PUAFIR518 - Conduct and record a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment

Unit code:PUAFIR518Study level:TAFE

Nominal hours

Location

Sunshine

Prerequisites

(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)

Overview

This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge to perform Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessments.
Individuals undertaking Bushfire Attack Level assessments require a theoretical knowledge of fire, an understanding of regulatory frameworks, an ability to assess a location and consult with clients on the benefits of achieving fire resistance. It includes analysing the cause and effect of bushfire attack and correlating information about site conditions and determining the Bushfire Attack Level for a site.
The unit is applicable to personnel who are responsible for conducting a Bushfire Attack Level assessment as described in industry standards related to the construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas.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.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment tasks will be designed to reinforce & extend knowledge and skill competence within set & controlled parameters in accordance with each units learning outcomes & performance criteria requirements, including the setting of work based practical application tasks designed to provide evidence of competence outcomes, within periodic and scheduled timelines.

Students will be expected to demonstrate the following required skills:

applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations and guidelines including safe work practices and procedures
complying with legislation, regulations, industry standards and codes of practice for undertaking a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment
collecting information and determining BAL assessment
explaining purpose and processes associated with undertaking a BAL assessment to site owners including identifying problems and demonstrating potential responses
identifying bushfire behaviour and conditions
maintaining organisational documentation including recording, reporting and maintaining organisational information accurately
using organisational policies and procedures relevant to undertaking a BAL assessment

Students will also be expected to demonstrate the following knowledge:

bushfire behaviour concepts relevant to bushfire attack level assessments including

bushfire attack mechanisms including embers, radiant heat and flame contact
ember production and transport
heat transfer - convection, radiation and conduction

bushfire behaviour concepts relevant to how bushfires move across different landscapes and vegetation including

fire development, growth and scale
flame height, fire intensity and rate of spread
junction zones and spotting

Commonwealth, state or territory statutory requirements including licensing, and certification requirements
communication methods and techniques
fire weather conditions and impacts on fire behaviour including atmospheric stability, humidity, temperature, wind speed and direction and fire danger indices
fuel and its impact on fire behaviour including amount, arrangement and moisture status
organisational policies and procedures for undertaking a BAL assessment including procedures for recording, reporting and maintaining organisational records and information
process for slope assessment and determination of effective slope
site constraints and limitations
sources of combustion including

flammable elements and vulnerable features in and around site
structures and other sources adjacent to or at proposed site

vegetation type and classification including forest, woodland, shrubland, scrub, Mallee and/or Mulga, rainforest, grassland, tussock moorland and exclusions
Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements including guidelines and practices for undertaking BAL assessments.

Required reading

The qualified trainer and assessor will provide teaching and learning materials as required in the form of workbooks produced by Victoria University and/or via the Victoria University e-learning system.