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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 Designer |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 121935 | Occupational Certificate: Fire Alarm Designer | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Development Quality Partner - SASSETA | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| - | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| Part-Qualification | Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction | Electrical Infrastructure Construction | ||
| ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
| Undefined | 32 | 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 part-qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Fire Alarm Designer. A qualified learner will be able to design a range of fire detection and gas extinguishing systems compliant to South African National Standards (pages 3-4) 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 design a range of fire detection and gas extinguishing systems as per SANS requirements. 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 Occupational Curriculum Code 672107-001-00-04 Fire Alarm Designer is an electrical qualification ideally suited for a Fire Alarm qualification. It has been developed in compliance with the relevant parts of the above South African standards and regulations listed on pages 3-4. The qualification is a response to address a need to have qualified, competent, industry practitioners in South Africa that can maintain fire detection and alarm systems as well as meeting the criteria required to register with the SA industry Regulators. The range of typical learners that will enter this part-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 National Qualification Framework (NQF) registered qualification. It is aimed at learners from formal schooling who aspire to become fire alarm installers or employees who are currently employed in the fire alarm industry performing fire detection related activities. Qualified learners 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 installers 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 programmes according to different standards and under different bodies, ranging from SAQA registered 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 part-qualification will be recognised as competent fire alarm practitioners employable within various public as well as in the private sectors and in becoming self-employed. Qualified learners will enable progression in their careers by 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 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/part-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 part-qualification consists of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 10 Practical Skill Modules: Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 10 Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 12 |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. 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:
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 part-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. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| The following countries were used to compare occupational development processes of similar or related:
The United Kingdom: Similarities 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 City & Guilds L2 Certificate in Knowledge of Electronic Security and Emergency Systems (1853-02). OFQUAL REF: 500/6209/8. 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 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. There are no formal entry requirements for candidates undertaking this qualification. However, centres must ensure that learners have the aptitude and opportunity to successfully gain the qualification. Age restrictions for this qualification is not approved for use by learners under the age of 16, and City & Guilds cannot accept any registrations for learners in this age group. This qualification is offered for 2 years with 294 Points required, of which 176 are core and 118 are elective. Differences The format of this qualification differs slightly from the South African model in the following ways. 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 several 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 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 No entry-level requirements but 360 points required, of which 220 are core and 140 electives. This qualification is offered for a duration of 2 years. The Certificate level 2 in Fire Alarm Servicing is a Post-Trade Qualification that is intended to provide participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to work on fire alarm systems in accordance with Australian Standards and regulatory requirements. In addition, participants 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 part-qualification compares well with the Australian and United Kingdom qualifications as it includes similar structures and covers the same training subjects. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This part-qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
| NOTES |
| 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 are: Fire Alarm Designer :672107-001-00-04. Encompassed Trades This part-qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD. None. Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) Safety and Security Sector and Education Authority (SASSETA). Parent Qualification Related Part-Qualification |
| 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. |