CQUniversity Unit Profile
BLSV14016 Fire Engineering and Performance
Fire Engineering and Performance
All details in this unit profile for BLSV14016 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit covers the use of alternative and performance-based solutions for building and fire engineering under the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the formulation of risk management strategies to address the occurrence of fires within buildings. Students will develop knowledge in problem-solving, personal and interpersonal skills using different communication modes.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 4
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisites: BLAR11051- Construction Legislation 1 (or BLAR12034- Building Legislation 1) AND BLSV12023- Fire Safety Design

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2021

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

The whole unit challenged me to think about practical solutions along with the Deemed to Satisfy provisions.

Recommendation

Keep making students think about practical solutions to real-world problems.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

Learning resources could be updated.

Recommendation

Learning resources on Moodle sites will be updated to include more recent updates from the industry practice.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Discuss the use of alternative solutions for complying with the Building Code of Australia (BCA)
  2. Propose performance-based solutions for fire engineering requirements for buildings
  3. Formulate risk management options to reduce the occurrence of a fire in a building
  4. Engage in the solution of routine and unfamiliar problems using information, technology and logic
  5. Practice personal and interpersonal skills
  6. Use effectively a range of appropriate communication modes.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Microphone and headset
  • Webcam
  • MS Teams
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Bill Zhao Unit Coordinator
b.zhao@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 12 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 1: Performance based solutions and the BCA which is now the National Construction Code (NCC)

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 19 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 2: Fire Safety Engineering and the International Fire Engineering Guidelines

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 26 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 3: Implementation, Certification and Maintenance of Fire Engineered Solutions

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 02 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 4: Human Behaviour, Movement and Other Characteristics

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 09 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 5: Fire Detection, Suppression and Extinguishment

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

A1 Written Assessment Due: Week 5 Friday (13 Aug 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 16 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Vacation Week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 23 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 6: Fire Brigade and Emergency Services Intervention and Guidance

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 30 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 7: Fire Tests Used to Determine Building Material Combustibility and Early Fire Hazard Indices

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 06 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 8: Risk Management and Hazard Identification

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 13 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 9: Information, Technology and Logic

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 20 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 10: Building Characteristics, Design, Layout and Space Planning

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

A2 Written Assessment Due: Week 10 Friday (24 Sept 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Begin Date: 27 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 11: Special Uses and Fire Engineering - Assembly Buildings

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 04 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Topic 12: Special Uses and Fire Engineering - High Rises

Chapter

Please refer to the unit Moodle site for specific learning resources and study materials relevant to this topic.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

There are no set topics in the Review/Exam Week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

WRITTEN ASSESSMENT Due: Review/Exam Week Tuesday (12 Oct 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 18 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

There are no set topics in the Exam Week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
A1 Written Assessment

Task Description

Question 1 will take you out of your comfort zone as a building surveyor where you normally address and control hazards and risks in buildings as per the prescriptive Deemed to Satisfy Provisions of the BCA. Think about each occupancy from a performance based point of view.

Question 2 will challenge you to think about egress for persons with disabilities. In discussions with industry professionals about this subject, you often find that people will either be for accessible egress or be against it or somewhere in the middle. Your task is to provide a detailed argument on accessible egress


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (13 Aug 2021) 11:45 pm AEST

It is recommended that your submissions in Moodle remain in draft form until you have viewed the Turnitin similarity report and made any necessary corrections to your referencing. Following this process you can make your final submission.


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Friday (27 Aug 2021)

Two study weeks from the submission due date


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Question 1 (2 marks per use) = 14 Marks

Question 2 (5 Marks per each argument) = 10 Marks

Presentation, layout, spelling, grammar and references = 6 Marks

The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:

  • Clarity and succinctness of expression.
  • Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
  • Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
  • Original thought.
  • Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
  • Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
  • Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this unit and appropriate application of this knowledge.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific assessment submission criteria.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Discuss the use of alternative solutions for complying with the Building Code of Australia (BCA)
  • Propose performance-based solutions for fire engineering requirements for buildings
  • Formulate risk management options to reduce the occurrence of a fire in a building
  • Engage in the solution of routine and unfamiliar problems using information, technology and logic
  • Practice personal and interpersonal skills
  • Use effectively a range of appropriate communication modes.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
A2 Written Assessment

Task Description

This assignment looks at real data and information. All the fire data that is provided with this assignment has permitted change in building regulation and offers you an opportunity to understand how this occurs.This assignment will require you to research a fatal fire event that was investigation by a coroner. As a building surveyor we strive to ensure buildings are safe to occupy and use, but we also need to learn about events where things go wrong. In addition, this assignment will look at emergency incidents in entertainment venues and the World Trade Centre terrorist attack of September 11 2001.


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Friday (24 Sept 2021) 11:45 pm AEST

It is recommended that your submissions in Moodle remain in draft form until you have viewed the Turnitin similarity report and made any necessary corrections to your referencing. Following this process you can make your final submission.


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Friday (8 Oct 2021)

Two study weeks from the submission due date


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Part 1 = 10 Marks (5 questions)

Part 2 = 10 marks (4 questions)

Part 3 = 6 marks (2 questions)

Layout, presentation, spelling, grammar and references=4 Marks

Total of all Parts= 30 Marks

The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:

  • Clarity and succinctness of expression.
  • Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
  • Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
  • Original thought.
  • Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
  • Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
  • Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this unit and appropriate application of this knowledge.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific assessment submission criteria.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Discuss the use of alternative solutions for complying with the Building Code of Australia (BCA)
  • Propose performance-based solutions for fire engineering requirements for buildings
  • Formulate risk management options to reduce the occurrence of a fire in a building
  • Engage in the solution of routine and unfamiliar problems using information, technology and logic
  • Practice personal and interpersonal skills
  • Use effectively a range of appropriate communication modes.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
WRITTEN ASSESSMENT

Task Description

This assessment will place you in the position of a building surveyor charged with the assessment of a proposed fire engineered performance solution. The fire engineered performance solution has been submitted to you as part of the proposed construction of a six-storey enclosed carpark. Due to financial constraints, the developer has engaged a fire engineer to identify compliance with the performance requirements where compliance with the deemed to satisfy provisions could not be achieved. Your report will include:

  • Adequate reasons why the proposal is satisfactory/ unsatisfactory
  • Reference to the provided Performance Requirements
  • Reference to the International Fire Engineering Guidelines
  • Reference to the assessment methods contained in A2.2 (2) of the NCC
  • In-depth discussion on each of the elements contained in the report
  • What the next steps in the process will be from your position


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Tuesday (12 Oct 2021) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (22 Oct 2021)


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
  • Clarity and succinctness of expression.
  • Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
  • Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
  • Original thought.
  • Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
  • Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
  • Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this unit and appropriate application of this knowledge.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific assessment submission criteria.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Discuss the use of alternative solutions for complying with the Building Code of Australia (BCA)
  • Propose performance-based solutions for fire engineering requirements for buildings
  • Engage in the solution of routine and unfamiliar problems using information, technology and logic


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?