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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Fault find an air-conditioning, refrigeration or ventilation plant stoppage or failure 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116697  Fault find an air-conditioning, refrigeration or ventilation plant stoppage or failure 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Air-conditioning Refrigeration and Ventilation 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Manufacturing and Assembly 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 unit standard replaces: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
9330  Fault-find a refrigeration plant stoppage or failure  Level 3  NQF Level 03   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Determine the possible reason(s) why an air-conditioning, refrigeration or ventilation plant has stopped operating re-start the plant and/or report on the cause(s) of the failure or stoppage. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Identify, use and maintain tools.
  • Understand the operation of basic vapour compression refrigeration systems.
  • Correct use of electrical testing tools used in the trade of refrigeration.
  • Understand the operation of control devices.
  • Interpret basic electrical diagrams.
  • Apply elementary skills used in servicing, maintaining or starting up systems. 

  • UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Plant stoppage due to mechanical or electrical faults, or due to controls being set wrongly.
    Electrical faults:
    Mains power failure, circuit breakers tripped, overloads tripped, fuses blown, contactors or relays failed, loose or burnt wires, faulty starting accessories, motor failures, faulty transformer, incorrect time clock or time relay setting, loose connections.
    Mechanical faults:
    Loose or broken belts or couplings, loose or broken fan blades, broken pipes, dirty or iced up coils.
    Control instruments:
    Pressure switches, oil pressure switch, Thermostats, humidistats, time clocks and timers.
    Switching and protective devices:
    Relays, contactors, isolators, fuses, circuit breakers and overloads. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Prepare for the task of faultfinding a plant. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Appropriate electrical and mechanical testing tools are obtained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The operating and maintenance instructions for the plant are obtained and interpreted. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The exact location of the plant is established. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Available service records for the plant are inspected. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Possible reasons for plant stoppage are discussed with the user/operator. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Possible faults causing the plant failure are explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Establish possible electrical faults causing the plant stoppage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Possible electrical faults are listed and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    All possible causes for electrical faults are investigated and diagnosed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The consequences of faulty selection of switching or protective devices are listed and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    All electrical testing instruments are used correctly. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The appropriate corrective action is taken. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Consequences of wrong power supply and/or faulty setting of overloads are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Faultfinding is done in a methodical manner. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Establish possible control faults causing the plant stoppage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Possible faulty control settings are listed and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The settings on all control instruments are checked and compared with stipulated or normally acceptable settings required for correct and safe operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Control settings are adjusted according to specified parameters or as required for correct and safe operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The defrost system is checked for correct operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The appropriate corrective action is taken. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Consequences of faulty settings on controls are listed and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Faultfinding is done in a methodical manner. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Establish possible mechanical faults causing the plant stoppage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Possible mechanical faults are listed and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Consequences of mechanical faults are listed and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Possible mechanical faults are investigated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Appropriate corrective action is taken. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Report back to supervisor or client. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A written or verbal report about the plant stoppage is made. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Faults are correctly reported. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Further action required is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Possible consequences of plant stoppage are explained. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Any person wishing to be assessed against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, who may appoint a moderator to be present at the assessment.
    The assessor must have knowledge and experience in air-conditioning, refrigeration or ventilation. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Possible causes and events leading up to plant stoppage or failure and method(s) of faultfinding. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems
  • Determine reasons for faults causing plant stoppage. 

  • UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organize and manage myself and my activities
  • Carry out checks in a logical sequence. 

  • UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyze, organize and critically evaluate information
  • Obtain operating parameters of plant and evaluate these
  • Reading and interpreting operating manuals. 

  • UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively
  • Discussing problem with user/operator and report back. 

  • UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically
  • Using test instrumentation correctly 

  • UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard is replacing unit standard 9330 - 'Fault find an air-conditioning, refrigeration or ventilation plant stoppage or failure' - Level 3.

    Supplementary information

    This unit standard deals with finding the reasons or causes for a plant having stopped due to electrical, mechanical reasons or due to controls having been set wrongly. The learner is expected to restore plant operation and/or report back. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48963   National Certificate: Air-Conditioning, Refrigeration and Ventilation  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2009-03-12  Was MERSETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Core  65489   National Certificate: Air-Conditioning, Refrigeration and Ventilation  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  MERSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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.