Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to ensure that the building process complies with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and relevant Australian standards.

The unit applies to residential buildings and includes the evaluation and interpretation of building requirements, classification of buildings according to the BCA criteria and strategies for compliance.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports the attainment of the understanding and skills to apply building codes and standards to residential buildings within the context of relevant legislation, the BCA and Australian standards.

Prerequisite units 

Nil

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Analyse the purpose and basic intent of the BCA.

1.1. Objectives of the BCA and the purpose of its respective components in relation to construction in residential buildings  and building categories  are evaluated and documented.

1.2. Deemed-to-satisfy (DTS) concept for construction to meet BCA requirements is evaluated and documented.

2. Locate and interpret code and standard requirements applicable to particular projects.

2.1. Clauses from the BCA that apply to particular residential building projects requiring review of compliance issues  are identified and documented.

2.2. Prescriptive requirements of relevant BCA clauses and standard specifications  are determined.

2.3. Requirements of Australian standards referenced in the BCA are identified and documented.

2.4. Special requirements that may be applicable to specific areas of building surveying procedures  are identified and documented.

3. Classify buildings.

3.1. Nature of a building is determined in regard to its proposed use and site arrangement.

3.2. BCA criteria are applied to determine the defined classification.

3.3. BCA requirements are interpreted for multiple classifications.

4. Apply solutions to construction problems for compliance with the BCA.

4.1. Criteria to ensure construction methods comply with the intent of the BCA are determined.

4.2. Alternative approaches to construction problems that comply with the requirements of the BCA are reported.

4.3. Assessment methods used to determine whether a building solution complies with performance requirements or DTS provisions of BCA are analysed and applied.

4.4. Assessment methods are confirmed and identified as appropriate to meet the DTS provisions of BCA.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

Required skills for this unit are:

• ability to respond to change and contribute to workplace responsibilities, such as current work site environmental and sustainability frameworks or management systems
• communication skills to:

• enable clear and direct communication, using questioning to identify and confirm requirements, share information, listen and understand
• read and interpret:

• Australian standards
• BCA
• other relevant documentation

• use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences
• use and interpret non-verbal communication
• written skills to:

• document building requirements
• report alternative approaches to construction problem

• innovation skills to develop compliant alternative solutions to construction problems
• planning and organisational skills to collect, organise and analyse information
• technological skills to:

• complete documentation and calculations
• enable information gathering and analysis.

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge for this unit is:

• authorities and powers of a building surveyor
• behaviour of structural members undergoing stress, strain, compression, bending or combined actions
• BCA and primary referenced Australian standards
• criteria for Class 1 and 10 buildings
• design, construction and structural principles of buildings
• DTS provisions
• processes for the administration and preparation of documentation
• processes for the interpretation of reports, working drawings and specifications
• relevant federal, state or territory legislation and local government policy and procedures
• research methods.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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 simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate construction workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.

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 ability to:

• comply with OHS regulations applicable to workplace operations
• apply organisational management policies and procedures, including quality assurance requirements where appropriate
• classify construction in residential buildings through the evaluation and interpretation of compliance with the BCA and associated reporting of data, findings, recommendations and strategies for at least one residential building project or equivalent in compliance with relevant legislation
• provide reports to appropriate body/individual as determined by the project brief.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include:

• an induction procedure and requirement
• realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the mandatory task requirements
• relevant specifications and work instructions
• tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices
• support materials appropriate to activity
• workplace instructions relating to safe work practices and addressing hazards and emergencies
• material safety data sheets
• research resources, including industry related systems information.

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.

Method of assessment 

Assessment methods 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.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

• competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
• where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's demonstrated ability and applied knowledge
• all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.

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.

Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

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.

Construction in residential buildings  includes:

• compliance with relevant legislation
• design specifications
• evaluation, interpretation and adherence to legislative requirements for BCA Class 1 and 10 buildings
• maintenance specifications
• relevant Australian standards.

Building categories  include:

• low-rise residential buildings
• single storey buildings.

Residential building projects requiring review of compliance issues  include:

• calculation and processing of application or inspection fees
• project milestones
• provision of site access/facilities
• work schedules.

Standard specifications  include:

• developed or detailed specifications addressing specific components, such as structural or other requirements
• industry standard specifications
• preliminary and outline specifications.

Building surveying procedures  include:

• mechanical, structural, electrical and other services.

Unit sector 

Construction

Co-requisite units 

Nil

Functional area