24037 version 1
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Perform cable tests in a rail environment
Level
4
Credits
7
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to, in a rail environment:
prepare to perform cable tests; confirm test requirements; obtain and set up
test equipment; perform tests; interpret test results and reconnect services;
and document test results.
Subfield
Rail Transport
Domain
Rail Infrastructure
Status
Registered
Status date
21 May 2008
Date version published
21 May 2008
Planned review date
31 December 2013
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Competenz
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0013
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
Assessment against this unit standard is to be carried out within the context of an
organisation operating under a current, valid Rail Licence issued in accordance with
the provisions of the Railways Act 2005. The organisation’s operating rules, codes,
and instructions, referred to in this unit standard, are those the organisation has in
place to meet the requirements of the Rail Licence.
2
Candidates must first hold the appropriate licence, qualification, and/or certification
for any electrical work undertaken in the course of assessment for this unit standard.
This condition will be in accordance with organisational procedures and/or regulatory
requirements that govern live electrical work. Examples include: electrical service
technician (A, B), registered electrician.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
24037 version 1
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3
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes the Health and Safety in
Employment Act 1992, Railways Act 2005, Resource Management Act 1991,
Electricity Act 1992, Electricity Regulations 1997.
4
The following Code of Practice applies to this unit standard:
NZECP 60:1997, New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice for Inspection, Testing
and Certification of Low Voltage A.C. Railway Signalling Control Circuits, Ministry of
Commerce, Wellington.
5
Standards relevant to this unit standard may include but are not limited to:
AS/NZS 3080:2003: Telecommunications installations – Generic cabling for
commercial premises (ISO/IEC 11801:2002, MOD);
AS/NZS 3000:2000: Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand
Wiring Rules).
6
Cable types includes copper (all categories), fibre optics, co-axial.
7
Tests and testing may:
 be one or two directional, balanced or unbalanced;
 be within a building, between sites or between a site and another customer's
equipment;
 address the following items: attenuation, length, balance, noise levels, pair
assignment, reversals, short circuits, open circuits, insulation resistance, reflection,
signal loss, expected response times, speed, loop resistance;
 be conducted on 100% coverage, systematic samples, randomly, as part of fault
identification or to assess continuity as determined by the organisation.
8
Tests/testing is to be undertaken on at least three occasions, using one or more type
of cable.
9
Operations may:
be conducted by day or night in all relevant weather conditions;
be conducted in restricted spaces or exposed conditions or controlled or open
environments;
involve exposure to chemicals, dangerous or hazardous substances and movements of
equipment, materials and vehicles.
10
Competenz acknowledges the assistance provided by the Transport and Logistics
Industry Skills Council in permitting unit of competency TDTB5701A, Perform Cable
System Test to be used as the basis for this unit standard.
11
Definitions
Cables refer to rail infrastructure designed for the purposes of transmitting signals
and communications data.
Customer refers to any division or business unit of the entity that owns/manages the
railway corridor and corresponding infrastructure; any rail operator that uses the
railway corridor; and any other enterprise that leases communications space over
given infrastructure to which this unit standard applies.
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Organisational procedures refer to documents that include: worksite rules, codes,
and practices; equipment operating instructions; technical specifications; noncompliance reports, documented quality management systems; manufacturer’s
specifications; and health and safety requirements.
Service refers to scheduled data links for/between customers over the given
infrastructure.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Prepare to perform cable tests in a rail environment.
Performance criteria
1.1
Relevant instructions and information are accessed in accordance with job
requirements and organisational procedures.
1.2
Work is planned to ensure safe test activities and minimum disruption to train
operations.
Range
1.3
may include but is not limited to – rail permissions, track
protection, Train Control bulletins, local work schedules, train
movements, special circumstances.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used in accordance with organisational
requirements.
Range
may include but is not limited to – high visibility clothing, hearing
protection, gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, safety glasses, insect
repellent, safety headwear, safety footwear, portable radios, hand
lamps, flags.
Element 2
Confirm test requirements.
Performance criteria
2.1
Access times and methods are confirmed to comply with customer
requirements.
2.2
Service is checked for availability for testing and is isolated/disconnected from
use and carriers network/equipment to ensure no equipment damage can occur
during testing.
2.3
Work area and cable is made safe for testing.
2.4
Required tests are identified from site, customer documentation, and
organisational procedures.
2.5
Tests are relevant to cable type installed.
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24037 version 1
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2.6
Purpose of the test and what performance is to be measured is identified.
Element 3
Obtain and set up test equipment.
Range
test equipment may include but is not limited to –TDR (Time Domain
Reflectometer), OTDR (Optical TDR), multi meter, proprietary devices, oscillator
and probe set, bridge megger (computerised), pulse echo, hand held cable
testers, spectrum analysers, ohmmeters.
Performance criteria
3.1
Calibration certification is checked for currency to ensure manufacturer's
specifications are achieved.
3.2
Test equipment is selected in terms of its suitability to perform the required
tests.
3.3
Test equipment is set up in accordance with manufacturer's specifications.
3.4
Test reading error is set against a known reference where appropriate.
Element 4
Perform tests.
Performance criteria
4.1
All tools and test equipment are used in accordance with manufacturer's
specifications.
4.2
Work is performed safely to minimise risk of injury to operator, other users
and/or equipment.
4.3
Measures are taken to ensure operating environment will not prejudice test
results.
Range
factors that can impact on the operating environment may include
but are not limited to – dirt, humidity, dust, temperature, magnetic
radiation, vibration, radio frequency.
Element 5
Interpret test results and reconnect services.
Performance criteria
5.1
Test results are read accurately and compared against manufacturer's and site
specifications for cable performance.
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5.2
All test requirements and parameters are considered when interpreting test
results.
5.3
Test results are assessed in accordance with organisational procedures.
5.4
Available services are reconnected and tested for functionality to ensure all
previous services have been resumed.
Element 6
Document test results.
Range
may include but is not limited to – written on paper forms, record cards, direct to
computer disks.
Performance criteria
6.1
Results of tests are documented accurately and without delay to ensure test
results remain current in accordance with organisational procedures.
6.2
Site and installation files are updated to ensure traceability of information on
cable performance is maintained in accordance with organisational procedures.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Competenz qualifications@competenz.org.nz if you wish to suggest
changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016