FDNY F-80 EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
QUESTIONS 1–25 — F-80 FUNDAMENTALS, RESPONSIBILITIES & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
1. What is the primary purpose of the F-80 Certificate of Fitness?
A) To coordinate fire safety and alarm systems in homeless shelters
B) To install and modify fire alarm systems
C) To perform electrical contracting work
D) To inspect elevators for mechanical defects
Correct Answer: A) To coordinate fire safety and alarm systems in homeless shelters
Rationale: The F-80 credential is specifically designated for the Coordinator of Fire Safety and Alarm
System in Homeless Shelters. The coordinator is responsible for supervising fire-safety functions,
understanding the shelter’s fire protection systems, and ensuring required procedures are followed.
The F-80 holder is not authorized to independently install or modify fire alarm components.
2. Which organization administers the F-80 Certificate of Fitness program?
A) New York State Department of Labor
B) Fire Department of the City of New York
C) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
D) New York City Department of Buildings
Correct Answer: B) Fire Department of the City of New York
Rationale: The F-80 is an FDNY Certificate of Fitness. The Fire Department of the City of New York
establishes the qualification, examination, and operational requirements for this credential. Other
agencies may have responsibilities involving buildings or shelters, but they do not replace FDNY as
the authority administering the F-80 Certificate of Fitness.
3. Which shelter condition is most directly associated with the need for an F-80 holder?
A) A shelter with no fire protection equipment
B) A private residence with a smoke detector
C) A homeless shelter requiring an F-80 coordinator
D) A construction site requiring an S-56 holder
Correct Answer: C) A homeless shelter requiring an F-80 coordinator
Rationale: FDNY identifies F-80 specifically with the coordination of fire safety and alarm systems in
homeless shelters. The credential should not be confused with S-56, which concerns construction-site
fire safety, or S-95, which concerns supervision of certain fire alarm systems. The actual requirement
depends on the occupancy and applicable FDNY requirements.
,4. What is a key responsibility of an F-80 coordinator when an aspect of the fire alarm system
becomes impaired?
A) Ignore the condition until the next scheduled inspection
B) Attempt to repair the defective circuit personally
C) Remove all alarm devices from the shelter
D) Immediately notify the impairment coordinator
Correct Answer: D) Immediately notify the impairment coordinator
Rationale: The FDNY study material states that an F-80 coordinator who becomes aware of an
impaired or out-of-service fire alarm system must notify the impairment coordinator immediately.
The coordinator should not independently repair or modify system components. Appropriate
notification and follow-up help ensure that required impairment procedures are initiated promptly.
5. Which statement correctly describes the F-80 Certificate of Fitness?
A) It is premise-related.
B) It automatically authorizes work at every NYC shelter.
C) It is a statewide New York license.
D) It is a national fire-protection certification.
Correct Answer: A) It is premise-related.
Rationale: The FDNY study material specifically describes the F-80 Certificate of Fitness as premise-
related. This means its application is connected to the shelter location and the responsibilities
performed there. It should not be interpreted as a nationwide credential or a blanket authorization to
perform F-80 duties at every shelter without satisfying applicable FDNY requirements.
6. How many homeless shelter locations may an F-80 holder generally be certified for
simultaneously without obtaining a variance?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four
Correct Answer: B) Two
Rationale: The FDNY F-80 study material states that an F-80 holder can be certified in two homeless
shelter locations at one time without applying for a variance. Permission is required through the
FDNY variance process for three or more locations. Separate verification and application
documentation are required for each applicable location.
7. Which document must be maintained on the shelter premises and made available to Fire
Department representatives upon request?
A) A private employee résumé
B) A personal training journal
,C) The emergency preparedness plan
D) A tenant financial statement
Correct Answer: C) The emergency preparedness plan
Rationale: The emergency preparedness plan must be maintained at the shelter in an approved
location and made available to Fire Department representatives immediately upon request. The plan
provides critical information concerning emergency procedures, staffing, exits, building features, and
evacuation or relocation procedures. Maintaining an accessible plan supports effective emergency
response and FDNY oversight.
8. At a minimum, how often must the emergency preparedness plan be reviewed and updated as
necessary?
A) Every month
B) Every three months
C) Every five years
D) At least once a year
Correct Answer: D) At least once a year
Rationale: The FDNY study material requires emergency preparedness plans to be reviewed and
updated when circumstances require and, at minimum, once each year. Changes in staffing,
occupancy, building use, design, or arrangement can require additional updates. The required log
book must document the review and identify the general nature of necessary updates.
9. Before a shelter is occupied, what should happen to its emergency preparedness plan?
A) It should be prepared and accepted as required.
B) It should be destroyed after staff orientation.
C) It should be submitted only after the first fire drill.
D) It is optional if the building has sprinklers.
Correct Answer: A) It should be prepared and accepted as required.
Rationale: The FDNY material states that shelters must have an emergency preparedness plan
maintained on the premises and that the plan is to be prepared and accepted prior to occupancy as
required by the Fire Code, rules, and FDNY policy. Fire alarms and sprinklers do not eliminate the
need for an emergency preparedness plan.
10. Which item is specifically identified as part of the emergency preparedness plan?
A) Employee payroll records
B) Site plan, floor plan, and riser diagram
C) Residents’ banking information
D) Personal medical histories of every employee
Correct Answer: B) Site plan, floor plan, and riser diagram
, Rationale: The FDNY identifies site plans, floor plans, and riser diagrams among the information that
should be included in the emergency preparedness plan. These documents help personnel understand
the physical arrangement and fire-protection features of the shelter. Sensitive personal information
unrelated to emergency operations is not a substitute for required building information.
11. What should the F-80 coordinator know about the shelter's exits?
A) Only the main public entrance
B) Only exits used during normal business hours
C) All entrances and exits, including emergency exits and fire escapes
D) Only exits located on the first floor
Correct Answer: C) All entrances and exits, including emergency exits and fire escapes
Rationale: The emergency preparedness plan should identify entrances and exits, including
emergency exits and fire escapes, and indicate where they lead. F-80 coordinators must also be
familiar with the shelter’s means of egress. Emergency conditions can make a normally preferred
route unavailable, so knowledge of alternate routes is essential.
12. Why should an F-80 coordinator receive an orientation to the emergency preparedness plan
before performing duties?
A) To learn payroll procedures
B) To replace the building owner
C) To become an elevator mechanic
D) To understand the shelter's emergency responsibilities and procedures
Correct Answer: D) To understand the shelter's emergency responsibilities and procedures
Rationale: FDNY states that F-80 coordinators should be knowledgeable about the emergency
preparedness plan and receive an orientation from the building owner or knowledgeable on-site
personnel before beginning their duties. Understanding the plan allows the coordinator to act
consistently with established emergency procedures, staffing assignments, evacuation routes, and
communication methods.
13. Which change may require an update to an emergency preparedness plan?
A) A change in staff assignments
B) A change in an employee's favorite uniform
C) A change in personal transportation
D) A change in lunch schedule only
Correct Answer: A) A change in staff assignments
Rationale: FDNY specifically identifies changes in staff assignments as a circumstance that may
require the emergency preparedness plan to be reviewed and updated. Changes in occupancy, use,
design, or arrangement can similarly affect emergency procedures. The coordinator should remain
aware of plan changes even when another person is responsible for formally making them.
ANSWERS
QUESTIONS 1–25 — F-80 FUNDAMENTALS, RESPONSIBILITIES & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
1. What is the primary purpose of the F-80 Certificate of Fitness?
A) To coordinate fire safety and alarm systems in homeless shelters
B) To install and modify fire alarm systems
C) To perform electrical contracting work
D) To inspect elevators for mechanical defects
Correct Answer: A) To coordinate fire safety and alarm systems in homeless shelters
Rationale: The F-80 credential is specifically designated for the Coordinator of Fire Safety and Alarm
System in Homeless Shelters. The coordinator is responsible for supervising fire-safety functions,
understanding the shelter’s fire protection systems, and ensuring required procedures are followed.
The F-80 holder is not authorized to independently install or modify fire alarm components.
2. Which organization administers the F-80 Certificate of Fitness program?
A) New York State Department of Labor
B) Fire Department of the City of New York
C) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
D) New York City Department of Buildings
Correct Answer: B) Fire Department of the City of New York
Rationale: The F-80 is an FDNY Certificate of Fitness. The Fire Department of the City of New York
establishes the qualification, examination, and operational requirements for this credential. Other
agencies may have responsibilities involving buildings or shelters, but they do not replace FDNY as
the authority administering the F-80 Certificate of Fitness.
3. Which shelter condition is most directly associated with the need for an F-80 holder?
A) A shelter with no fire protection equipment
B) A private residence with a smoke detector
C) A homeless shelter requiring an F-80 coordinator
D) A construction site requiring an S-56 holder
Correct Answer: C) A homeless shelter requiring an F-80 coordinator
Rationale: FDNY identifies F-80 specifically with the coordination of fire safety and alarm systems in
homeless shelters. The credential should not be confused with S-56, which concerns construction-site
fire safety, or S-95, which concerns supervision of certain fire alarm systems. The actual requirement
depends on the occupancy and applicable FDNY requirements.
,4. What is a key responsibility of an F-80 coordinator when an aspect of the fire alarm system
becomes impaired?
A) Ignore the condition until the next scheduled inspection
B) Attempt to repair the defective circuit personally
C) Remove all alarm devices from the shelter
D) Immediately notify the impairment coordinator
Correct Answer: D) Immediately notify the impairment coordinator
Rationale: The FDNY study material states that an F-80 coordinator who becomes aware of an
impaired or out-of-service fire alarm system must notify the impairment coordinator immediately.
The coordinator should not independently repair or modify system components. Appropriate
notification and follow-up help ensure that required impairment procedures are initiated promptly.
5. Which statement correctly describes the F-80 Certificate of Fitness?
A) It is premise-related.
B) It automatically authorizes work at every NYC shelter.
C) It is a statewide New York license.
D) It is a national fire-protection certification.
Correct Answer: A) It is premise-related.
Rationale: The FDNY study material specifically describes the F-80 Certificate of Fitness as premise-
related. This means its application is connected to the shelter location and the responsibilities
performed there. It should not be interpreted as a nationwide credential or a blanket authorization to
perform F-80 duties at every shelter without satisfying applicable FDNY requirements.
6. How many homeless shelter locations may an F-80 holder generally be certified for
simultaneously without obtaining a variance?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four
Correct Answer: B) Two
Rationale: The FDNY F-80 study material states that an F-80 holder can be certified in two homeless
shelter locations at one time without applying for a variance. Permission is required through the
FDNY variance process for three or more locations. Separate verification and application
documentation are required for each applicable location.
7. Which document must be maintained on the shelter premises and made available to Fire
Department representatives upon request?
A) A private employee résumé
B) A personal training journal
,C) The emergency preparedness plan
D) A tenant financial statement
Correct Answer: C) The emergency preparedness plan
Rationale: The emergency preparedness plan must be maintained at the shelter in an approved
location and made available to Fire Department representatives immediately upon request. The plan
provides critical information concerning emergency procedures, staffing, exits, building features, and
evacuation or relocation procedures. Maintaining an accessible plan supports effective emergency
response and FDNY oversight.
8. At a minimum, how often must the emergency preparedness plan be reviewed and updated as
necessary?
A) Every month
B) Every three months
C) Every five years
D) At least once a year
Correct Answer: D) At least once a year
Rationale: The FDNY study material requires emergency preparedness plans to be reviewed and
updated when circumstances require and, at minimum, once each year. Changes in staffing,
occupancy, building use, design, or arrangement can require additional updates. The required log
book must document the review and identify the general nature of necessary updates.
9. Before a shelter is occupied, what should happen to its emergency preparedness plan?
A) It should be prepared and accepted as required.
B) It should be destroyed after staff orientation.
C) It should be submitted only after the first fire drill.
D) It is optional if the building has sprinklers.
Correct Answer: A) It should be prepared and accepted as required.
Rationale: The FDNY material states that shelters must have an emergency preparedness plan
maintained on the premises and that the plan is to be prepared and accepted prior to occupancy as
required by the Fire Code, rules, and FDNY policy. Fire alarms and sprinklers do not eliminate the
need for an emergency preparedness plan.
10. Which item is specifically identified as part of the emergency preparedness plan?
A) Employee payroll records
B) Site plan, floor plan, and riser diagram
C) Residents’ banking information
D) Personal medical histories of every employee
Correct Answer: B) Site plan, floor plan, and riser diagram
, Rationale: The FDNY identifies site plans, floor plans, and riser diagrams among the information that
should be included in the emergency preparedness plan. These documents help personnel understand
the physical arrangement and fire-protection features of the shelter. Sensitive personal information
unrelated to emergency operations is not a substitute for required building information.
11. What should the F-80 coordinator know about the shelter's exits?
A) Only the main public entrance
B) Only exits used during normal business hours
C) All entrances and exits, including emergency exits and fire escapes
D) Only exits located on the first floor
Correct Answer: C) All entrances and exits, including emergency exits and fire escapes
Rationale: The emergency preparedness plan should identify entrances and exits, including
emergency exits and fire escapes, and indicate where they lead. F-80 coordinators must also be
familiar with the shelter’s means of egress. Emergency conditions can make a normally preferred
route unavailable, so knowledge of alternate routes is essential.
12. Why should an F-80 coordinator receive an orientation to the emergency preparedness plan
before performing duties?
A) To learn payroll procedures
B) To replace the building owner
C) To become an elevator mechanic
D) To understand the shelter's emergency responsibilities and procedures
Correct Answer: D) To understand the shelter's emergency responsibilities and procedures
Rationale: FDNY states that F-80 coordinators should be knowledgeable about the emergency
preparedness plan and receive an orientation from the building owner or knowledgeable on-site
personnel before beginning their duties. Understanding the plan allows the coordinator to act
consistently with established emergency procedures, staffing assignments, evacuation routes, and
communication methods.
13. Which change may require an update to an emergency preparedness plan?
A) A change in staff assignments
B) A change in an employee's favorite uniform
C) A change in personal transportation
D) A change in lunch schedule only
Correct Answer: A) A change in staff assignments
Rationale: FDNY specifically identifies changes in staff assignments as a circumstance that may
require the emergency preparedness plan to be reviewed and updated. Changes in occupancy, use,
design, or arrangement can similarly affect emergency procedures. The coordinator should remain
aware of plan changes even when another person is responsible for formally making them.
