NZQA registered unit standard
28947 version 1
Page 1 of 3
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of earth retaining structures
Level
4
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate
knowledge of earth retaining structures.
Classification
Infrastructure Works > Infrastructure Civil Works
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
The following legislation, regulations and codes of practice must be complied with:
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; and Health and Safety in Employment
Regulations 1995;
Resource Management Act 1991
Historic Places Act 1993
Conservation Act 1987
Local Authority regulations
Local Authority Engineering Code of Practice.
Accidental Discovery Protocol
2
Assessment against this unit standard must take place in a workplace environment.
Assessment parameters will depend on company and site specific equipment,
procedures, and practices. Practices must reflect industry best practice and comply
with legislative requirements.
3
Assessment of this unit standard does not include knowledge of constructing
retaining walls. Constructing retaining walls is covered in unit standards 13026, and
13062.
This unit standard refers to the construction and installation of earth retaining
structures for the purpose of alterations to existing land surfaces to suit the activity
proposed; such as in the construction of dams, batters, canals, water race,
causeways, berms, bunds, changing the topography of the land for the purpose of
land development, subdivisions, roadway construction, and waterways; using
methods such as cantilever wall, anchor wall, mechanically stabilised earth (MSE),
gabion mesh, soil nailing.
4
Definitions
Company requirements include the policy, procedures, and methodologies of the
company. They include legislative and regulatory requirements applicable to the
company and/or a specific site. Requirements are documented in the company’s
health and safety plans, environment management plans (EMP), traffic management
Infrastructure ITO
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28947 version 1
Page 2 of 3
plans (TMP), inspection and test plans (ITP), survey and set-out, contract work
programmes, quality assurance programmes, policies, and procedural documents.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of earth retaining structures
Evidence requirements
1.1
Regulatory requirements for earth retaining structures are described in
accordance with Resource Management Act, Local Authority requirements and
Engineering Codes of Practice.
1.2
Methods used for the construction of earth retaining structures are described in
accordance with Local Authority and company requirements.
Range
techniques include cantilever wall, anchored wall, mechanical
stabilisation (MSE), gabion mesh, soil nailing, and one other
description includes features, materials, application, stabilisation
1.3
Construction of earth retaining structures is described in terms of the
disturbance of land surfaces, and drainage and backfilling requirements in
accordance with company and local authority requirements.
1.4
Health, safety and environmental procedures, when constructing earth retaining
structures, are described in accordance with company requirements.
Planned review date
31 December 2020
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
21 May 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0101
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Infrastructure ITO
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28947 version 1
Page 3 of 3
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR 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 Infrastructure ITO qualifications@infrastructureito.org.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Infrastructure ITO
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016