S-95 FDNY TEST STUDY GUIDE Exam
Questions Verified and Provided with A+
Graded Answers Latest Updated 2026
What Can A S95 Holder do? Only visual inspections on smoke alarms
Primary Purpose of Fire Alarm Systems on a premise is to warn tenants and transmit signals indicating a fire
condition to the FDNY aka Central station
Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) Monitors inputs and controls output through various types of
circuits.The Panel activates the building audible and visual device
connected to the fire alarm (horn/strobes)
Three Types of Signals Fire Alarm Signal, Supervisory Signals, and Trouble Signals
Fire Alarm Signal Manual fire alarm pull station, smoke detector, water flow switch in the
presence of a fire or fire signature.
Supervisory Signals Signals which Indicate that a system or device being monitored has
been compromised or is in an abnormal state. Will audibly and visually
annunciate at the FACP to indicate the condition needs to be
investigated and corrected. The FACP will also send a signal to an FDNY
approved central station.
Trouble Signals Battery failure, AC failure, ground fault, open or short circuit on a wire,
phone line failure, internal component failure.
Alarm Silence Switch or Button Is used to silence the building audible and visual
devices after evacuation is complete while the source of alarm is being
investigated. Never reset the fire alarm system until the condition is
verified by the FDNY personnel.
System Reset Switch Or Button Reset fire alarm system after condition is cleared. Should return to
normal condition after resetting. Often required to clear supervisory
conditions, does not clear trouble conditions.
Smoke detectors must be Cleaned once every 6 months. Test for smoke entry every once a year
Primary Power shall be generated electric power not exceeding 277/480 volts
Secondary Power Source Batteries shall not be a sub for connection to the secondary source
Manual Pull Station~Manually pulling handle Return handle to normal position. A key or other method may be
required to reset the station to normal
Smoke, beam, and duct detectors~ Detection of Smoke detectors will normally reset when the reset button is pressed at
particles of combustion the FACP if the condition activating the detector has been cleared
Heat detectors~ Abnormally high temperature After activation most Fixed temperature heat detectors will not self
restore and will require replacement by a qualified service technician.
Rate of rise detectors will normally self- restore after activation.
, Water-Flow device~ Flow of water in a Device should return to normal when water ceases to flow.
sprinkler system
Smoke Detectors Smoke Detectors is a device that detects visible and invisible
particles of combustion. Smoke detectors detect most fires much
more rapidly than heat detectors. Smoke detectors are subject to
mechanical
damage they shall be protected.
Ionization detectors use an ionization chamber and a source of ionizing
radiation to detect smoke.
better at detecting the smaller amounts of particles of combustion.
Photoelectric detectors Respond to smoke, which obscures a light beam in the device. Useful
where potential fires may produce a great deal of smoke before
bursting into flames
Projected beam-type detectors shall be kept clear of opaque obstacles at all
times The beam length shall not exceed the maximum
permitted by the equipment listing.The maximum beam
length is determined by the maximum distance at which the detector
can
maintain its design stability even when some normal light obscuration
is present.
The beam shall be designed so that small angular movements
of the light source or receiver do not prevent operation because of
smoke and do
not cause nuisance alarms
Photoelectric light-obscuration smoke detectors When smoke particles enter the light path, some of the light scattered
and some are absorbed, thereby reducing the light reaching the
receiving sensor. The light reduction signal is processed and used to
create an alarm sound.
Photoelectric light-scattering smoke detectors a sensor is arranged so that the rays from the light source do not
normally fall onto the photosensitive sensor. When smoke particles
enter the light path, some of the light is scattered by reflection onto the
sensor. The light signal is processed and used to create an alarm.
Multi-criteria Detector a initiating device that contains multiple sensors that
separately respond to physical stimulus such as heat, smoke, or fire
gases, or
employs more than one sensor to sense the same stimulus. This sensor
is
capable of generating only one alarm signal from the sensors
employed in the
design either independently or in combination.
Multi-sensor Detector device that contains multiple sensors that separately
respond to physical stimulus such as heat, smoke, or fire gases, or
employs
more than one sensor to sense the same stimulus. A device capable of
generating multiple alarm signals from any one of the sensors
employed in the
design, independently or in combination. The sensor output signals are
mathematically evaluated to determine when an alarm signal is
necessary.
Questions Verified and Provided with A+
Graded Answers Latest Updated 2026
What Can A S95 Holder do? Only visual inspections on smoke alarms
Primary Purpose of Fire Alarm Systems on a premise is to warn tenants and transmit signals indicating a fire
condition to the FDNY aka Central station
Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) Monitors inputs and controls output through various types of
circuits.The Panel activates the building audible and visual device
connected to the fire alarm (horn/strobes)
Three Types of Signals Fire Alarm Signal, Supervisory Signals, and Trouble Signals
Fire Alarm Signal Manual fire alarm pull station, smoke detector, water flow switch in the
presence of a fire or fire signature.
Supervisory Signals Signals which Indicate that a system or device being monitored has
been compromised or is in an abnormal state. Will audibly and visually
annunciate at the FACP to indicate the condition needs to be
investigated and corrected. The FACP will also send a signal to an FDNY
approved central station.
Trouble Signals Battery failure, AC failure, ground fault, open or short circuit on a wire,
phone line failure, internal component failure.
Alarm Silence Switch or Button Is used to silence the building audible and visual
devices after evacuation is complete while the source of alarm is being
investigated. Never reset the fire alarm system until the condition is
verified by the FDNY personnel.
System Reset Switch Or Button Reset fire alarm system after condition is cleared. Should return to
normal condition after resetting. Often required to clear supervisory
conditions, does not clear trouble conditions.
Smoke detectors must be Cleaned once every 6 months. Test for smoke entry every once a year
Primary Power shall be generated electric power not exceeding 277/480 volts
Secondary Power Source Batteries shall not be a sub for connection to the secondary source
Manual Pull Station~Manually pulling handle Return handle to normal position. A key or other method may be
required to reset the station to normal
Smoke, beam, and duct detectors~ Detection of Smoke detectors will normally reset when the reset button is pressed at
particles of combustion the FACP if the condition activating the detector has been cleared
Heat detectors~ Abnormally high temperature After activation most Fixed temperature heat detectors will not self
restore and will require replacement by a qualified service technician.
Rate of rise detectors will normally self- restore after activation.
, Water-Flow device~ Flow of water in a Device should return to normal when water ceases to flow.
sprinkler system
Smoke Detectors Smoke Detectors is a device that detects visible and invisible
particles of combustion. Smoke detectors detect most fires much
more rapidly than heat detectors. Smoke detectors are subject to
mechanical
damage they shall be protected.
Ionization detectors use an ionization chamber and a source of ionizing
radiation to detect smoke.
better at detecting the smaller amounts of particles of combustion.
Photoelectric detectors Respond to smoke, which obscures a light beam in the device. Useful
where potential fires may produce a great deal of smoke before
bursting into flames
Projected beam-type detectors shall be kept clear of opaque obstacles at all
times The beam length shall not exceed the maximum
permitted by the equipment listing.The maximum beam
length is determined by the maximum distance at which the detector
can
maintain its design stability even when some normal light obscuration
is present.
The beam shall be designed so that small angular movements
of the light source or receiver do not prevent operation because of
smoke and do
not cause nuisance alarms
Photoelectric light-obscuration smoke detectors When smoke particles enter the light path, some of the light scattered
and some are absorbed, thereby reducing the light reaching the
receiving sensor. The light reduction signal is processed and used to
create an alarm sound.
Photoelectric light-scattering smoke detectors a sensor is arranged so that the rays from the light source do not
normally fall onto the photosensitive sensor. When smoke particles
enter the light path, some of the light is scattered by reflection onto the
sensor. The light signal is processed and used to create an alarm.
Multi-criteria Detector a initiating device that contains multiple sensors that
separately respond to physical stimulus such as heat, smoke, or fire
gases, or
employs more than one sensor to sense the same stimulus. This sensor
is
capable of generating only one alarm signal from the sensors
employed in the
design either independently or in combination.
Multi-sensor Detector device that contains multiple sensors that separately
respond to physical stimulus such as heat, smoke, or fire gases, or
employs
more than one sensor to sense the same stimulus. A device capable of
generating multiple alarm signals from any one of the sensors
employed in the
design, independently or in combination. The sensor output signals are
mathematically evaluated to determine when an alarm signal is
necessary.
