Read and interpret plans and

specifications
CPCCBC4012
Assessment Information
CPCCBC4012

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................. 2
1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 3
ABOUT HIA TRAINING ...................................................................................................................... 3

2.0 OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 3

COURSE OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................................... 3

3.0 UNIT OF COMPETENCY ..................................................................................................... 3

APPLICATION ................................................................................................................................. 3
PRE-REQUISITE UNITS .................................................................................................................... 4
ELEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA ........................................................................................ 4
PERFORMANCE EVIDENCE .............................................................................................................. 5
KNOWLEDGE EVIDENCE.................................................................................................................. 5
ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................. 6
LEARNING OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................. 6

4.0 ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................... 7

SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... 7
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT ARRANGEMENTS ................................................................................... 7
PLAGIARISM .................................................................................................................................. 7
Assessment Information
CPCCBC4012

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Assessment Tasks has been developed to outline the assessment requirements for the short course:
• CPCCBC4012 Reading and interpreting plans and specifications

It includes instructions to complete and submit each assessment.

ABOUT HIA TRAINING

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is one of Australia's largest training providers of skilled-trade
training and qualifications in the building and construction industry. We're passionate about quality,
nationally recognised training and want to help you reach your career ambitions. Whether it's to
update your skills, obtain CPD points or get qualified, we've got you covered.

2.0 OVERVIEW

COURSE OUTCOMES

The course equips participants with the skills and knowledge required to read and interpret plans
and specifications applicable to residential and commercial projects. It includes identifying site
characteristics, features of the proposed building and details of the construction.
Participants successfully completing this course will receive a statement of attainment for the unit:
CPCCBC4012 – Read and interpret plans and specifications

If the participant is undertaking this course as part of a Certificate IV qualification or Trade Skills
Set Program, they will be issued a Statement of Attainment for all satisfactorily completed units on
completion.

3.0 UNIT OF COMPETENCY

APPLICATION

This unit of competency specifies the skills and knowledge required to read and interpret plans and
specifications applicable to residential and commercial projects. It includes identifying site
characteristics, features of the proposed building and details of the construction.
It applies to National Construction Code (NCC) classifications:
▪ Residential - Class 1 and 10 buildings, maximum two storeys
▪ Commercial - Class 2 to 9, Type C only constructions.
The unit of competency applies to site managers, forepersons, estimators, builders, managers and
other building and construction industry personnel who read and interpret plans and specifications
for quantity surveying, costing and tendering and construction of building and construction projects.
This unit is suitable for people with specialised knowledge, completing routine and non-routine tasks
and using their own judgement to deal with predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems.
Assessment Information
CPCCBC4012

Completion of the general construction induction training program specified by the model Code of
Practice for Construction Work is required for any person who is to carry out construction work.
Achievement of CPCCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry meets this
requirement.
Licensing, regulatory or registration requirements apply to this unit of competency in some
jurisdictions. Relevant state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm these
requirements.

PRE-REQUISITE UNITS

Nil.

ELEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Identify types of plans. 1.1 Confirm plans, specifications and amendments are the
current version.

1.2 Identify types of plans and aspects of the drawings

specific for the intended purpose.

1.3 Confirm details on plans comply with the specifications.

2. Read and interpret the plan. 2.1 Distinguish key features on the plans.

2.3 Identify building location from site plan.

2.2 Identify building layout, spaces and dimensions from

floor plan.

2.3
Examine detail drawings to determine sizes, thickness
and methods of construction.
2.4
Identify internal linings, external cladding and roof
materials from plans and specifications.

3. Identify structural details. 3.1 Identify concrete footing and slab sizes and position and
type of reinforcing.

3.2 Identify load bearing points of the building.

3.3
Identify wind bracing and tie-down requirements.

4. Identify non-structural 4.1 Identify provisional sum (PS) and prime cost (PC) items.
details.
4.2
Locate installation and connection points of services to
the building.
Assessment Information
CPCCBC4012

4.3
Identify location of fixtures from plans and details of
finishes from specifications.

PERFORMANCE EVIDENCE

To demonstrate competency, a candidate must meet the elements and performance criteria of this
unit by identifying and interpreting building and construction information from a set of plans and
specifications.
In doing this, the candidate must:
▪ Identify orientation of structures, site contours, datum and reduced levels, and site features
to be removed or retained
▪ Identify structural load bearing information of the building and compare information from
specification
▪ Check wind bracing materials and tie-down methods for accuracy against the wind bracing
table
▪ Interpret essential elements from two-dimensional to three-dimensional format, and apply to
estimation, planning and supervisory tasks.

KNOWLEDGE EVIDENCE

To be competent in this unit, a person must demonstrate knowledge of:

▪ types of plans:
o concept drawing/sketches

o architectural

o structural

o civil

o mechanical

o electrical

▪ plumbing and draining

o parts of a plan:
o site plan
o floor plan
o elevations
o sections
o details
▪ drawing conventions:
o datum and reduced levels (RL)
Assessment Information
CPCCBC4012

o title block

o scale

o dimensions

o abbreviations

▪ utilities and services plans and specifications

▪ isometric drawings, oblique drawings, perspective drawings and orthographic drawings
▪ computer-aided design (CAD) drawings
▪ building and construction regulations, standards and codes
▪ classes of buildings
▪ the NCC
▪ building information modelling (BIM)
▪ building and construction methods and terminology
▪ workplace processes, workplace safety and environmental requirements.

ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS

Assessors must satisfy the requirements for assessors listed in the Standards for Registered
Training Organisations.

Assessment can be undertaken in the workplace or in a simulated workplace environment.

A simulated environment is one that realistically replicates workplace conditions, materials and
equipment, interactions with others and workplace irregularities, and which meets industry
standards for safety and environmental practices.

Candidates must have access to:

▪ Plans and specifications and other quality documentation required to undertake the
performance criteria and assessment requirements
▪ Relevant government building and construction and contract legislation
▪ Current building and construction codes and standards
▪ National Construction Code
▪ Computers, applications, and software to access CAD.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After satisfactory completion, participants will be able to:

• Identify types of plans
• Read and interpret plans
• Identify structural details
• Identify non-structural details.
Assessment Information
CPCCBC4012

4.0 ASSESSMENT

SUMMARY

There are two Assessment Tasks (AT) included in this assessment.

They include:
• AT1: Knowledge test – Answer 20 questions about plans and specifications
• AT2: Project – Interpret a set of plans and specifications to:
o Identify the orientation of structures, site contours, datum and reduced levels, and
site features to be removed or retained
o Check wind bracing materials and tie-down methods for accuracy against the wind
bracing table.
o Interpret building and construction information from a set of plans and specifications
to:
• Identify structural load bearing information of the building and compare
information from specification
• Interpret essential elements from two-dimensional to three-dimensional
format, and apply to estimation, planning and supervisory tasks.

REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT ARRANGEMENTS

Participants who may require additional support will be identified during the pre-enrolment process.
Where HIA is unable to provide the support required by the participant, a list of external
organisations will be made available.
In assessing competence, provision must be made for reasonable adjustments to ensure that the
assessment principles of fairness and flexibility are addressed. Assessors must be confident that
reasonable adjustments do not compromise the outcomes of the unit and the integrity of the
qualification.
If a participant requires reasonable adjustments, the assessor must determine the types needed
and decide whether they are ‘reasonable’ given the unit requirements and circumstances.
Reasonable adjustment may take the form of additional support during the assessment process.
For example, the provision of equipment or software or changes to the physical environment and
location. Alternatively, reasonable adjustment may require the provision of a support person or
additional time.
Where reasonable adjustments have been applied, assessors must ensure the types of
adjustments are recorded to guide any further assessments of the participant and for validation
purposes.

Instructions to apply for reasonable adjustment are included in the HIA Participant Handbook.

PLAGIARISM

Note that HIA has a strict policy about submitting work that is not the participant's own work
("plagiarism"). Please refer to the HIA Participant Handbook for further information about the HIA
Cheating and Plagiarism Policy.
Assessment Information
CPCCBC4012

MODIFICATION HISTORY
V1.0 HIA new version 16/09/2021