Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to access, interpret and apply relevant standards and codes applicable to the performance of building trade contracting and plumbing and services. Successfully complying with the range of relevant standards and codes requires a thorough and relevant knowledge of the purpose of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), coupled with the ability to interpret and apply specific and relevant standards across the range of trades and service sectors.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports trade contractors and building service sector practitioners responsible for ensuring compliance with the building or plumbing codes and standards relevant to their industry sector. The unit can be applied to different trades within the building, construction and plumbing and services industry.

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. Access and interpret relevant code and standard requirements.

1.1. Clauses from the national industry code (BCA or PCA) that apply to relevant trade areas  are identified.

1.2. Prescriptive requirements of relevant BCA or PCA clauses are determined.

1.3. Requirements of relevant Australian standards  are accessed and interpreted accordingly.

1.4. Application of relevant state and territory variations and the identified schedule of referenced documents within the BCA or PCA are accessed and their application evaluated.

2. Apply relevant codes and standards.

2.1. Relevant standards and codes are applied to the selection of work methods.

2.2. Relevant standards and codes are applied to the selection of materials and equipment.

2.3. Assessment methods  are put in place to ensure compliance with relevant codes and standards.

3. Manage ongoing compliance with codes and standards.

3.1. Strategies are identified to ensure current standards and codes are accessed and used.

3.2. Mechanisms are identified and used to inform workers of the required application of relevant codes and standards.

3.3. Impact of new materials, equipment or work processes on compliance with relevant standards and codes is evaluated before implementation.

3.4. Relevant documentation and reporting processes are identified and completed in accordance with the relevant codes and standards.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

Required skills for this unit are:

• communication skills to:

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

• Australian standards
• BCA or PCA
• other relevant documentation

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

• technological skills to facilitate use of the organisation's software and office technology
• written communication skills to complete relevant documentation and reports.

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge for this unit is:

• definitions and common technical terms or usage specified under general provisions of BCA, PCA and other standards
• nature of materials and the effects of performance
• relevant construction industry legislative and OHS requirements, codes and practices
• work drawings and specifications.

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 the application of design principles and solutions specified in the DTS and performance-based concept of BCA criteria applied to building projects or the PCA criteria applied to plumbing and services projects.

This unit of competency can 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 organisational quality procedures and processes
• apply and interpret relevant documentation and codes
• accurately apply relevant BCA or PCA codes and standards relating to performance and compliance of building project work.
• demonstrate understanding of the assessment methods available to determine whether a building solution complies with performance requirements or DTS provisions of the BCA.

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:

• BCA and relevant Australian/New Zealand standards
• PCA and relevant Australian/New Zealand standards
• documentation, including design brief drawings, specifications, codes, design concepts, construction schedules and other necessary supporting documents
• research resources, including product information and data
• relevant computer software package and suitable hardware.

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.

Relevant trade areas  include:

• bricklaying
• cabinet making and joinery
• carpentry
• painting
• plastering
• plumbing and services
• roof tiling
• stonemasonry
• tiling.

Australian standards  include:

• AS3553: 1988 Adhesives for floor and wall applications - resilient vinyl, linoleum and rubber sheet and tiles
• AS3660 Termite management
• AS3740: 2004 Waterproofing of wet areas in residential buildings
• AS3786 Smoke alarms
• AS3958.1: 1991 Ceramic tiles - guide to the installation of ceramic tiles
• AS4256 Plastic roof and wall cladding material
• AS/NZS2311: 2000 Guide to the painting of buildings
• AS/NZS2908 Cellulose cement products.

Assessment methods  include:

• comparison with deemed-to-satisfy (DTS) provisions of the BCA
• evidence of suitability
• expert judgement
• verification method.

Unit sector 

Construction

Co-requisite units 

Nil

Functional area