Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to assess medium rise building projects of up to three storeys and a maximum floor area of 2000 square metres for compliance with building and land use requirements.

It includes the evaluation and interpretation of plans, progressive inspection of building work, preparation of reports and compliance with legislative requirements.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports the attainment of the understanding and skills to apply building surveying procedures to buildings up to three storeys within the context of relevant legislation, the Building Code of Australia (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. Evaluate documents submitted with an application for building and land use.

1.1. Plans, specifications and structural drawings for commercial and medium rise residential buildings are evaluated for compliance with building application process and application of building surveying procedures to commercial and residential medium rise buildings .

1.2. Application/proposal is evaluated against legislative requirements for commercial , industrial and residential medium rise buildings .

1.3. Components of the application for medium rise building projects requiring building surveying  requiring referral to other agencies or departments are identified and forwarded according to building surveying procedures .

1.4. Common faults with application are identified, noted and reported to relevant parties.

1.5. Notice of decision, including approval, conditional approval or refusal, is drafted and processed according to workplace procedures.

2. Determine compliance of a new building with approved plans, relevant legislation and standards during its construction.

2.1. Approved plans are examined and any critical components requiring inspection and compliance checks are identified.

2.2. Critical components identified are inspected on site for compliance with approved documentation.

2.3. On-site problems and suggested rectification methods to achieve compliance are reported in writing according to workplace procedures.

2.4. Rectified work is checked and formally reported to the relevant authorities to confirm compliance with statutory requirements.

2.5. Installed services in buildings are identified for compliance.

3. Compile report on an existing building of not more than three storeys and with a floor area not exceeding 2000 square metres for compliance with relevant legislation.

3.1. Classification of an existing building is determined.

3.2. Requirements of a particular class of building are determined and an inspection report is compiled for breach of requirements of the building.

3.3. Possible effects to the public of the breach are determined.

3.4. Inconsistent elements and the extent of rectification required for compliance is compiled in the report.

3.5. Local and state or territory government legislative requirements for upgrade works are identified and reported.

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:

• drawings
• legislation
• plans and specifications
• other relevant documentation

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

• report on problems and methods to achieve compliance
• provide reports to relevant authorities.

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge for this unit is:

• authorities and powers of a building surveyor
• nature of materials and effect on performance
• 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 for building surveying
• research methods
• structural, design and construction principles of buildings.

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 applicable
• apply building surveying procedures and the associated reporting of data, findings, recommendations and strategies for at least one commercial or medium rise residential building project or equivalent
• produce an accurate proposal outlining status of approval, compliance with regulations, and determination of safety procedures for one commercial, industrial or medium rise residential building project
• provide reports to appropriate body/individual as determined by the project brief. and according to workplace procedures.

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.

Application of building surveying procedures to commercial and residential medium rise buildings  includes:

• evaluation and interpretation of plans, progressive inspection of building work, preparation of reports and adherence to legislative requirements for BCA Class 2 to 9 buildings.

Commercial , industrial and residential medium rise buildings  are limited to:

• three storeys and a maximum floor area not exceeding 2000 square metres.

Medium rise building projects requiring building surveying  include:

• processing of applications
• project milestones
• provision of site access/facilities
• work schedules.

Building surveying procedures  include:

• construction
• electrical
• mechanical
• structural
• other services.

Unit sector 

Construction

Co-requisite units 

Nil

Functional area