

Environmental fundamentals

T2.7.4

Powerline environmental impact - implementation and monitoring

T2.8.3

Enterprises specific - technical drawing and documents

T2.9.6

Underground mains layout principles

T2.11.1

Power system layouts

T2.11.44

Design characteristics of overhead and underground conductors and cables, poles and structures

Evidence Required

9) This provides essential advice for assessment of the unit of competency and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria and the range statement of the unit of competency and the Training Package Assessment Guidelines.

The Evidence Guide forms an integral part of this Competency Standard Unit and shall be used in conjunction with all component parts of this unit and, performed in accordance with the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Overview of Assessment

9.1)

Longitudinal competency development approaches to assessment, such as Profiling, require data to be reliably gathered in a form that can be consistently interpreted over time. This approach is best utilised in Apprenticeship programs and reduces assessment intervention. It is the Industry's preferred model for apprenticeships. However, where summative (or final) assessment is used it is to include the application of the competency in the normal work environment or, at a minimum, the application of the competency in a realistically simulated work environment. It is recognised that, in some circumstances, assessment in part or full can occur outside the workplace. However, it must be in accord with Industry and, Regulatory policy in this regard.

Methods chosen for a particular assessment will be influenced by various factors. These include the extent of the assessment, the most effective locations for the assessment activities to take place, access to physical resources, additional safety measures that may be required and the critical nature of the competencies being assessed.

The critical safety nature of working with electricity, electrical equipment, gas or any other hazardous substance/material carries risk in deeming a person competent. Hence, sources of evidence need to be 'rich' in nature so as to minimise error in judgment.

Activities associated with normal every day work have a bearing on the decision as to how much and how detailed the data gathered will contribute to its 'richness'. Some skills are more critical to safety and operational requirements while the same skills may be more or less frequently practiced. These points are raised for the assessors to consider when choosing an assessment method and developing assessment instruments. Sample assessment instruments are included for Assessors in the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

9.2)

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all prerequisites shall be met.

Evidence for competence in this unit shall be considered holistically. Each element and associated Performance Criteria shall be demonstrated on at least two occasions in accordance with the "Assessment Guidelines - UET09". Evidence shall also comprise:

A representative body of Performance Criteria demonstrated within the timeframes typically expected of the discipline, work function and industrial environment. In particular this shall incorporate evidence that shows a candidate is able to:

Implement Occupational Health and Safety workplace procedures and practices including the use of risk control measures as specified in the Performance Criteria and range; and

Apply sustainable energy principles and practices as specified in the Performance Criteria and range; and

Demonstrate an understanding of the essential knowledge and associated skills as described in this unit to such an extent that the learner's performance outcome is reported in accordance with the preferred approach; namely a percentile graded result, where required by the regulated environment; and

Demonstrate an appropriate level of employability skills; and

Conduct work observing the relevant Anti Discrimination legislation, regulations, policies and workplace procedures; and

Demonstrated performance across a representative range of contexts from the prescribed items below:

Range of tools/equipment/materials/procedures/workplaces/other variables

Group No

The minimum number of items on which skill is to be demonstrated

Item List

A

Completion of six (6) technical designs of an underground distribution or sub transmission network relating to the following project types:

Residential Subdivision Developments

Industrial/Commercial Subdivision Developments

Alteration to existing assets

Underground supplies to single customers including projects requiring substations.

B

Designs should also included all the following:

Activities that address the correction of errors in the process.

Application of a design control checklist which lists all of the required design activities to be carried out in this process.

C

At least one occasion

Dealing with an unplanned event by drawing on essential knowledge and associated skills to provide appropriate solutions incorporated in the holistic assessment with the above listed items.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

9.3)

This unit should be assessed as it relates to normal work practice using procedures, information and resources typical of a workplace. This should include:

OHS policy and work procedures and instructions.

Suitable work environment, facilities, equipment and materials to undertake the design of underground distribution systems.

In addition to the resources listed above, in Context of and specific resources for assessment, evidence should show demonstrated competency working in a realistic environment and a variety of conditions.

Method of assessment

9.4)

This Competency Standard Unit shall be assessed by methods given in Volume 1, Part 3 "Assessment Guidelines".

Note:
Competent performance with inherent safe working practices is expected in the Industry to which this Competency Standard Unit applies. This requires that the specified essential knowledge and associated skills are assessed in a structured environment which is primarily intended for learning/assessment and incorporates all necessary equipment and facilities for learners to develop and demonstrate the essential knowledge and associated skills described in this unit.

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units

9.5)

For optimisation of training and assessment effort, competence in this unit may be assessed concurrently with the following units:

There are no recommended concurrencies for this unit.


Range Statement

8) This relates to the unit of competency as a whole providing the range of contexts and conditions to which the Performance Criteria apply. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.

This Competency Standard Unit shall/may be demonstrated in relation to the design of underground distribution systems and may include the following equipment:

Underground cable, terminations, joints, Substations, mechanical protection, HV Switchgear, LV Switchgear, signage, relevant protection systems, relevant protection systems including fuses and circuit breakers and associated civil works.

The following constants and variables included in the element/Performance Criteria in this unit are fully described in the Definitions Section 1 of this volume and form an integral part of the Range Statement of this unit:

Appropriate and relevant persons (see Personnel)

Appropriate authorities

Appropriate work platform

Assessing risk

Assessment

Authorisation

Confined space

Diagnostic, testing and restoration

Documenting detail work events, record keeping and or storage of information

Drawings and specifications

Emergency

Environmental and sustainable energy procedures

Environmental legislation

Environmental management documentation

Established procedures

Fall prevention

Hazards

Identifying hazards

Inspect

Legislation

MSDS

Notification

OHS practices

OHS issues

Permits and/or permits to work

Personnel

Quality assurance systems

Requirements

Safe design principles

Testing procedures

Work clearance systems


Sectors

Not Applicable


Employability Skills

3)

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of Employability Skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged will assist in identifying Employability Skill requirements.


Licensing Information

1.2) License to practice

The skills and knowledge described in this unit may require a licence/registration to practice in the work place subject to regulations for undertaking of electrical work. Practice in workplace and during training is also subject to regulations directly related to Occupational Health and Safety, electricity/telecommunications/gas/water industry safety and compliance, industrial relations, environmental protection, anti discrimination and training. Commonwealth, State/Territory or Local Government legislation and regulations may exist that limits the age of operating certain equipment.