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Title / Design and plan an irrigation system
Level / 5 / Credits / 75
Purpose / This unit standard is for people working in the irrigation industry, and recognises the knowledge and skills required to design and plan irrigation systems for an agricultural or horticultural property, sports turf, or public ground.
Classification / Water IndustryIrrigation
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1All regulations including Resource Management Act 1991, Building Act 2004, Health and Safety and Employment Act 1992, National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 and any other relevant legislation is followed.
2The following technical publications are adhered to:
Irrigation New Zealand Technical Glossary
New Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Design Code of Practice, Irrigation New Zealand, ISBN 978-0-473-25350-9
New Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Design Standards, Irrigation New Zealand, ISBN 978-0-473-25346-2
New Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Installation Code of Practice, Irrigation New Zealand, ISBN 978-0-473-25348-6
Irrigation New Zealand Irrigation Overview,Irrigation New Zealand, ISBN 978-0-473-24106-3
Irrigation New Zealand Irrigation Development, Irrigation New Zealand, ISBN 978-0-473-24121-6
New Zealand Water Measurement Code of Practice
Guide for Writing an Irrigation System Commissioning Report
The IrrigationNew Zealand Guideline for Backflow Prevention
The IrrigationNew Zealand Guideline for Writing a Design Brief
Available from the Irrigation New Zealand website,
3The irrigation system could be an upgraded system or a new system.
4Definitions
Capexis the cost of developing or providing non-consumable parts for the product or system.
Opexis an ongoing cost for running a product, business, or system.
5It is recommended that learners have completed unit standard 28933 concurrently with this unit standard.
6All control components for Irrigation Systems should follow manufacturer’s specifications.
7All electrical work related to the planning and design of control components for Irrigation Systems must be carried out in accordance with the New Zealand Electricity Regulations 2010.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Select a system to best fit the client specifications and design brief.
Evidence requirements
1.1Calculates KPI’s, seasonal variations, peak demand and implications of each in relation to the design brief in accordance with New Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Design Standardsand the New Zealand Irrigation Piped Irrigation Systems Design Code of Practice.
1.2Evaluates a range of irrigation systems and determine system type most suitable to the design brieftaking into accountopex and capex considerations. System selection must bein accordance with the Irrigation New Zealand Irrigation Overview and Irrigation New Zealand Irrigation Development.
Outcome 2
Determine thedistribution components for an irrigation system.
Evidence requirements
2.1Calculates the pressures and flows in pipelines and determine a range of system parameters in accordance with New Zealand Piped Irrigation System Design Code of Practice andNew Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Design Standards.
2.2 Implements measures to mitigate the operational risks of pipelinesin accordance with New Zealand Piped Irrigation System Design Code of PracticeandNew Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Design Standards.
2.3Specifies most suitable pipe type, size and specifications, and headwork componentry in accordance with New Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Design Code of Practiceand New Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Design Standards.
Outcome 3
Determine the pumping components for an irrigation system.
Evidence requirements
3.1 Explainsthe characteristics of pumps and motors and their relationships, and determine range of system parameters.
Rangeincludes operating flow and pressure.
3.2Carries out opex and capex calculations in relation to pumping components.
3.3Specifies most suitable pump components to match suction and discharge requirementsin accordance with New Zealand Piped Irrigation System Design Code of Practice.
Outcome 4
Determine the control components for an irrigation system.
Evidence requirements
4.1Describes electrical safety requirements in accordance with New Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Installation Code of Practice.
4.2Identifieselectrical regulatory thresholds relevant to irrigationin accordance withNew Zealand Piped Irrigation Systems Installation Code of Practice.
4.3Describes irrigation control systems and their applications in accordance with New Zealand Piped Irrigation System Design Code of Practice.
4.4Specifies the most suitable control system for the irrigation systemin accordance with New Zealand Piped Irrigation System Design Code of Practice.
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 25139, 25140, 25141, 25135, 20956Planned review date / 31 December 2020
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 20 August 2015 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0179
This CMR can be accessed at
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.
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 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 Primary Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Primary Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101558 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018