Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to research and evaluate existing and emerging construction materials and methods for residential, commercial and industrial buildings, as defined in the Building Code of Australia (BCA), including for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing structures, and heritage restorations.
Research and evaluation are undertaken to develop an understanding of the range of contemporary construction materials and methods available; and their application, performance and interaction.
The unit supports drafters who work under the supervision and instruction of architects and building designers, ensuring that accurate and current information and data on construction materials and methods are identified and applied across building design projects.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to building design drafting in some states. Relevant state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm those requirements
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. | Review project brief and determine requirements. | 1.1. | Project brief is reviewed and information relating to work requirements, BCA class, and type of building to be researched is identified. |
1.2. | Requirements for research are confirmed, as required, with architect or building designer. | ||
1.3. | Compliance requirements relevant to project building class and type and research scope are identified. | ||
2. | Research materials and methods for structural elements of specified building. | 2.1. | Features and applications of materials used for structural elements are researched and evaluated. |
2.2. | Compliance requirements for materials used for structural elements are researched and interpreted. | ||
2.3. | Construction methods and systems for structural elements are researched and evaluated. | ||
3. | Research materials and methods for building envelope of specified building. | 3.1. | Characteristics and applications of materials used for building envelope are researched and evaluated. |
3.2. | Construction methods for building envelope and their compliance requirements are researched and interpreted. | ||
4. | Research systems and components for services of specified building. | 4.1. | Features of systems and components for services are evaluated for costs and benefits according to client requirements for the building project. |
4.2. | Compliance requirements for services are researched and interpreted. | ||
4.3. | Installation methods for services are researched in relation to different types of systems and components. | ||
5. | Document and maintain research findings. | 5.1. | Draft research findings with collated data, recommendations and supporting evidence are produced. |
5.2. | Input into draft research findings is sought according to agreed procedures. | ||
5.3. | Research findings are finalised and distributed to appropriate stakeholders. | ||
5.4. | Research findings are updated as required. | ||
Foundation Skills
This section describes core skills that are essential to performance and not explicit in the performance criteria. Employment skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Skill | Performance feature |
Learning skills to: | evaluate the validity and reliability of information relating to existing and emerging building materials and methods independently navigate and find specific information in the National Construction Code (NCC) use systems for ordering, classifying and storing familiar reference materials and research information for easy retrieval. |
Numeracy skills to: | extract and interpret numerical information relating to building materials and methods, including: fractions, decimals and percentages, ratio, rates and proportions routine formulas and building design mathematical representations and conventions two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes, including compound shapes statistical data in complex tables, spreadsheets and graphs measure, estimate and calculate in order to recommend cost-effective solutions for building design projects. |
Oral communication skills to: | listen to and clarify instructions and information relating to building materials and methods received from architect, building designer or manufacturer consider audience when arguing for or against specific building materials and methods being used in a building project respond to specific enquiries regarding own research findings, and clarify as necessary. |
Reading skills to: | use different reading strategies to locate at times complex information about material characteristics and construction methods understand specialised NCC terminology. |
Writing skills to: | record data about building materials in text, table and diagram format integrate information and ideas from a range of sources and document associated recommendations, using support materials such as photographs, diagrams and graphs. |
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. | |
Compliance requirements must include: | ccurrent Australian standards applicable to the building design federal, state or territory, and local authority legislation and regulations applicable to the building design NCC. |
Features must include: | acoustic properties aesthetic properties availability cost defects durability energy efficiency fire resistance properties health and safety issues interaction with other materials limitations due to manufacturing process maintenance requirements structural safety sustainability features thermal properties tolerance. |
Applications of materials used for structural elements must include: | coatings required compatibility with other elements fixings required structural application substructural application use in specific construction methods or systems. |
Materials used for structural elements must include three or more of the following: | existing and emerging materials bricks clay composite materials concrete glass glass blocks metals stone timber and timber products. |
Structural elements must include: | footings floors slabs walls roofs. |
Materials used for building envelope must include three or more of the following: | existing and emerging materials bricks clay composite materials concrete glass glass blocks metals stone timber and timber products. |
Services must include: | energy fire suppression heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) telecommunications water |
Sectors
Building design
Competency Field
Drafting