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All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |
| SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
| REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: |
| Occupational Certificate: Fire Alarm Technician |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 121928 | Occupational Certificate: Fire Alarm Technician | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Development Quality Partner - SASSETA | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| - | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| Occupational Certificate | Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction | Electrical Infrastructure Construction | ||
| ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
| Undefined | 150 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 05 | Regular-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 1121/24 | 2024-01-30 | 2029-01-30 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2030-01-30 | 2033-01-30 | |||
| In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise. |
This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
| PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
| Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Fire Alarm Technician in a safe and knowledgeable manner. A Fire Alarm Technician performs a variety of tasks associated with the installation, maintenance, commissioning and design of fire detection systems to protect life, environment and property. The learner will do this by utilising the knowledge they have gained during the training. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: The Special Class Electrician (Fire Alarm Technician) Occupation forms part of the 2018 list of Occupations in High Demand that have been identified by the Department of Higher Education and Training, has been listed as a trade occupation as per Government Gazette 35625, published on 31 August 2012, and identified as a trade occupation in terms of Section 26B of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No. 97 of 1998). It is for these policies that the QCTO prioritised the development of the Special Class Electrician. The qualification is a specialisation to occupational qualification OFO code: 672107 Special Class Electrician. It has been developed in compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHS Act) and relevant parts of the following South Africa National Standards (SANS) and other relevant regulations. The qualification is a response to address a need to have qualified, competent, industry practitioners in South Africa that can design, install, maintain and commission fire detection and alarm systems as well as meeting the criteria required to register with the South African Industry Regulators. The range of typical learners that will enter this qualification are people who wish to gain access to employment opportunities in the fire detection industry as well as those who are currently working in the industry without a qualification. It is aimed at learners from formal schooling who aspire to become fire alarm technicians and or employees who are currently employed in the fire alarm industry performing fire detection related activities. Learners who successfully complete this qualification will have a range of foundational competencies relating to fire detection systems, health and safety, electro technical knowledge, installation practices and further skills in workplace processes. Learners who do not want to become fire alarm technicians but require skills and competencies to perform other fire alarm system services have been catered for in the form of part-qualifications. Previously, industry developed fire alarm training qualifications according to different standards and under different bodies, ranging from skills programs to Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) recognition of non-registered industry training. This qualification aims to establish common standards at entry level to access funding for people who previously did not have the means to achieve accreditation to allow for applications for employment opportunities. Learners who complete this qualification or part-qualifications will be recognised as competent fire alarm practitioners employable within various public as well as in the private sectors and in becoming self-employed. Qualifying learners will enable progression in their careers by completing learning programmes that are aligned to NQF Level 5 qualifications in selected specialised routes or career pathways in the context of fire alarm services. These specialised qualifications will enable them to operate either as installers, maintainers, commissioners, designers or beyond. The completion and attainment of this qualification or part-qualifications will benefit learners in terms of employability within various public as well as in the private sectors as they will be in possession of the required skills as legislated in the South African National Standard 10400 (consisting of various parts A to W) which is the application of the NBR (National Building Regulations) Act 103 of 1977. The successful learner will be classified as "competent" as defined in SANS 10400-A: 2016 to carry out this work. The employment of qualified competent learners by the industry will benefit both the communities and the South African economy at large. |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for Access to a qualification Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited education institution, skills development provider or workplace accredited to offer that specific qualification/part qualification. RPL for exemption of modules Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part-qualification will be credited for modules through RPL. RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result. Entry Requirements: An NQF Level 4 qualification with Mathematics and Science. |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification consists of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 50 Practical Skill Modules: Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 50 Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 50 |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Conduct fire detection and alarm systems installations, with an informed understanding and fundamental knowledge of health & safety, electromechanical disciplines, business communications and installation techniques as they relate to fire detection and alarm systems.
2. Conduct preventative maintenance with an informed understanding as well as fault finding and repairs as they relate to fire detection and alarm systems in compliance with regulations, relevant standards and by-laws. 3. Conduct commissioning with an informed understanding as related to fire detection and alarm systems in compliance with regulations, relevant standards, and by-laws. 4. Perform with an informed understanding of system design as related to fire detection and alarm systems in compliance with regulations, relevant standards, by-laws and legalities. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
ELO 1: Conduct fire detection and alarm systems installations, with the informed understanding and fundamental knowledge of health & safety, electromechanical disciplines, business communications and installation techniques as they relate to fire detection and alarm systems. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: ELO 2: Conduct preventative maintenance with an informed understanding as well as fault finding and repairs as they relate to fire detection and alarm systems in compliance with regulations, relevant standards and by-laws. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: ELO 3: Conduct commissioning with an informed understanding as related to fire detection and alarm systems in compliance with regulations, relevant standards and by-laws. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: ELO 4: Perform with an informed understanding and demonstrate knowledge of system design related to fire detection and alarm systems in compliance with regulations, relevant standards, by-laws and legalities. Integrated Assessment Formative Assessment The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. The formative assessment together with work experience leads to entrance in the integrated external summative assessment. Summative Assessment An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria. Collectively, phase assessments in terms of knowledge and practical skills should be conducted within 10 working days. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| The qualification was compared with similar or related occupational development processes from the United Kingdom and Australia.
The United Kingdom City & Guilds of London offers the Level 2 Certificate in Knowledge of Electronic Security and Emergency Systems (1853-02). OFQUAL REF: 500/6209/8 over a period of two years. There are no formal entry requirements for learners undertaking this qualification. However, centres must ensure that learners have the aptitude and opportunity to successfully gain the qualification. Learners who are sixteen years and younger are not eligible for registration into the qualification. The qualification consists of core and elective modules totalling 294 credits of which 176 are core modules and 118 are elective modules. Similarities: This appears to have the most ideal international comparability due to the following: The South African standards for Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, SANS 10139, are an adoption by South Africa of the British Standards BS 5839 and are practically indistinguishable. In the UK, there are nationally accredited fire alarm training qualifications used by industry. These training qualifications are also available in South Africa although not registered on the NQF. The qualification body for this training is City & Guilds of London that have been in existence for over 100 years and are well recognised throughout the world for their standards of higher education. The Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) of the qualification in the UK is the Fire Industry Association (FIA). This Fire detection training is available in Certificate, (equivalent to NQF L5 and Diploma, NQF L6) but for these purposes, only the Certificate will be considered. Differences The format of this qualification differs slightly from the South African model in that the learners are required to attain imbedded knowledge components (Knowledge modules) and take an online assessment for this section. In addition, the learner must complete a number of assignments (Practical modules) issued by the training provider. These assignments are assessed and a statement of results is issued. The learner is then required to fulfil practical (Workplace modules) performance criteria before submitting a request for a final summative assessment, where the learner is interviewed by an Assessor for completion and issue of the qualification. The qualification also caters for part qualification achievement to match the needs of the industry. Most people entering the fire alarm industry in the UK are already qualified electricians, so the core qualification is set there at a level 3 Diploma (1853) in fire detection training and units include aspects such as: Australia UEE 21020 Certificate Level 2 in Fire Alarm Servicing is registered on the Australian Qualification Framework. The qualification is offered over two years with no entry level requirements. 360 points required, of which 220 are core and 140 electives. The Certificate Level 2 in Fire Alarm Servicing is a Post-Trade Qualification that is intended to provide learners with the skills and knowledge necessary to work on fire alarm systems in accordance with Australian Standards and regulatory requirements. In addition, learners on this training qualification will gain the knowledge and skills required to prepare a fire protection certification statement or report and units include aspects such as: Conclusion This qualification compares well with the Australian and United Kingdom qualifications in terms of similar structures and covers the same modules. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
| NOTES |
| Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of a statement of results and statement of work experience as well as proof of successful completion of the relevant subjects and modules or alternative programmes where applicable including Foundational Learning Competence. Additional legal or physical entry requirements Criteria for the accreditation of providers Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code: Fire Alarm Technician: 672107-001-00-00. Encompassed Trades This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD. Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) Safety and Security Sector and Education Authority (SASSETA). Related Part-Qualifications |
| LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| NONE |
| PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here. |
| NONE |
| All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |