Texas Fire Alarm Exam Questions and Answers
(2026/2027) | Updated Review | A+ Verified
• What does PLFA stand for? -✓✓Power Limited Fire Alarm
• What does NPLFA stand for? -✓✓Non-Power Limited Fire Alarm.
• What material must NPLFA circuit conductors be made from? -✓✓Only solid or
stranded copper is permitted.
• What is a single station detector? -✓✓Battery powered smoke detectors that do not
communicate off premises.
• What is a multiple station detector? -✓✓Mains powered smoke detector with battery
back up that are linked together, so that if one unit initiates, alarms in all detectors will
sound. They do not communicate off premises.
• How frequently must household single and multiple station detectors be inspected and
tested? -✓✓In accordance with the manufacturers recommendations, at least monthly.
• How frequently must household fire alarm systems be inspected and tested? -✓✓At
least every 3 years, by a qualified service technician.
• How frequently must heat detectors be tested? -✓✓Two or more annually, different
detector must be tested each years, and within 5 years all detectors must have been
tested.
• What does restorable mean? -✓✓The detector can be restored or reused after it has
initiated an alarm.
• What does non restorable mean? -✓✓The detector cannot be re used after it has
initiated an alarm. ( Think of a heat detector, which self destructs upon initiating)
• What size conductors are permitted? -✓✓Size 18 AWG and 16 AWG are permitted,
provided that they do not exceed certain rated ampacities?
• What is used to protect the transformers or the devices supplied from power supply
conductors? -✓✓An overcurrent device not rated over 20 amperes.
• When located within 7th floor, how should cables be fastened? -✓✓Cables should be
fastened in an approved manner at intervals of not more than 18 inches.
• Single conductors shall not be smaller than ___ A.W.G? -✓✓18
, • Conductors of 26AWG shall only be permitted in which circumstances? -✓✓Where
spliced with a connector listed as suitable for 26 to 24 AWG.
• How should PLFA conductors NOT be installed? -✓✓PLFA conductors shall not be
strapped, taped or attached to the exterior of any conduit or raceway.
• What is Plenum cable? What are its characteristics? -✓✓Cable that can be installed in
ducts, plenums or other spaces used for environmental air. It has adequate fire
resistance and low smoke producing characteristics.
• What is a Riser cable? What are its characteristics? -✓✓Cable to be used in vertical
wire runs in shafts or between floors. Not to be used where Plenum cable is required. It
is capable of preventing fire from rising from the floor to floor.
• What is general purpose cable? What are its characteristics? -✓✓Cable for general
purpose fire alarm use. Not to be used where Plenum or Riser cable is required. It is
resistant to the spread of fire.
• What 'type' shall plenum cable be? What substitutions are allowed'? -✓✓Power
Limited Fire Alarm (FPLP) CMP can be submitted.
• What 'type' shall general purpose wire be? What substitutions are permitted? -
✓✓Power Limited Fire Alarm (FPL) CMP,FPLP,CMR, FLPR,CMG and CM can be
substituted (All Types)
• What is the maximum voltage permitted through multi conductor NPLFA cables? -
✓✓150 Volts
• What is the voltage rating of PLFA cables? -✓✓Not less than 300 volts
• Shall the voltage be marked on PLFA cables? -✓✓No, because the may be
misinterpreted and used for electrical applications.
• What is a Rate Compensation Detector ? -✓✓A device that responds when the
temperature reaches a pre-determined level.
• What is a 'Rate of Rise Detector'? -✓✓A device that responds when the temperature
rises at a rate exceeding a pre-determined value.
• What is a 'Smoke Detector'? -✓✓A device that detects both visible and invisible
combustion particles.
• Which sensor is best at detecting invisible smoke particles? -✓✓Ionization
(2026/2027) | Updated Review | A+ Verified
• What does PLFA stand for? -✓✓Power Limited Fire Alarm
• What does NPLFA stand for? -✓✓Non-Power Limited Fire Alarm.
• What material must NPLFA circuit conductors be made from? -✓✓Only solid or
stranded copper is permitted.
• What is a single station detector? -✓✓Battery powered smoke detectors that do not
communicate off premises.
• What is a multiple station detector? -✓✓Mains powered smoke detector with battery
back up that are linked together, so that if one unit initiates, alarms in all detectors will
sound. They do not communicate off premises.
• How frequently must household single and multiple station detectors be inspected and
tested? -✓✓In accordance with the manufacturers recommendations, at least monthly.
• How frequently must household fire alarm systems be inspected and tested? -✓✓At
least every 3 years, by a qualified service technician.
• How frequently must heat detectors be tested? -✓✓Two or more annually, different
detector must be tested each years, and within 5 years all detectors must have been
tested.
• What does restorable mean? -✓✓The detector can be restored or reused after it has
initiated an alarm.
• What does non restorable mean? -✓✓The detector cannot be re used after it has
initiated an alarm. ( Think of a heat detector, which self destructs upon initiating)
• What size conductors are permitted? -✓✓Size 18 AWG and 16 AWG are permitted,
provided that they do not exceed certain rated ampacities?
• What is used to protect the transformers or the devices supplied from power supply
conductors? -✓✓An overcurrent device not rated over 20 amperes.
• When located within 7th floor, how should cables be fastened? -✓✓Cables should be
fastened in an approved manner at intervals of not more than 18 inches.
• Single conductors shall not be smaller than ___ A.W.G? -✓✓18
, • Conductors of 26AWG shall only be permitted in which circumstances? -✓✓Where
spliced with a connector listed as suitable for 26 to 24 AWG.
• How should PLFA conductors NOT be installed? -✓✓PLFA conductors shall not be
strapped, taped or attached to the exterior of any conduit or raceway.
• What is Plenum cable? What are its characteristics? -✓✓Cable that can be installed in
ducts, plenums or other spaces used for environmental air. It has adequate fire
resistance and low smoke producing characteristics.
• What is a Riser cable? What are its characteristics? -✓✓Cable to be used in vertical
wire runs in shafts or between floors. Not to be used where Plenum cable is required. It
is capable of preventing fire from rising from the floor to floor.
• What is general purpose cable? What are its characteristics? -✓✓Cable for general
purpose fire alarm use. Not to be used where Plenum or Riser cable is required. It is
resistant to the spread of fire.
• What 'type' shall plenum cable be? What substitutions are allowed'? -✓✓Power
Limited Fire Alarm (FPLP) CMP can be submitted.
• What 'type' shall general purpose wire be? What substitutions are permitted? -
✓✓Power Limited Fire Alarm (FPL) CMP,FPLP,CMR, FLPR,CMG and CM can be
substituted (All Types)
• What is the maximum voltage permitted through multi conductor NPLFA cables? -
✓✓150 Volts
• What is the voltage rating of PLFA cables? -✓✓Not less than 300 volts
• Shall the voltage be marked on PLFA cables? -✓✓No, because the may be
misinterpreted and used for electrical applications.
• What is a Rate Compensation Detector ? -✓✓A device that responds when the
temperature reaches a pre-determined level.
• What is a 'Rate of Rise Detector'? -✓✓A device that responds when the temperature
rises at a rate exceeding a pre-determined value.
• What is a 'Smoke Detector'? -✓✓A device that detects both visible and invisible
combustion particles.
• Which sensor is best at detecting invisible smoke particles? -✓✓Ionization
