In the last article we looked at an optional unit that a candidate who installs security and emergency alarm systems can complete towards the level 2 qualification. If you have had the opportunity to look at the performance criteria, you will see that a candidate simply conducts their normal duties while on an installation and, if the candidate shows the correct competencies, he or she will achieve the particular section being assessed.
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:
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.
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:
In addition to the technical knowledge, candidates who undertake the fire options are also required to demonstrate other knowledge. This covers areas such as:
Although there are a lot of areas covered in the range, only two different types of site are required to be covered, two different types of test equipment to be used and two different types of component to handle.
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.
It is worth noting two issues in the preceding paragraph. First, in a simulation situation, it is only the environment that is being simulated and not the actual performance criteria being assessed. Second, for anyone considering undertaking an NVQ, it is worth keeping records of work undertaken, since it may qualify for exemptions from some sections of the qualification. So start building your portfolio now.
