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.
This unit applies to the ACMA Open Cabling Rule coverage for communications cabling installations applications to include larger commercial and industry installations involving many lines, multi-pair cables, backbone cabling, multi-story buildings and more complicated termination modules and distributors.
Building infrastructure
Includes but not limited to High Voltage power, other services, availability and suitability of existing cabling trays and fixing systems


Strategies to manage infrastructure
Include appropriate separations, fastening techniques, correct use of cable trays and support systems


Remote Power Feed
Applies to telecommunications services which operate at above TNV (Telecommunications Network Voltage)


Regulatory environment
Is defined by the Overview Telecommunications Act 1997, and includes, ACMA, ACIF/CA, Labelling, Certified Components List (CCL) accredited registrars and registration


Cabling environment
May include:
Indoor environments include locations such as: ceilings, false ceilings, riser shafts, internal wall space, under floor, damp situations and within workstations.
Outdoor environments include cable installations on external walls and underground and/or aerial cabling on private and public property.
Underground cabling including shared trenches with electrical LV cables and/or other utilities.
Aerial cabling installations which may include the sharing of poles with LV/HV electrical power cables/terminations.


Cable support systems
May be: suspension catenary wire, ducts, cable tray, line poles, pipes, pits, wall and island mounted patched and jumperable distributors including CDs, BDs, FDs, LDs.
NB: Cable trays may be galvanised steel or PVC: perforated low or high sided, single or multi channel
Cable ducts may be closed, open, PVC, metal, single or multiple channel


Cable types
Includes: copper twisted pair from 2 pair upwards but must include 2 and 4 pair and at least one larger cable (50 pair or greater).
NB: Cable and topology may be chosen to suit a range of applications including analogue voice (3.4 kHz bandwidth), digital voice (64 kB/s) and digital (2 MB/s ISDN).


Cable identification
Refers to cable conductor identification codes and may be:
Colour coded, banded, numbered, lettered


Cable Termination systems
Includes termination of at least one jumperable distributor (CD/BD) with a capacity of 100 pairs or greater. Termination of a non-jumperable distributor (LD). Termination of a patch panel


Earthing and protection systems
Includes:
Installation of protective earth(s) for over voltage and surge/spike suppression.
Installation of protective earth barriers for segregation, cable tray, duct and metal equipment enclosures.
Running of equi-potential bonding conductors to MEN (Multiple Earth Neutral) and use of earth stakes.
Installation of functional earth(s) including TRC and CES types to provide customer switching system facilities.
Earthing of screened cable, barriers and cable trays for the reduction/elimination of interference from electromagnetic, radio frequency and power sources.


Records
Include:
Cabling Completion Advice/TCA (sign off form)
Building, cabling and equipment location plans
BD/CD and FD record books, LD record cards
Labelling of patch panels, distributor verticals, distributor pairs, equipment closets and rooms
Labelling of telecommunication outlets
And in the future possibly NTD record cards
NB: Record books and cards may be hard copy or software versions but must conform with AS/ACIFS009:2006


Functional, protective and CES earthing
Refers to the three common types of earthing system used in customer premises for cabling systems. Cablers must understand the features and application of each type


Cable characteristics
Includes the electrical performance of the cable and its' physical characteristics. Cabers must be able to identify the critical characteristics for each type of cable they use


Label requirements
Are defined in detail by the Industry regulations. Cablers must meet these requirements whenever installing earthing


Clearances and segregation:
Refers to clearances and segregation requirements as defined in AS/ACIFS009:2006 (or its replacement)


Separations
Is the distance between communications cable and other services. This includes Low Voltage (LV), High Voltage (HV) - Single core and HV Multi-core, Open terminations


Spatial separations
Is the distance between communications cable and other required by regulations where no barrier is installed


Barriers
Are physical barriers installed when there is not enough space to achieve spatial separations


Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards (or their replacements)
Include relevant components of:
ACMA Technical Standards
AS/ACIFS008:2006, AS/ACIFS009:2006
SAA Communications Cabling Manual (Open)
AS/NZS 3000
Building Codes

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.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
Demonstration of termination systems at both distributor and outlet locations and at least one 50 pair copper cable, including accurate completion of installation records, drawing alterations and compliance forms
Placement of cables on support structures and building faces for both internal and external locations
Securing methods for above locations
Work practices which avoid cable damage such as crushing, burning, kinking, sheath twist, cutting and nicking, bending radius
Ability to read and interpret drawings related to cable layouts, outlet location, cable coding system and identifiers, distributor locations
Conduct and interpret cable test results
Correct interpretation and application of standards and regulations


Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
A workplace conducting the operations covered by this competency unit, equipment and resources relevant to the context of the work (See Range Statement) and support from a competent supervisor or mentor.
OR
A simulated environment with similar provisions which conforms to the Assessment Guidelines.


Guidance information for assessment
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.
In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess underpinning knowledge.