Application
This unit of competency supports the role of fire systems' designers who need to gather and process fire systems design project drawings and documentation and establish the detailed design and compliance requirements for fire systems. The role also involves assessing the impact of building construction and services installation on the detailed fire systems design and negotiating solutions to any conflicts arising. Fire systems designs are limited to those within the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the Building Code of Australia or detailed fire systems designs for alternative solutions designed by fire engineers. This unit does not apply to fire systems for special hazard locations. |
Prerequisites
Nil |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Gather and interpret project initiation documentation. | 1.1. Fire systems design briefs, plans and specifications are gathered and checked for currency and completeness. 1.2. The specific requirements of engineered or innovative solutions, designed and specified by fire engineers, are interpreted. 1.3. Relevant drawings, plans and schedules for the building project are requested, obtained and filed according to workplace and project procedures. 1.4. Impacts of building construction and the installation of other services on fire systems design are assessed to pre-empt possible issues. |
2. Research the detailed requirements of relevant legislation and regulatory processes. | 2.1. Legislation impacting on design compliance in different project locations is investigated and variations in requirements are interpreted and noted. 2.2. Regulatory requirements impacting on fire systems designs and project processes in different locations are investigated and specific requirements are interpreted and noted. |
3. Research the detailed requirements of applicable codes and standards. | 3.1. Applicable codes and standards are gathered and checked for currency. 3.2. Requirements relating to specific fire systems in different types of buildings and situations are researched and interpreted. 3.3. In situations where more than one code or standard is applicable, the most rigorous requirements are determined and applied. |
4. Consult and negotiate to clarify and finalise project details. | 4.1. The interpretation of the required fire systems design and intended layout and interconnection are confirmed with relevant personnel. 4.2. Consultation and negotiations are undertaken with relevant personnel to resolve conflicts between the design brief and regulatory or insurance requirements. 4.3. Consultation and negotiations are undertaken with relevant personnel to resolve conflicts between the design brief, the requirements of building construction, and the installation of the fire systems and other services. 4.4. Aesthetic requirements relating to the location of fire system components and installation methods are clarified and solutions negotiated. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
accurate measuring accurate naming and filing of drawings, including: formal document control formal amendments, including: history transmittal notices editing and creating drawings, including: layout section detail external references freezing layers operating computer software packages and systems, including: word processing spreadsheet internet proprietary project management software parametric modelling of services coordination using proprietary software, such as Navis-Works or MEP-REVIT numeracy skills for calculating dimensions language and literacy skills for: listening to and communicating clearly with colleagues and contractors participating in meetings, such as negotiations with fire engineering consultant, architect, builder or other service contractors researching, accessing, reading, interpreting and applying current relevant legislation, codes and standards letter writing, especially to formalise: recognition of conflicts and errors on drawings supplied by other service contractors agreements with other services, for example whichever service is fitted last must fit around existing services updating knowledge of products, software systems and technology reading and interpreting drawings, plans and specifications, including: architectural structural mechanical hydraulic electrical researching and evaluating competing technologies in new products and systems developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with project team members, workplace colleagues and clients negotiation and conflict management initiating and running meetings with lead contractor and other service contractors project management organising own work, including creating personal systems and checklists for planning, managing and checking work lateral thinking and problem solving maintaining concentration, focus and attention to detail for long periods |
Required knowledge |
workplace design tools and processes level of accuracy required in detailed design drawings naming conventions for design drawings and drawing register fire science, including: fire behaviour and dynamics impact of fire on structures and materials products of combustion fire control strategies fire retardants fire detection technologies fire suppression technologies fire containment fire engineering principles, including: engineered solutions innovative fire systems fire modelling parametric modelling software, such as Navis-Works or MEP-REVIT computer software functions and operation, including: word processing spreadsheet internet proprietary project management software relevant current legislation, codes and standards, including: building Acts building regulations infrastructure supply regulations the Building Code of Australia Australian standards for fire systems international standards for fire systems other fire system standards commonly required by building insurers regulatory requirements, systems and processes protection requirements for different buildings fire systems' technology and components, including: water-based systems, including: wet pipe sprinkler systems deluge and drencher systems dry pipe sprinkler systems pre-action sprinkler systems early suppression fast response (ESFR) hydrants, hose reels and monitors water supply tanks fire pump sets detection and warning systems, including: emergency warning and intercommunications systems (EWIS) fire detection and alarm systems smoke control systems emergency lighting systems purpose and operation of fire systems, including: layout system operation performance requirements maintenance standards system activation and operation passive fire safety elements: identification of passive elements impact of fire systems design on passive elements specifications required to safeguard integrity of passive fire element performance where penetrations are necessitated by the fire systems design characteristics and limitations of products and materials used in fire systems and issues relating to material compatibility interconnection of fire systems, including: cause and effect matrix interface with other services basic principles of structural engineering characteristics of building materials construction industry terminology roles and responsibilities of relevant building project personnel, including: architect lead contractor mechanical engineer hydraulic engineer electrical engineer on-site issues that can arise during the construction phase and impose changes to the designs of fire systems and other services installation methods, including: access requirements health and safety requirements fluid mechanics and hydraulics relating to: water supply pressure pump selection tank selection pressure vessels pipe range sustainability requirements and ratings, including: energy conservation water conservation |
Evidence Required
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 in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, provided that the simulated or project-based assessment fully replicates workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures. This unit could be assessed as an activity involving the establishment of the detailed design requirements of a range of fire systems design projects, including discretionary client requirements. The activity should also include researching and interpreting the specifics of applicable legislation, regulatory processes and relevant codes and standards for a range of types of buildings in different project locations. |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the required skills and knowledge specified within this unit. In particular the person should demonstrate: an ability to interpret the detailed requirements of fire systems design specifications an understanding of the extent of compliance requirements and procedures to which fire systems design projects are subject, for a range of projects, including: low-rise buildings medium-rise buildings high-rise buildings (over 25 metres) buildings over 45 metres in height the ability to discern mandatory and discretionary requirements and to research the detailed compliance requirements for a range of fire systems design projects in different locations the ability to gather, research and interpret information that may differ in only the slightest of details from one design or location to another the ability to present research findings to relevant stakeholders and conduct negotiations regarding detailed design changes imposed by: compliance requirements detailed designs of other services aesthetic requirements. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an off-site context. It is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements. Resource implications for assessment include: design briefs, drawings, plans and specifications copies of codes, standards, legislation and regulatory requirements access to information and communications technology hardware and software. |
Method of assessment | Assessment must: satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments. |
Guidance information for assessment | 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. |
Range Statement
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. | |
Fire systems may include: | water-based systems, including: wet pipe sprinkler systems deluge and drencher systems dry pipe sprinkler systems pre-action sprinkler systems early suppression fast response (ESFR) hydrants, hose reels and monitors detection and warning systems, including: emergency warning and intercommunications systems (EWIS) fire detection and alarm systems smoke control systems emergency lighting systems. |
Engineered or innovative solutions may include those defined in the Building Code of Australia as: | 'solutions which comply with the Performance Requirements other than by reason of satisfying the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions'. |
Relevant drawings, plans and schedules for the building project may include: | drawings, including: architectural structural mechanical hydraulic electrical layout section detail external references project plan project schedule design brief design specifications. |
Legislation may include: | international, state and territory, or local legislation relevant to various sites of major fire systems design projects and impacting on detailed designs for specific locations. |
Regulatory requirements may include: | mandatory requirements design approval fire brigade requirements certification of installation infrastructure supply regulations. |
Codes and standards may include: | the Building Code of Australia the Plumbing Code of Australia Australian standards for fire systems international standards for fire systems other fire system standards commonly required by building insurers. |
Types of buildings and situations may include: | different types of buildings, including: residential commercial industrial mixed classification buildings in different locations, including: local involving more than one state or territory international classifications of buildings in the Building Code of Australia: occupancy classes multiple classifications parts with more than one classification fire hazard properties of materials and smoke growth rate classifications of buildings specified in relevant Australian or international standards classifications of buildings relating to standards or codes applied by building insurers. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Fire systems design |
Co-Requisites
Nil |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor