Elements and Performance Criteria

Legislative and industry requirements may include
relevant Commonwealth and state/territory building Acts/regulations/codes
OHS legislation, codes and regulations
relevant current Australian Standards
Building Code of Australia
manufacturers' documentation
dangerous goods regulations
licensing arrangements
environmental regulations
building surveyor requirements
other relevant legislation relating to passive fire protection.

Work procedures may include
instructions from colleagues/supervisor/manager
specific customer requirements
assignment instructions
equipment manufacturers' requirements
reporting and documentation requirements
personal protective equipment requirements.

Relevant persons may include
building surveyor
fire safety engineer
regulatory authority representative
building supervisor/manager
team leaders
supervisors
managers
colleagues
customers.

Potential and actual breaches of legislative and industry requirements could be identified by
direct observation
as part of workplace quality assurance teams.

Organisational requirements may be located in quality assurance and/or procedures manuals relating to
legal and organisational policy/guidelines
personnel practices and guidelines outlining work roles, responsibilities and delegations
legislation relevant to the service operation
OHS policies, procedures and programs
documentation and information systems and processes
use of electronic job scheduling and communication devices
OHS policies and procedures may relate to:
employer/employee rights and responsibilities
the OHS hierarchy of control
assessing the worksite for hazards and risks prior to preparing the worksite for the work procedure
displaying signs and/or utilising barriers in the work area
hazard and risk identification and reporting
risk assessment and control measures
incident/accident investigation
OHS audits and safety inspections
safe operating procedures/instructions including:
working safely around electrical wiring, cables and overhead powerlines
working safely around tools and equipment
working safely on ladders and raised platforms
risk and hazard recognition
emergency procedures
awareness of electrical hazards
following confined spaces procedures
utilising personal protective equipment including:
safety glasses or goggles
safety boots or shoes
hard hat
ear muffs or plugs
appropriate gloves and overalls
sun hat
dust mask
equipment maintenance and use
use and storage of hazardous substances
First Aid.

Customer requirements may include
provision of routine services
provision of non-routine or urgent services
confirmation of, or variations to, service instructions
sighting work permits
sign-in/out procedures for entry to or exit from premises
written or verbal confirmation of services provided and/or future maintenance schedule.

Passive fire and smoke containment systems include
passive fire and smoke containment products including:
fabric and timber protection (impregnated or sprayed)
fire rated air transfer grilles
mechanical and intumescent fire dampers
smoke dampers
fire resistant boards (calcium silicate, vermiculite, etc)
fire stop collars (cast in, retrofit, wall, etc)
fire rated sealants, caulks and putties (acrylic, polyurethane, silicone, etc)
linear gaps seals (impregnated foams, tapes, intumescent gaskets, sealants)
fire resistant pillows (intumescent, non-intumescent)
fire resistant mortars and grouts (load bearing, non-load bearing)
intumescent paints and coatings (other than those used for fireproofing structural steel)
materials into or onto which passive fire and smoke containment products are installed including:
masonry
concrete
timber
steel
plasterboard
UPVC
fire resistant board
passive fire and smoke containment solutions including:
structural steel fireproofing/protection
duct fireproofing/protection
duct/damper penetration protection
ceiling and partition systems
penetration solutions
fire rated sealants
UPVC/plumbing penetrations
access panels and hatches
intumescent dampers and seals
protection against spread of flame
industrial fire protection
openings in structural elements
control joints/expansion joints.

Defects may include items that do not comply with the requirements of
necessary legislation
Australian Standards
manufacturers' instructions.

Documentation may include
job card
customer recommendation form
service agreements
equipment recommendation form
corrective action report
certificate of inspection
product documentation/installation instructions
maintenance record system.
Note: Australian Standards are frequently revised and users must always check for currency.

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria
Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit of competency in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below.
Key features of legislation, Australian Standards, manufacturers' and building code requirements relating to inspection of passive fire and smoke containment.
Key features of legislation, Australian Standards and building code requirements relating to fire and smoke containment.
The implications of not applying legislative requirements to job functions.
The dangers of incorrect installation of passive fire and smoke containment.
Principles of passive fire protection related to overall fire safety systems.
Key physical features, definition of, and purpose of, passive fire and smoke containment.
Technical terms relating to passive fire and smoke containment inspection and testing.
Passive fire and smoke containment variables including types, products and solutions.
Operational requirements for inspecting and testing passive fire and smoke containment.
Procedures for determining fire resistance levels.

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These relate to the ability to:

identify, select and comply with appropriate Australian Standard(s) and related legislation
recognise and identify components of passive fire and smoke containment
inspect and test a range of passive fire and smoke containment system components that are fixed into or onto building materials to protect services, structural elements and/or openings in or through fire compartments
plan and organise work according to organisational requirements
communication skills conducive to developing positive customer relationships
follow safe work procedures and identify potential and existing risks or hazards
apply principles of workplace housekeeping

apply literacy and language skills to:

use technical terminology relating to inspection and testing of passive fire and smoke containment
access information from manuals
communicate technical information to customers and colleagues
report on defects and complete and distribute relevant documentation.

Other units of competency that could be assessed with this unit
This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

Resources required to assess this unit

The following resources should be available:

actual or simulated work environment
access to relevant standards and legislation
access to a variety of passive fire and smoke containment products, installations and solutions
assessment documentation
training and assessment record book.

Gaining evidence to assess this unit
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, the competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and be observed by the assessor (or assessment team working together to conduct the assessment). The competency is to be demonstrated in a range of situations, which may include customer/workplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace.
Consideration should be given to assessing consistency of outcome over an adequate period of time.
Candidates should also be given the opportunity to practise and undertake self-assessment of performance before requesting formal assessment.
All safety requirements must be adhered to during all practical activities.

Performance and assessment of this unit must be carried out within the relevant requirements of the following legislative and industry framework:

building Acts/regulations/codes
Australian Standards identified as relevant to the work procedure
environmental regulations
manufacturers' specifications
organisational requirements, including OHS policies and procedures
OHS legislation, codes and regulations.
Oral questioning or a written assessment may be used to assess underpinning knowledge. (In assessment situations where the candidate is offered a preference between oral questioning and written assessment, questions are to be identical.)
Assessment of evidence should establish the candidate's ability to perform the job to the standard required in the workplace. Supplementary evidence may be obtained from relevant authenticated correspondence or reports from supervisors or team leaders.

Communicating ideas and information
Collect information from a variety of sources to carry out the inspection and testing process while demonstrating knowledge of legislative and industry requirements and analysing and ensuring compliance. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Discuss the inspection process expressing ideas and concepts with internal and external clients and complete formal documentation where required. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Demonstrate organisational skills to carry out inspection and testing work functions while monitoring assignments for time management, safety and legislative requirements. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Discuss the inspection process with colleagues and customers. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Apply basic mathematical techniques, including reading and interpreting mathematical information from manufacturers' instructions and relevant standards. (2)

Solving problems
Identify possible problems during the inspection and testing process and how defects may be recorded and reported. (1)

Using technology
Demonstrate understanding of technological principles in the inspection and testing process. (2)