It is worth noting at this point that regardless of which discipline a candidate intends to follow, e.g. Intruder Alarms, Closed Circuit Television or Access Control, the candidate's log-book and all of the competencies to be achieved are the same. What differentiates them is that the competencies are applied uniquely to the particular discipline being assessed.
The exception to this is Fire. This is because the committee that designed the qualification agreed that there were significant variations in fire systems, enough to warrant a separate set of performance criteria.
On this note, let's look at one of the optional units in the Fire section of the qualification.
In the 1870 level 2 NVQ, unit ten's title is: Ensure the Performance of Existing Fire Detection and Alarm Systems.
It consists of three elements:
In element 1, to check the technician's competence there are seven performance criteria that a candidate must demonstrate. These are: System conformity with as-installed specification is established, variations recorded and reported to appropriate persons.
For this performance criterion, a technician would be required to demonstrate that the system matched that of the specification for the whole system. And if variations were found they would be dealt with appropriately, by informing the customer, company and completing the correct documentation.
Appropriate test equipment and other indicating equipment is correctly selected and checked prior to and after use.
When conducting tests on the system, the technician would be expected to select the correct type of test equipment and also ensure that it was calibrated before tests were commenced and after tests were completed. The assessor would also expect the candidate to show that the results and readings obtained were satisfactory.
Ensure system and all components perform to as-installed specification and manufacturer's recommendations.
When conducting tests on the system a candidate would be expected to identify that performance of the system matched against the specification, and that its components functioned correctly.
All failed system components are identified, recorded and reported to appropriate persons.
In this performance criterion the candidate would be expected to identify, from tests conducted, any component or components that were faulty. The candidate would then be required to complete the correct documentation for the customer, company and formally report the system diagnostics.
Results of tests and inspections are recorded in an accurate, legible and valid form and in accordance with codes of practice.
The candidate would be expected to document all results obtained following codes of practice and company procedures.
An assessor would normally require a candidate to demonstrate his competency on four occasions at two different sites... those with experience could be exempt from at least one on-site observation
System status is confirmed, advised and accepted by the customer.
Having completed all the necessary tests for the fire system, the candidate would be expected to relay this to the customer informing them of any significant points, confirming the system status and obtaining the customer's signature for work conducted.
Health and safety requirements are followed as appropriate to the work being carried out.
Here the candidate would be expected to demonstrate his or her knowledge of H&S issues appropriate to the site where work is being carried out, e.g. wearing the correct items of clothing, hard hat, gloves, ear defenders, boots etc.
Range of tasks
Remember that, apart from the performance criteria, there is also a range. In the range for element 1 there are five items. These are:
Type of site This will state the range of sites to be tested on, for example domestic, industrial, retail, commercial, public premises.
Appropriate persons These are the people the candidate is most likely to deal with. The assessor will observe how the candidates conduct themselves while on site. An appropriate person may be customers, contractors, site owners, site maintenance personnel, finance houses, insurers, tenants, specifiers, employer.
Test equipment This section covers the type and range of test equipment the candidate would be expected to operate when carrying out their duties, which may include: insulation resistance tester, continuity tester, polarity tester, earth loop impedance test meter, sound level meter and manufacturer's test equipment appropriate to the system installed. As well as using test instruments, the candidate would be expected to be able to understand the reading obtained.
Components Here the candidate would demonstrate the operation of equipment, including detectors, call points, sounders and control equipment.
The range attempts to cover all the possibilities and a fair spread of that which a technician will generally cover on a fire system. On some installations, technicians may cover work outside the range specified but an assessor will only be interested in checking the items listed in the range, although demonstrating a broader range will be extremely beneficial.
Having considered the performance criteria and the range of tasks that a technician will be required to achieve, let's look at the final section a technician will be required to cover.
Technical and other knowledge
Technical knowledge is the depth of understanding that a technician will be expected to have acquired to enable him to carry out the preventative maintenance.
Examples of this are:
- Applicable Health & Safety legislation, regulations and guidance notes
- Relevant British Standards and codes of practice
- Types of products installed and their limitations
- Preventative maintenance procedures
- Types and use of test equipment
- Reasons for, and importance of, the correct calibration of test equipment and relevant electrical theory
- The safe handling and storage of electronic circuit boards
- Employers' and customers' health and safety policy and accident/incident action and reporting procedures
- Work permits and safe working practices
- Recording, reporting, administration procedures and documentation
- Local fire authority policy
- Special arrangements for secure sites
- Reasons for good customer liaison
- Purpose of administration, documentation, recording and reporting procedures
An assessor would normally require a candidate to demonstrate his or her competency on four separate occasions involving at least two different sites. However, candidates who have considerable experience and can provide sufficient evidence could be exempt from at least one on-site observation.
Candidates who are not able to undertake the work on a suitable site may be permitted to undertake a simulated assessment, providing that the simulation does not exceed 50 per cent of the overall assessments.
Source
Security Installer
