Course Code : CPC50520
Diploma of Fire systems design
COMBINED ANNUAL CERTIFIER AND FIRE DETECTION STREAM
Recognition of Prior Learning
(RPL) Pathway
About the course
This combined course is for:
- experienced fire safety assessors and annual certifiers who inspect existing fire systems; assess compliance with the relevant legislation, codes and standards; and report on whether they continue to perform to appropriate fire safety standards; and
- experienced fire systems designers who prepare detailed technical designs and documentation for fire detection and warning systems, including smoke detection and alarm systems, smoke hazard management systems and occupant warning systems.
The Diploma level course recognises and validates your existing skills and knowledge in fire safety assessment / annual certification, and fire systems design of detection and warning systems, whilst offering an opportunity to learn new skills.
Are there any special requirements needed to take this course?
Participants must be:
- experienced annual certifiers / fire safety assessors and be able to submit evidence of having inspected and reported on a range of different types of buildings spanning several years; and
- experienced designers of fire detection and warning systems, and have completed designs and documentation of smoke detection and alarm systems, smoke hazard management systems and occupant warning systems
- Participants require access to a personal computer or tablet to enable use of the on-line learning system.
COURSE INFORMATION
The course validates your skills and knowledge in the role of a fire safety assessor / annual certifier and fire systems designer. The assessments cover:Determining the requirements for fire systems in accordance with relevant legislation, codes and standards
- Determining the requirements for fire systems in accordance with relevant legislation, codes and standards.
- Evaluating fire system technologies and components
- Reviewing fire systems plans, specifications and documents to determine the required level of performance
- Undertaking building inspections to identify the level of compliance and performance of fire systems
- Reporting on the findings of fire safety inspections
- Creating detailed designs and specifications for fire detection and warning systems including smoke detection and alarm systems, zone and air pressurisation systems, smoke and heat vents, smoke exhaust systems, occupant warning and communication systems
- Producing 2D drawings of fire systems
- Providing design documentation to support installation and commissioning processes
- The RPL pathway typically takes 12-18 months to complete.
- Participants are required to complete the course within 24 months of enrolling.
- The RPL Pathway requires submission of current and valid evidence of completing fire safety assessment work and fire systems design work across a range of building types and environments
- The RPL Pathway is delivered via a distanced-based delivery model using an online learning and assessment system.
- The RPL pathway for this course also requires you to complete knowledge assessments and assignments and undertake course work to complete parts of the course.
- Participants are supported throughout the RPL and learning process by our industry experts.
- This course meets the FPAS application requirements for Fire Safety Assessment for 23 of the 36 fire safety measures; and
- The FPAS application requirements for Fire Systems Design for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (Level 1, 2 and 3)
Need help with licensing and accreditation requirements?
- Each state and territory government determines the licence or accreditation requirements for fire protection work in their jurisdiction. Further information on these requirements can be found here.
- Need help? Let us demystify licensing and accreditation requirements and identify the training you require. Apply Now for a Training Plan.
The Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPAA) set up the FPAS (Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme) for the benefit and sustainability of the industry. It is designed to ensure that all appropriately qualified practitioners have accreditation. It has gained recognition from State Governments such as NSW.
- Recognition of Prior Learning or RPL is an assessment process that assesses an individual’s formal, non-formal and informal learning, combined with their experience to determine the extent to which the individual can demonstrate achievement of the required level of competency.
- RPL pathway is ideal for experienced fire safety assessors and fire systems designers who have acquired skills and knowledge working in the fire industry and through the completion of formal training and informal learning activities.
- RPL for this course requires the submission of current and valid evidence of completing fire safety assessment and fire systems design work across a range of building types and environments.
- Candidates are required to submit a portfolio of evidence as well as completing knowledge assessments, assignments and undertake course work for parts of the course.
- The first step of the RPL process after you enrol is to assess your suitability for RPL. This is an important step as it ensures that you are enrolled in the most appropriate pathway to complete the qualification.
- Assessing your eligibility to complete the course using an RPL pathway involves:
- a review of your work history and experience
- consideration of any formal training courses and qualifications previously completed; and
- a review of your ability to submit a portfolio of evidence of work projects aligned with the course requirements.
- If your assessor determines that you are not able to meet the RPL requirements, you will be offered the opportunity to transfer your enrolment to a training course pathway.
Fire Safety Assessment
To complete the Fire Safety Assessment RPL aspect of this course, you will need to provide evidence demonstrating your assessment of a range of buildings. The projects you submit will demonstrate a variety of buildings that were designed and built using different construction methods and modification histories.
You are not required to present every project you have worked on over the course of your career, only a selection which are determined by the following criteria:
- Demonstrate various ages of buildings.
- Use different versions of the NCC and Australian Standards (including pre-NCC regulations and standards and retroactive application).
- A variety of construction and modification histories.
- A project that covers each of these building types:
- commercial building
- factory
- residential nursing home
- high-rise building
If you cannot provide evidence covering all of the above criteria, alternative arrangements can be implemented.
For each project that you submit, you will be required to provide the following:
- Evidence of having obtained and evaluated baseline data to identify inspection requirements
- Evidence of having communicated with the client to obtain instructions and coordinate an inspection of the building
- Evidence of having inspected a building to assess the performance of fire safety measures
- Evidence of having presented an initial comprehensive report on the performance of fire safety measures that:
- compares baseline data with inspection outcomes
- identifies non-conformance issues
- details actions required to rectify issues
- Evidence of having determined that rectification works have been undertaken
- Evidence of having issued a final compliance report.
Fire Systems Design
To complete the Fire Systems Design aspect of this course, you will need to provide fully compliant designs for fire detection and warning systems, including drawings and documentation for a range of building types and classifications, including:
- low-rise building
- medium-rise building
- high-rise building (over 25 metres)
- building over 50 metres in height
- building classifications in the National Construction Code (NCC).
For each project that you submit, you will be required to provide the following evidence:
- a project plan and methodology for the design tasks
- detailed designs for fire detection and warning systems using computer aided design software
- documentation and provision of ongoing support for the installation of fire systems
- final fire system drawings, specifications and commissioning support documentation
If you have not completed designs for one or more of the above building types, or are unable to provide the specific evidence listed above for a particular project, you may still be eligible for RPL (see next section).
- Your Portfolio of Evidence does not have to be based on work that you have completed prior to enrolling in the course.
- If you meet some of the above requirements, but are short in some areas, it is possible to enhance your portfolio with work examples that you undertake after you enrol.
- It is not unusual for an RPL candidate to have experience, but not be able to provide the evidence required by the qualification. If you don’t have the necessary evidence, you can use a current work task to create the evidence in a format that meets the requirements of the course.
- Additionally, you can undertake certain individual units via a training course pathway as part of the RPL enrolment. For example, if you don’t have CAD skills and haven’t produced 2D CAD drawings of a fire detection and warning systems design, you can complete this part of the course via a training pathway, without it affecting your RPL application.
- This approach makes RPL easier to achieve for some people. It relies on you using your existing skills and knowledge to prepare evidence that aligns with the expectations of the units of competency.
In addition to the portfolio of evidence, you will be required to complete a range of assessment tasks that include:
- short answer questions to verify your knowledge
- conducting detailed research into fire systems technologies and components
- completion of training and assessment course work on:
- Applying Work Health and Safety requirements, policies and procedures
- producing 2-D architectural drawing and specifications for a single building using a computer-aided design (CAD) architectural program
Course Fees
RPL Pathway $12,000
Pay by Instalments on a Payment Plan∗
- $1,000 – Paid at enrolment
- Balance payable in instalments of $1500 per month
∗ Conditions Apply – Refer Payment Plan Policy
Special Offer
Save 10%
Pay Only
$9,900
OFFER ENDS 31 DECEMBER 2022
Course outcomes
On successful completion of this course, participants will be awarded the qualification CPC50520 Diploma of Fire Systems Design with the following units:
Unit of Competency Code:
Description:
Participants also receive a Statement of Attainment for the following unit of competency: