Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to inspect building fire safety systems. It includes interpreting building plans and associated documentation for fire safety systems; locating and noting variations to systems; assessing the operation and maintenance of the systems and to report on the findings of the inspection in accordance with organisational requirements.

The unit is applicable to personnel who are authorised by their organisation to enter buildings to conduct inspections of installed fire safety systems and to report on any matters arising in relation to their location, operation, maintenance and compliance.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

It is essential that the prerequisite units listed below are obtained prior to the issuance of this unit to individuals within the fire sector or the units contributing to the attainment of a fire qualification.

PUAFIR302 Suppress urban fire

PUAFIR314 Utilise installed fire safety systems

Fire

Fire

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1  

Determine scope of inspection 

1.1 

Class of building is identified, in accordance with National Construction Code (Building Code of Australia)

1.2 

Methodology for conducting inspection is determined

2 

Identify fire safety systems on documentation and locate in building 

2.1 

Fire safety systems and components are identified on building plans and associated documentation

2.2 

Fire safety systems are located in building and any variations between plans and actual locations are recorded

3 

Verify fire safety systems on building plan and associated documentation 

3.1 

Building plans and associated documentation are compared with the actual location of the building’s fire safety systems

3.2 

Variations between the building plans and associated documentation and actual locations are recorded

4 

Review compliance of building's fire safety systems 

4.1 

Building fire safety systems are checked against design requirements and relevant industry standards

4.2 

Building's emergency organisational structure is checked against design requirements and relevant industry standards

4.3 

Variations to design requirements and relevant standards are noted and reported

5 

Inspect operation and maintenance of fire safety systems 

5.1 

Maintenance requirements are identified and examined

5.2 

Maintenance records are located and examined

5.3 

Maintenance procedures and log books are checked against design requirements and relevant standards

5.4 

Fire safety systems are tested in conjunction with a building representative and results are recorded and reported, in accordance with organisational procedures and owner or occupier requirements

6 

Report on operation and maintenance of fire safety systems 

6.1 

Variations to building plans and associated documentation are identified and outlined in report

6.2 

Information on review of the building’s fire safety systems' compliance is provided to relevant personnel

6.3 

Reports are distributed, in accordance with organisational procedures, legislation and/or owner or occupier requirements

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

fire safety systems must include two or more of the following

• alternative fire suppression system
• building control system
• building design requirements
• emergency egress system
• emergency vehicle access system
• fire and emergency control centres and rooms
• fire detection systems
• fire hydrant and hydrant booster system
• fire indicator panels, occupant warning and communications systems
• fire resisting structures and compartmentations
• fire sprinkler and sprinkler booster system
• smoke hazard management and ancillary system

This unit replaces and is equivalent to PUAFIR507B Inspect building fire safety systems.

Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and includes

• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements
• determining scope of inspection including interpreting building plans in relation to fire safety systems
• identifying and comparing building's installed fire safety system on building plans and associated documentation
• inspecting and determining building’s fire safety system against design requirements, industry standards and organisational requirements
• interpreting building plans in relation to fire safety systems
• locating and identifying components of building's fire safety system
• reporting on inspection, operation and maintenance of fire safety systems including any variations
• reviewing compliance of fire safety systems through applying knowledge of National Construction Code (Building Code of Australia) and inspecting and determining building's fire safety systems against design requirements and/or industry standards
• verifying maintenance requirements in relation to fire safety systems

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and includes knowledge of

• building evacuation procedures
• class of building including buildings and structures as per the Building Code of Australia
• egress routes and housekeeping practices
• manufacturers' specifications
• methods of operation of fire safety systems
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures including maintenance procedures
• role of emergency management organisations
• specific building design requirements
• types of fire safety systems
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements including risk mitigation

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations. Where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in industry approved simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Competency should be assessed through actual inspections.

Resources for assessment must include access to

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, equipment, tools and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry including

• site and building plans and associated documentation for an actual inspection

• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.