Modification History
Not Applicable
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to complete routine monthly and six-monthly inspect and test procedures to verify that control and indicating equipment (CIE) for a fire alarm system functions as intended. The unit encompasses working safely, conducting compliance tests, conducting visual inspections, identifying non-compliance defects and mandatory reporting requirements as well as general isolations and resetting CIE.
Licence to practise : The skills and knowledge described in this unit do not require an electrical licence or an Australian Communications and Media Authority cabling licence to practise.
Note : Service technicians are not permitted to undertake any installation, replacement, maintenance and repair functions that are restricted to licensed trades or occupations (subject to relevant state and territory regulations).
Application of the Unit
Application of the unit
This unit of competency supports one or more extinguishing agent handling licences prescribed under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 .
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Not Applicable
Pre-Requisites
Not Applicable
Employability Skills Information
Not Applicable
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. |
Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1 Plan to conduct routine monthly or six-monthly inspect and test operations on CIE. |
1.1 Obtain and understand occupational health and safety (OHS ) policies and procedures for a given work area. 1.2 Follow established OHS, ozone depleting substance (ODS) and synthetic greenhouse gas (SGG) emission risk control measures and organisational requirements in preparation for maintenance activity . 1.3 Note safety hazards and implement established risk control measures. 1.4 Organise all necessary work permits prior to entering customer premises. |
1.5 Consult relevant persons to coordinate work effectively with other work site staff. 1.6 Determine location of system components and materials from specifications and installation drawings . 1.7 Arrange inspection and test procedures to suit CIE in accordance with legislative and industry requirements , Australian standards, job schedule and manufacturer instructions. 1.8 Confirm documentation needed to conduct tests according to work procedures and job requirements. 1.9 Check tools , equipment and test devices for correct operation and safety according to work procedures and job requirements. |
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2 Inspect CIE. |
2.1 Follow ODS, SGG and OHS policies and procedures and apply risk control measures when inspecting CIE . 2.2 Identify CIE functions in manufacturer instructions to be used to conduct routine tests in accordance with AS 1851. 2.3 Identify alarm zone circuits, plant and other system interfaces to be isolated to allow the conduct of maintenance activity according to OHS, ODS and SGG extinguishing agent emission requirements and work procedures . 2.4 Identify circuits and actuation control devices to be isolated. 2.5 Conduct visual inspections as described in AS 1851 for monthly and six-monthly routine testing. 2.6 Validate CIE inspection results against requirements described in AS 1851. |
3 Test CIE. |
3.1 Follow ODS, SGG and OHS policies and procedures and apply risk control measures when testing CIE . 3.2 Isolate circuits, actuation control devices , back -to -base facilities and other system interfaces according to work procedures . 3.3 Confirm alarm zone circuits, plant and other system interfaces are isolated to make sure the system cannot be activated during testing. 3.4 Perform monthly and six-monthly tests in accordance with AS 1851 and confirm CIE and components function according to manufacturer instructions, system finalised design documentation and organisational requirements . 3.5 Discuss and document methods to deal with unexpected situations with relevant persons . 3.6 Obtain approval of authorised relevant persons to deal with unexpected situations safely. |
4 Report inspect and test findings. |
4.1 Follow ODS, SGG and OHS policies and procedures , risk control measures and work procedures when reporting inspect and test findings. 4.2 Clean and make safe work site and equipment according to work procedures . 4.3 Identify and report non-compliance defects according to work procedures . 4.4 Make recommendations for rectifying defects according to work procedures . 4.5 Reset CIE to operational state. 4.6 Complete documentation according to work procedures and notify relevant persons . |
Required Skills and Knowledge
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.
Required skills :
- check routine service details of fire alarm system components and materials
- read and interpret final design documentation and manufacturer instructions
- identify work area hazards in preparation for inspection and test procedures
- select and safely use tools, equipment and materials appropriate to specific tasks
- identify and isolate zone circuits, plant, back-to-base facilities, actuation control devices and other system interfaces
- physically isolate actuation control devices to inhibit operation
- perform routine monthly and six-monthly inspect and test procedures in accordance with AS 1851
- test actuation control devices for operation and reset to operational state
- verify compliance and functionality of CIE against monthly and six-monthly schedules in AS 1851
- document test results and non-compliance defects
- reset CIE to operational state
- use appropriate workplace housekeeping procedures and remove any debris caused by inspect and test operations in the work area
- plan and organise work in order to estimate time to complete activities and prioritise tasks
- report and record information neatly and legibly
- use effective customer service skills and relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities
- apply language, literacy and numeracy skills to:
- communicate with others in a clear and concise manner in verbal, non-verbal and written modes
- read, understand and comply with work instructions and specifications
- read, understand and record measurements.
Required knowledge :
- implications of not applying legislative requirements to job functions
- environmental conditions that cause actuation control devices to create false alarms
- action to take when a breach of OHS, ODS and SGG or other policies occurs
- intent of Australian standard AS 1851 in relation to CIE inspect and test operations
- methodology used to conduct AS 1851 monthly and six-monthly maintenance schedules relevant to conventional and addressable CIE
- detection and warning components connected to CIE
- local controls (LC), Local Control Stations (LCS), aural alarms, visual warning devices (VWD) and actuation control devices on fire suppression systems interfaced to CIE
- key operational principles of CIE specifically interfaced to fire suppression systems
- operation of actuation control devices
- key functional differences between a conventional and addressable CIE
- awareness of on-site work permit requirements
- selection of appropriate tools, equipment and materials for conducting monthly and six-monthly inspect and test procedures on CIE in accordance with AS 1851 procedures
- common controls and indicators on CIE
- types of electrical safeguards used to protect persons and property
- safety requirements for using tools, equipment and materials
- relevant federal, state or territory legislation that affects organisational operations, including:
- anti-discrimination and diversity
- equal employment opportunity
- industrial relations.
KEY COMPETENCIES
The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered necessary for effective participation by an individual in the workplace.
Performance level 1 - at this level the candidate is required to undertake tasks effectively.
Performance level 2 - at this level the candidate is required to manage tasks.
Performance level 3 - at this level the candidate is required to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Key competency |
Example of application |
Performance level |
How are ideas and information communicated? |
Discuss and confirm customer requirements and complete inspect and test documentation. |
1 |
How can information be collected, analysed and organised? |
Gather information from a number of sources, including regulatory, manufacturer, organisational and customer sources, so that accurate inspect and test activities occur. |
2 |
How are activities planned and organised? |
Plan inspect and test activities to assemble appropriate tools, equipment and test devices on-site and organise work schedules to suit customer and organisational requirements. |
2 |
How is teamwork used? |
Apply consultative and collaborative approaches through support and assistance provided to customers and work groups. |
1 |
How are mathematical ideas and techniques used? |
Apply mathematical techniques through inspect and test activities. |
1 |
How are problem-solving skills applied? |
Identify potential problems throughout inspect and test activities, especially with regard to ambiguous information received from information sources and identify processes to be followed when faults are detected. |
2 |
How is the use of technology applied? |
Demonstrate sound technical knowledge of equipment to allow accurate inspect and test activities to occur. |
2 |
Evidence Guide
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, the range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Overview of assessment |
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Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit |
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Specific resources for assessment |
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Context of assessment |
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Range Statement
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 in the performance criteria is detailed below. Add any 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.
Note : Australian standards are frequently revised and users must always check for currency.
Occupational health and safety policies and procedures may relate to: |
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Organisational requirements may include: |
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Maintenance activity may include: |
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Hazards may include: |
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Work permits may include permits to: |
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Relevant persons may include: |
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System components and materials may include: |
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Installation drawings may include: |
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Control and indicating equipment (CIE ) may include: |
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Legislative and industry requirements may include: |
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Documentation may include: |
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Work procedures may include: |
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Tools , equipment and test devices may include: |
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System interfaces may include: |
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ODS and SGG materials are listed using the format : Product name (other names ); use . Check the latest amendments to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act for the current list of ODS and SGG extinguishing agents which may include : |
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Actuation control devices (also known as actuators) may include: |
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Back -to -base facilities : |
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Finalised design documentation may include: |
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Unit Sector(s)
Sector
Fire Protection Equipment
Competency field
Competency field
Asset Maintenance