NZQA registered unit standard / 26797 version 1
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Title / Plan and supervise drainage for infrastructure works
Level / 5 / Credits / 10
Purpose / This unit standard is for people who have an understanding of the construction of drainage systems and have the responsibility and authority to plan the construction of drainage systems and supervise the installation of subsoil drainage and the construction of open drains for infrastructure works.
People credited with this unit standard are able to plan the construction of drainage systems for infrastructure works; supervise the installation of subsoil drainage; and supervise the construction of open drains.
Classification / Infrastructure Works > Infrastructure Works Supervision
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills and knowledge / Unit 12569, Demonstrate knowledge of the design, construction, and maintenance of road drainage systems, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.

Explanatory notes

1Assessment 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.

2The following legislation, regulations, code of practice, and Standards must be complied with as appropriate to the context of assessment against this unit standard: Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; Resource Management Act 1991; Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995; local authority requirements; Approved Code of Practice for Safety in Excavation and Shafts for Foundations (Wellington: Department of Labour, 1995) available at 1254:2010PVC-U pipes and fittings for stormwater and surface water applications;AS/NZS 1260:2009 PVC-U pipes and fittings for drain, waste and vent application; AS/NZS 1462: series Methods of test for plastics pipes and fittings; AS/NZS 2033:2008 Installation of polyethylene pipe systems;AS/NZS 3725:2007 Design for installation of buried concrete pipes;AS/NZS 4058:2007 Precast concrete pipes (pressure and non-pressure);NZS 4406:1986 Helical lock-seam corrugated steel pipes – Design and installation; available at

3Definitions

Company requirements include the policy, procedures, and methodologies of the company. They include legislative and regulatory requirements which may apply across the company or to a specific site. Requirements are documented in the company’s health and safety plans, traffic management plans, contract work programmes, quality assurance programmes, policies, and procedural documents.

Contract specifications include plans, diagrams, and special technical conditions. They do not include special administrative conditions.

Manufacturer’s instructions may include specifications, safety data sheets, and instructions for installation, handling, use, and maintenance.

Technical instructions mean the defined procedures for the method of carrying out the construction process. For this unit standard, they include manufacturers’ instructions, company procedural documents, local authority requirements, and contract specifications.

Outcomes and evidence requirements

Outcome 1

Plan the construction of drainage systemsfor infrastructure works.

Rangeone subsoil system, one open drainage system.

Evidence requirements

1.1Plant and equipment resources for constructing drainagesystems are determined in accordance with contract specifications and company requirements.

1.2Material resources for constructing drainage systems are determined in accordance with contract specifications and company requirements.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – geotextile filter fabrics, bedding materials, pipes, jointing materials.

1.3Personnel resources for constructing drainage systems are determined in accordance with contract specifications and company requirements.

1.4Planning ensures that health, safety, and environmental requirements for constructing drainage systems are confirmed in accordance with legislative and company requirements.

1.5Planning ensures that quality requirementsfor the construction of drainage systems are confirmed in accordance with technical instructions.

Outcome 2

Supervise the installation of subsoil drainage.

Evidence requirements

2.1Supervision ensures that subsoil drainage system is installed to achieve steady flow and minimal sedimentation.

2.2Supervision ensures that subsoil drains are installed in accordance with contract specifications.

Rangemay include – cut off drain, swamp drainage.

2.3Supervision ensures that subsoil drainage pipes are placed and bedded in accordance with contract specifications and manufacturer’s instructions.

Rangemay include – metal pipe, concrete pipe, timber, precast section, PVC, polyethylene.

Outcome 3

Supervise the construction of open drains.

Evidence requirements

3.1Supervision ensures that stream or intermittent surface flow is diverted during open drain construction.

3.2Supervision ensures that open drains are constructed in accordance with contract specifications and technical instructions.

Planned review date / 31 December 2015

Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions

Process / Version / Date / Last Date for Assessment
Registration / 1 / 18 March 2011 / N/A
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0101

This AMAP can be accessed at

Please note

Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (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 granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

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.

Consent 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 Infrastructure if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

Infrastructure ITO
SSB Code 101813 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018