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Unit of competency details

CPCPFS3041A - Inspect and test fire pumpsets (Release 1)

Summary

Usage recommendation:
Superseded
Mapping:
MappingNotesDate
Supersedes CPCPFS3021A - Inspect and test fire pumpsetsPrerequisite unit updated. Minor change to sustainability PC. Not equivalent to CPCPFS3021A 06/Feb/2013
Is superseded by and equivalent to CPCPFS3041 - Inspect and test fire pumpsetsSupersedes and is equivalent to CPCPFS3041A Inspect and test fire pumpsets. 26/Nov/2020

Releases:
ReleaseRelease date
1 1 (this release) 07/Feb/2013

Classifications

SchemeCodeClassification value
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 039905 Fire Technology  

Classification history

SchemeCodeClassification valueStart dateEnd date
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 039905 Fire Technology  07/Aug/2013 
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Modification History

Prerequisite unit updated

Minor change to sustainability PC

Not equivalent to CPCPFS3021A

Unit Descriptor

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to complete weekly, monthly, and six-monthly inspection and testing procedures to verify that fire pumpsets function as intended. The unit covers working safely, conducting compliance tests, visually inspecting, and identifying non-compliance defects. It involves mandatory reporting requirements, as well as general isolations and resetting fire pumpsets.

Application of the Unit

This unit of competency supports fire protection technicians responsible for inspecting and testing fire pumpsets.

Individuals operate within the scope of their defined roles and responsibilities and perform the inspections and testing as part of their work duties to verify that equipment functions as intended, according to work procedures and relevant Australian standards.

The unit must be applied strictly according to relevant state or territory legislative and industry requirements.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

The fire protection technician is not permitted to undertake any installation, replacement, maintenance and repair functions that are restricted to licensed trades or occupations (subject to relevant state or territory regulations).

Different states and territories may have regulatory mechanisms that apply to this unit. Candidates are advised to check for regulatory limitations.

Pre-Requisites

CPCPCM2043A

Carry out WHS requirements

OR BOTH:

CPPCMN2002A

Participate in workplace safety arrangements

AND

CPPFES2006A

Prepare for installation and servicing operations

Employability Skills Information

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

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.

Elements and Performance Criteria

1

Apply compliance requirements to service operations.

1.1

Legislative and industry requirements  are interpreted, confirmed and applied to organisational requirements .

1.2

Location and equipment are checked for compliance  with legislative and industry requirements, and action  is taken according to organisational requirements.

1.3

Preparations are made for functional inspection and testing according to organisational requirements.

2

Conduct inspections and record results.

2.1

Workplace procedures are followed and risk control measures are applied when inspecting fire pumpsets .

2.2

Fire pumpset controls are identified and their function determined, with reference to manufacturer instructions in order to conduct inspections and tests according to legislative and industry requirements.

2.3

Plant and other system interfaces  that must be isolated to allow the inspection activities are identified.

2.4

Visual inspections are conducted as described in legislative and industry requirements.

2.5

Fire pumpset inspection results are recorded against requirements according to legislative and industry requirements.

2.6

Sustainability principles and concepts  are observed when preparing for and undertaking work process.

3

Conduct tests and record results.

3.1

Methods for tests are implemented according to legislative and industry requirements.

3.2

Routine testing procedures  are conducted according to the required frequency schedule  to verify that the system functions as intended.

3.3

Test results are compared with legislative and industry requirements.

3.4

Results are documented according to legislative and industry requirements.

3.5

Report is completed and forwarded to relevant persons for action according to legislative and industry requirements.

3.6

System is reinstated according to organisational requirements.

Required Skills and Knowledge

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

Required skills 

  • customer service skills
  • interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds
  • language, literacy and numeracy skills to:
  • communicate with others clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing
  • read and comply with work instructions and specifications
  • read and record measurements
  • record and report information neatly and legibly
  • planning and organising skills to:
  • estimate time to complete activities
  • prioritise tasks
  • technical skills to:
  • operate valves, switches and levers to test system operation
  • use hand and power tools
  • work safely when performing work tasks, including workplace housekeeping procedures

Required knowledge 

  • application of fire pumpsets as defined in AS 2941 Fixed fire protection installations – Pumpset systems and AS 2118 Automatic fire sprinkler systems, and used in systems
  • basic principles of hydraulics:
  • basic head or pressure calculation for height per metre
  • metric and imperial pressure scales
  • properties of water:
  • three states of matter
  • incompressible
  • basic principles of operation and purpose of components:
  • accumulators
  • batteries
  • circulation and system pressure relief valves
  • compression ignition pumpset drivers
  • electrical pumpset drivers
  • engine starting and control or monitor batteries
  • header tanks
  • impellers
  • isolating valves associated with pumpsets
  • jacking or jockey pumps
  • multi-stage pumps
  • pressure gauges
  • pump controllers and ancillary equipment for control and indications
  • pump drivers
  • pump glands and seals
  • pump performance curves
  • pump starting devices
  • pumpset couplings
  • safety guards
  • system pressure gauge schedules
  • water supply tanks:
  • atmospheric
  • pressure
  • suction with priming tanks
  • general operation of pumpsets:
  • cooling systems
  • design speed requirements
  • exhaust systems
  • fuel systems
  • full load operation
  • normal running operation
  • pre-start and post-start checks
  • pumpset controllers
  • starting and stopping methods
  • suction and discharge connections and pressure readings
  • terminology used in relation to pumpsets

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 by observation of practical demonstration of inspecting and testing a range of types of fire pumpsets at customers’ premises.

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:

  • apply sustainability principles and concepts when inspecting and testing fire pumpsets
  • apply safety requirements throughout the work sequence, including electrical safety requirements and the use of personal protective clothing and equipment
  • conduct inspection and testing for the scheduled weekly, monthly and six-monthly activities according to the relevant Australian standard and on the following pumpsets:
  • compression ignition pumpset used as a booster pumpset on a sprinkler/hydrant system fed from:
  • town mains supply
  • static water supply
  • dual drive electric and compression ignition pumpset
  • electrical pumpset used as a:
  • booster pumpset on a sprinkler/hydrant system fed from a town mains supply or a static water supply
  • jacking pump or hose reel pump.

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:

  • adequate water supply and draining or recycling arrangements to operate pumpsets under full load
  • operational pumpsets
  • pictures and cut-away sections of pumpsets to show operation.

Method of assessment 

Assessment methods must:

  • satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Property 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.

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function, for example:

  • CPCPFS3040A Conduct basic functional testing of water-based fire-suppression systems
  • CPCPFS3042A Conduct annual functional testing of complex water-based fire-suppression systems
  • CPCPFS3043A Conduct functional water flow testing

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.

Legislative and industry requirements  may include:

  • dangerous goods regulations
  • environmental regulations
  • licensing arrangements
  • WHS legislation, regulations and codes
  • relevant commonwealth and state or territory building Acts, regulations and codes, such as National Construction Code (NCC)
  • relevant Australian standards, such as:
  • AS 1851 Maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment
  • note: Australian standards are frequently revised and users must always check for currency and amendments
  • other relevant legislation relating to fire protection equipment, including:
  • international shipping codes
  • marine codes for different Australian states
  • requirements of Australian petroleum industry.

Organisational requirements  may be located in quality assurance and procedures manuals and may include:

  • client-specific contractual requirements
  • documentation and information systems and processes
  • legal and organisational policies and guidelines, including personnel practices and guidelines outlining work roles, responsibilities and delegations
  • legislation relevant to service operation
  • use of electronic job scheduling and communication devices.

Checking for compliance  may include:

  • undertaking commissioning tests detailed in relevant Australian standards and manufacturers’ documents to verify performance of an installed, repaired or altered piece of equipment or system
  • applying inspections, tests and survey requirements to equipment and systems, according to relevant Australian standards, to determine that they are:
  • capable of operating as intended when originally installed
  • still suitable for the fire hazard or risk being protected, as no change in occupancy or use of the area protected has occurred since the equipment or system was installed or last modified
  • providing the coverage and protection needed to meet original design and performance requirements
  • reviewing documentation to verify that installed systems comply with legislative and industry requirements, such as:
  • building’s essential services or fire safety measures listing
  • relevant commonwealth and state or territory building Acts, regulations and codes
  • relevant Australian standards listed on essential service listing
  • environmental regulations.

Action  may include:

  • advising client
  • documenting non-compliance
  • making equipment safe
  • reporting, as required.

Pumpset  types  may include: 

  • those used in fire protection systems that comply with Australian standards, such as:
  • AS 1851 Maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment
  • AS 2118 Automatic fire sprinkler systems
  • AS 2419 Fire hydrant installations
  • AS 2941 Fixed fire protection installations – Pumpset systems
  • AS CA-1962 Automatic sprinkler installations
  • NFPA 20 Standard for the installation of stationary fire pumps for fire protection (US).

System interfaces  may include:

  • components, such as:
  • flow switches
  • pressure switches
  • tamper switches
  • valve positioning switches
  • devices that operate signals between the pumpset and other services, such as:
  • building monitoring services
  • other life safety systems, such as:
  • warning systems
  • fire indicator panel (FIP)
  • security monitoring services.

Sustainability principles and concepts :

  • cover the social, economic and environmental use of resources to meet current and future needs
  • may include:
  • efficient use of material
  • efficient energy and water use
  • rain harvesting and disposal.

Testing procedures  include:

  • activities that comply with requirements of AS 1851 Maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment to verify the following pump functions:
  • pump starts at correct pressure
  • pump supplies correct kPa at no flow condition requirements.

Frequency schedules  include:

  • schedules of work conducted at regular frequencies as defined in AS 1851 (general section) that relate to the work scope for weekly, monthly, and six-monthly inspection and testing schedules.

Unit Sector(s)

Competency field 

Unit sector 

Plumbing and services

Custom Content Section

Not applicable.