This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to design, install, inspect and test to verify an electrical installation is safe and complies with regulatory requirements.
It includes working safely; designing, installing, commissioning and fault finding of electrical installations; visual inspections and mandatory testing; following workplace procedures; and completing mandatory reporting requirements.The skills and knowledge described in this unit require a licence or permit to practice in the workplace where work is carried out on electrical installations which are designed to operate at voltages greater than 50 volt (V) alternating current (a.c.) or 120 V direct current (d.c.).
Assessment tasks will be designed to reinforce & extend knowledge and skill competence within set & controlled parameters in accordance with each unit’s learning outcomes & performance criteria requirements, incl 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 relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements
*safely measuring the parameters for the whole or any part of a direct current (d.c.) circuit
*safely isolating circuits/equipment, including:
*preparing a safe work method statement (SWMS) or job safety analysis (JSA) for effective safe isolation
*identifying source of supply to be isolated
*applying switching-off, lock-out and tagging procedures
*applying safe methods for confirming isolation
*determining maximum demand and selecting cables for an installation, including mains, sub-mains and final sub-circuits
*selecting suitable equipment and switchgear for a particular installation or part of an installation for compliance with industry standards
*determining the maximum fault-loop impedance for a circuit
*determining protective conductor and active conductor sizes for each circuit to ensure earth fault-loop impedance is sufficiently low to operate the circuit protective device
*installing and terminating consumer's mains for an installation in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules) and local supply authority requirements, including:
*unprotected consumers mains to minimise the risk of short circuit current
*drawing-in, placing and fixing cables
*cable and conductor terminations
*correct preparation for fitting and connection of electricity network operator equipment
*ensuring correct polarity
*selecting and installing control and protection devices in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)
*installing and terminating sub-circuit cabling at switchboards and connection to accessories, including:
*drawing-in, placing and fixing cables
*application of accessories
*correct interconnection between switchgear, protection devices and links
*use of adequately sized cables
*correct marking of equipment
*clear identification of circuit neutral conductors
*correct polarity
*completing visual inspection of installations for compliance with industry standards
*conducting and reporting mandatory testing to ensure:
*insulation resistance of mains, sub-mains and final sub-circuits in accordance with regulatory requirements
*earth continuity of the main earthing conductor, protective earthing conductors, combined protective earthing and neutral (PEN) conductors, and bonding conductors in accordance with regulatory requirements
*polarity of active, neutral and earth conductors in accordance with regulatory requirements
*correct connections of active, neutral and protective earthing conductors are tested to ensure no short circuits between conductors, no transposition of conductors that could result in the earthing system or exposed conductive parts becoming energised, and no interconnection of conductors between different circuits, in accordance with regulatory requirements
*verification that earth fault-loop impedance limitations are not exceeded in accordance with regulatory requirements
*residual current devices (RCDs) have been correctly installed, their function verified, and the isolation of all switched poles verified in accordance with regulatory requirements
*identifying causes of non-compliance from test results
*identifying and rectifying faults in electrical circuits and equipment.
Students will also be expected to demonstrate the following knowledge:
*electrical safety, including:
*safety workplace procedures for working on electrical systems, circuits and apparatus
*safe working practices as a normal part of carrying out electrical installation work
*isolation and lock-out workplace procedures
*tools and equipment needed to conduct electrical installation compliance inspection and testing
*relevant emergency response plan and first aid requirements
*selection and use of fire extinguishers to control an electrical fire at an accident site
*WHS/OHS, including:
*legislation and regulations and the fundamental principles that apply
*identifying potential workplace hazards
*procedures for undertaking safety checks
*working with a group to identify effective hazard control measures
*working with a group to modify and/or develop safe work methods
*techniques for the identification, control and reporting of hazardous substances/materials
*awareness and reporting of asbestos, silica and hazardous gases
*legal responsibilities for employers and employees
*WHS/OHS practices
*employers’ and employees’ own "duty of care"
*safety committees and their role
*development, modification and application of SWMS or JSA
*purpose and process of reporting WHS/OHS incidents
*safety procedures for working with electrical circuits and equipment
*procedures for safe and effective isolation of electrical supply
*regulations for the supervision of apprentices and trainees
*selection and use of fire extinguishers to control electrical fire at an accident site
*methods to rescue a person in contact with live electrical conductors or equipment
*safety of the rescuer
*establishing the source voltage level
*rescue process 'dos' and 'don'ts'
*application of emergency first aid requirements for an electric shock victim, including:
*calling for help
*initiating first aid
*applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
*dangers of high voltage (HV) equipment and distribution systems, including:
*step, touch and induced voltages
*sources of induced voltage and stored energy
*creepage and clearance requirements
*application of safe working procedures in the vicinity of HV equipment
*effects of electric current, including:
*physiological effects of current
*principles by which an electric current can produce heat, light, motion and a chemical reaction
*single path d.c. circuits including:
*arrangement of energy source, protection device, switch and load in a circuit
*purpose of each component in the circuit
*consequences of open circuits, closed circuits and short circuits
*multiple path d.c. circuits, including:
*circuit configurations and connection of energy source, protection device, switch and load in a circuit
*relationship between the parameters of voltage, current, resistance and power dissipation in the whole or any part of the circuit
*methods of determining circuit behaviour for variation in any of the parameters from measured and calculated values
*alternating voltage and current generation, phase relationships, energy in an alternating current (a.c.) circuit, including:
*sinusoidal voltage generation and resulting current
*terms: period, maximum value, peak-to-peak value, instantaneous value, average value, root-mean-square (RMS) value and frequency
*three phase generation
*relationship between the phase voltages generated in a three phase alternator and the conventions for identifying each
*method of determining the phase sequence or phase rotation of a three phase supply
*methods of determining power and energy supplied by three phase circuits
*techniques to read, sketch and interpret electrical diagrams, including:
*conventions used in documenting electrical information
*interpreting schematic, block and wiring diagrams, plans and schedules
*sketching and marking up electrical drawings and diagrams
*safe isolation of equipment, including:
*requirements and techniques for preparation of a SWMS or JSA for effective safe isolation
*safe methods for identifying source of supply to be isolated
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.
This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):