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 explaining to clients the principles of building thermal performance, including heat transfer in residential buildings, the factors that impact on thermal comfort, how climatic conditions influence the thermal performance of residential buildings, and the principles of passive design.

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

A person should demonstrate the ability to:

explain thermal performance to clients using correct terminology

explain the process of heat transfer in residential buildings to clients, including the ways in which residential buildings lose and gain heat

explain factors that impact on thermal comfort to clients

explain how climatic conditions influence thermal performance of residential buildings to clients, including the ways of improving thermal performance appropriate to particular climatic zones

explain principles of passive design to clients, their application in planned and existing residences, and the factors that diminish thermal performance.

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

technical reference library with current publications on passive building design, thermal performance of building materials, building thermal performance, NatHERS, and manufacturer product information on building products and materials.

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 explaining to clients the principles of building thermal performance, including:

heat transfer in residential buildings

factors that impact on thermal comfort

how climatic conditions influence the thermal performance of residential buildings

the principles of passive design.

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.

Required skills

communication skills to interact with clients from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds in an ethical manner

decision-making and problem-solving skills to make recommendations for ways of improving thermal performance appropriate to particular climatic zones

literacy skills to read and interpret a variety of texts, both print and electronic, on residential building thermal performance

numeracy and data analysis skills to calculate and interpret climatic data

research skills to identify and locate documents and information on the thermal properties of building materials

time-management skills to conduct research and provide advice to clients in a timely, cost-efficient manner

Required knowledge

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:

radiation

convection

conduction

modelling

U and R-values of building materials

R-values of wall constructions

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

importance

influences on thermal comfort:

air movement

humidity

radiation

temperature

models of thermal comfort

requirements for thermal comfort

role of thermal comfort in building thermal performance assessments

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

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.

Correct industry terminology for energy use may include:

efficiency

energy

power

primary energy source.

Environmental and social impacts of energy use may include:

climate change

energy cost

energy security

global warming

greenhouse gas emissions

operational costs

resource depletion.

Key terms used to describe heat transfer may include:

conduction

convection

evaporation

radiation.

Physical factors that influence thermal comfort may include:

air movement

humidity

radiation

temperature.

Requirements for thermal comfort may include:

activity levels

age

clothing.

Types and uses of climate data used in carrying out thermal performance assessments may include:

diurnal temperature range

humidity

maximum and minimum temperatures

temperature

wind.

Impact of local climatic conditions on building thermal performance may include:

humidity

shading

sunshine

temperatures

wind.

Principles of passive design may include:

building envelope

construction materials

construction methods

glazing

house plan ratio

insulation

orientation

thermal mass

ventilation

zoning.

Factors that diminish the thermal performance of buildings may include:

air leakage

deviation from ideal orientation

excessive glass area

high building surface area to volume

installing glazing where solar gain during the day and thermal losses during the night cannot be controlled easily

insulation materials that are not matched to the main mode of heat transfer

lack of adequate shading during seasonal periods of high solar gain

lack of radiant heat barriers

loss of effectiveness of materials over time

occupant behaviour

open staircases leading to unequal distribution of warm air between upper and lower floors as warm air rises

operation of buildings

poor maintenance practices

thermal losses through non-insulated or unprotected glazing.