Course Title: Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2015

Course Code: BUIL5994C

Course Title: Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures

School: 130T Vocational Engineering

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5256 - Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)

Course Contact: Program Manager

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4338

Course Contact Email: vehs@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Janine Strachan
Email: janine.strachan@rmit.edu.au
 

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Nil

Course Description

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to apply sound principles of thermal efficiency as part of the implementation of sustainable building and construction processes. The range of legislative and council planning requirements are addressed in this unit, in addition to the need to respond to growing consumer demand for sustainable buildings and environmentally friendly developments.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CPCCBC4020A Build thermally efficient and sustainable structures

Element:

1. Apply legislative and planning requirements for thermal efficiency to the building process.

Performance Criteria:

1.1. Current relevant state, territory and council requirements for building thermally efficient structures are identified.
1.2. Factors that contribute to the construction of a five-star rated dwelling identified within the Building Code of Australia (BCA) are identified and the impact of regional climate differences is assessed.
1.3. Client needs and expectations for the design and construction of thermally efficient structures are identified and negotiated.
1.4. Expert design and other advice is gathered as part of the planning and construction process.
1.5. Relevant Australian standards are consulted to identify the implications for the conduct of the building project.

Element:

2. Review design solutions for effectiveness and compliance.

Performance Criteria:

2.1. Impact of radiation, convection, conduction and evaporation on the thermal comfort of residents is identified.
2.2. Orientation of the building, location and size of glazing, and use of thermal mass as design features are evaluated for effectiveness and compliance with planning and other regulatory requirements.
2.3. Effective strategy for insulating the structure is evaluated, costed and communicated to the client.
2.4. Building designs are assessed for their compliance with the energy efficiency requirements of the BCA's five-star rating system.
2.5. Designers and clients are consulted to ensure final construction plans are effective, efficient and compliant.

Element:

3. Manage the building process to ensure an effective outcome.

Performance Criteria:

3.1. Effective communications are established between designers, architects and clients to ensure effective thermal performance is embedded from the design to construction phase.
3.2. Effective quality assurance processes are confirmed as in place to evaluate and implement the building of a five-star dwelling.
3.3. Cost effective strategies to achieve desired level of thermal performance are assessed and communicated to client.
3.4. Life cycle costs of various construction approaches are assessed and negotiated with the client.


Learning Outcomes


Refer to elements.
 


Details of Learning Activities

Students will learn through a number of planned activities (face to face classes, simulated workplace learning, online learning via blackboard and other forms of structured teaching and learning). Students will be observed and assessed through their planned activities throughout the duration of the course. Assignment based assessments will be worked on in and outside of class and students will be assessed on a regular based to be deemed competent.


Teaching Schedule

Weeks 1 -5
Climate Change & Renewable Energy
Underpinning knowledge & Introduction to Thermal Efficiency
Climate Zones & planning
Orientation & Siting
Passive solar design

Weeks 6-10
Windows & Shading
Building Regulations & Legislation
Insulation
Heat Transfer & managing heat transfer
Glazing systems

Weeks 11-16
Sustainable Materials & Life Cycle Assessment
Clients & Communication
Quality Assurance 
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Your Home Technical Manual
NCC Volume 2
ICANZ Handbook 


References


Other Resources

Learning Hub
In class activities
Library
Internet
 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will incorporate a variety of methods including written,oral, practical tasks and activities. You will be asked to personally demonstrate to your teacher/assessor the practical skills gained during this course to the relevant industry standards. Assessment activities will occur throughout this course and feedback will be provided at regular intervals.

Assessment Tasks

Students must pass each of the following assessment tasks to demonstrate competent.

 

Assessment

Weight %

Assessment 1

Passive Solar Design

40

Assessment 2

Material Use

30

Assessment 3

Online Test

30

These tasks assesses the following Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):

Assessment Mapping Matrix

Element / Performance Criteria Covered

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Online Test

1.1

X

 

X

1.2

X

X

X

1.3

X

X

X

1.4

X

 

X

1.5

 

X

X

2.1

X

 

X

2.2

X

 

 

2.3

 

X

 

2.4

 

X

 

2.5

 

X

 

3.1

 

 

X

3.2

 

X

X

3.3

 

X

 

3.4

 

X

X

 

 

To be deemed competent you must demonstrate an understanding of all aspects required of the competency. Assessment methods have been designed to measure your achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over multiple tasks.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment 1 - 70% of total mark – Passive Solar Design Principles and Sustainable Materials
This assignment is a project based assessment task using existing plans to incorporate general principles of solar passive design, orientation, windows & shading, life cycle assessment, insulation and glazing. Assignment 70%. Held approximately Week 14 and students will be advised during semester.

Assessment 2 –30% of total mark - Online Test
Online Questionnaire will be a multiple choice and conducted in a supervised environment. The assessment will be a closed book test cover a range of topics covered in throughout the course. Online 30% Held approximately Week 16 and students will be advised during semester.


Assessment Matrix

 
 BUIL5994C Elements and Performance Criteria

Assessments 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4
Assessment 1 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Assessment 2 X X X X X X X   X X   X   X
                             

Other Information

Competency requirements and Grading:

To be deemed competent students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of a competency. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over multiple tasks.
Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met. Observation of students performing work is used to confirm competency.

Grading available are:
Grade level Competency Level
This course is graded as Competent or Not Yet Competent and subsequently the following course grades are allocated:

80 - 100: CHD - Competent with High Distinction
70 - 79: CDI - Competent with Distinction
60 - 69: CC - Competent with Credit
50 - 59: CAG - Competency Achieved - Graded
0 - 49: NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit for Assessment.

Credit Transfer and/or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
You may be eligible for credit towards courses in your program if you have already met the learning/competency outcomes through previous learning and/or industry experience. To be eligible for credit towards a course, you must demonstrate that you have already completed learning and/or gained industry experience that is:
• Relevant
• Current
• Satisfies the learning/competency outcomes of the course
Please refer to http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit to find more information about credit transfer and RPL.

 

Study and Learning Support:
Study and Learning Centre (SLC) provides free learning and academic development advice to you. Services offered by SLC to support your numeracy and literacy skills are:
• Assignment writing, thesis writing and study skills advice
• Maths and science developmental support and advice
• English language development
Please refer to http://www.rmit.edu.au/studyandlearningcentre to find more information about Study and Learning Support.
 

Disability Liaison Unit:
If you are suffering from long-term medical condition or disability, you should contact Disability Liaison Unit to seek advice and support to complete your studies.
Please refer to http://www.rmit.edu.au/disability to find more information about services offered by Disability Liaison Unit.
 

Late Submission:
If you require an Extension of Submittable Work (assignments, reports or project work etc.) for seven calendar days or less (from the original due date) and have valid reasons, you must complete an Application for Extension of Submittable Work (7 Calendar Days or less) form and lodge it with the Senior Educator/ Program Manager.
The application must be lodged no later than one working day before the official due date. You will be notified within no more than two working days of the date of lodgement as to whether the extension has been granted.
If you seek an Extension of Submittable Work for more than seven calendar days (from the original due date), you must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form under the provisions of the Special Consideration Policy, preferably prior to, but no later than two working days after the official due date.
Submittable Work (assignments, reports or project work etc.) submitted late without approval of an extension will not be accepted or marked.
 

Special Consideration:
Please refer to http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration to find more information about special consideration.
 

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a form of cheating and it is very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the university.
Please refer to http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity to find more information about plagiarism.
 

Email Communication:
All email communications will be sent to your RMIT email address and you must regularly check your RMIT emails.
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview