Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Properties of construction materials may include:
emissivity
R-value
reflectivity
solar absorptance
U-value.
Properties of glazing units may include:
SHGC
U-value
VLT.
Ways in which the use of building materials may influence the thermal performance of buildings may include:
heat loss
heat transfer
thermal insulation.
Physical constraints may include:
cost
practicality
size
space.
Correct use and installation of materials mayinclude:
draught proofing
glazing
insulation
mass.
Building design features may include:
convection
glazing
insulation
landscaping
mass
orientation
shading
ventilation
zoning and layout.
Residential construction methods may include:
brick veneer (BV)
cavity brick (CB)
light weight (LW)
reverse brick veneer (RBV).
Key components of the building envelope may include:
flooring
roof
walls
windows.
Common building defects and poor construction techniques may include:
air leakage
draughts
inadequate or missing insulation
inadequate ventilation.
Measures for improving thermal performance may include:
airtightness measures
insulation.

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 candidates evaluating the impact of construction materials, design elements, key features of the building envelope, and construction condition on thermal performance of residential buildings.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person should demonstrate the ability to:
assess the impact of:
construction materials on thermal performance of residential buildings
building design and external elements on thermal performance of residential buildings
residential construction methods on thermal performance
common building defects on thermal performance
explain the impact of the construction of key elements of the building envelope on thermal performance
research non-standard building materials and techniques
identify potential impacts of thermal performance improvements on other health, safety, amenity and sustainability aspects of building performance.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this unit:
must be in the context of the work environment
may be conducted in an off-site context, provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills
must meet relevant compliance requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
access to existing buildings and building materials
relevant codes, standards and government regulations
computer equipment suitable for accessing online catalogues and references to source information on the thermal performance of construction materials
technical reference library with current publications on passive building design, thermal performance of building materials and construction methods, building thermal performance, house energy rating schemes, and common building defects.
Method of assessment
Assessment for this unit must verify the practical application of the required skills and knowledge, using one or more of the following methods:
written and/or oral assessment
observed, documented and/or first-hand testimonial evidence of the candidate evaluating the impact of the following on thermal performance of residential buildings:
construction materials
design elements
key features of the building envelope
construction condition.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function.
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.
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.