ASPE CPD CORRECT FINALS ANSWERS AND
QUESTIONS SET A+
✔✔What activates a fire pump? - ✔✔When the pressure in the fire sprinkler system
drops below a set threshold which is typically the performance value of the jockey
pump.
✔✔To what is the fire pump supply and discharge connected to? - ✔✔The municipal or
fire protection water supply at the intake and to the building’s sprinkler system risers
at the discharge. (Fire pump installations are governed by NFPA 20)
✔✔How is the overall fire demand established? - ✔✔By hydraulic calculations
performed by the engineer, by code, or by the insurance rating organization The end
result is the amount of flow required at a calculated pressure.
✔✔What are the minimum pressure outlet requirements for hydraulically calculated
standpipe systems? - ✔✔100 psi (not to exceed 175 psi at the top) at the outlet of the
hydraulically most remote 2-1/2” hose connection and 65 psi (not to exceed 100 psi
at the top) at the outlet of the hydraulically most remote 1-1/2” hose connection.
Ensure these values with a pressure regulating device or fire pump.
✔✔What are the minimum flow rates for Class I and Class III standpipes? - ✔✔500 gpm
for the hydraulically most remote standpipe, 250 gpm per additional standpipe, with the
total not exceeding 1250 gpm, or 1000 gpm for fully sprinklered buildings
✔✔What is a Class III Standpipe? - ✔✔A system that provides trained personnel a 1-
1/2” hose connection and a 2-1/2” hose connection for fire department/heavy fire
stream trained personnel.
✔✔What is a Class II Standpipe? - ✔✔A system that provides 1-1/2‚Äù hose connection
to trained building personnel during an initial response.
✔✔What is a Class I Standpipe? - ✔✔Provides a 2-1/2‚Äù hose connection for fire
department and those trained in heavy fire streams
,✔✔Where is the need for standpipes outlined and what is their purpose? - ✔✔The
adopted building and/or fire code. The purpose of installing a standpipe system is to
give fire department personnel a readily accessible water supply during fire events.
They may either be wet or dry type.
✔✔What approach are most fire sprinkler designs based on? - ✔✔Area and density
approach. Water flow requirements are based on degree of hazard, the design area is a
theoretical worst-case scenario, and the design density is a measurement of how much
water per square foot of floor area should be applied to the design area.
✔✔What are the four common types of automatic water-based sprinkler systems? -
✔✔1) Wet pipe 2) Dry pipe 3) Deluge 4) Preaction
✔✔What are the four authorities that may have jurisdiction regarding fire sprinkler
design? - ✔✔1) State fire marshal 2) Local fire department 3) Building department 4)
Insuring agency
✔✔What does NFPA 24 address? - ✔✔Standard for the Installation of Private Fire
Service Mains and Their Appurtenances
✔✔What does NFPA 20 address? - ✔✔Standard for the Installation of Stationary
Pumps for Fire Protection
✔✔What does NFPA 14 address? - ✔✔Standard for the installation of Standpipe and
Hose Systems
✔✔What does NFPA 13 address? - ✔✔Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems (13D: one and two family dwellings) (13R: residences up to and including 4
stories)
✔✔Design information for automatic sprinkler systems in non-residential properties is
set by who? Are these mandatory provisions? - ✔✔NFPA, just recommendations unless
referenced in other codes.
✔✔What plays a role in determining whether or not fire sprinklers are required? -
✔✔Building height and use classification.
✔✔How does a fire suppression system work against the ‚Äúfire triangle‚Äù? - ✔✔Fire
suppression systems put out fires by taking away one or more elements from the fire
triangle
✔✔What three things make up the ‚Äúfire triangle‚Äù? - ✔✔Oxygen, heat, and fuel.
,✔✔What pump capacity is thought of as ‚Äúgood design‚Äù for sump basins? - ✔✔1-
1/4 times the maximum inflow to protect against unusual flow conditions, and a duplex
sump system (each sized at 1-1/4 the max inflow) should be used for rainfall collection
to protect against flooding in the event of pump failure during a storm. Also, a source of
emergency power for storm water sump pumps is a good idea because storms and
power failures often occur at the same time. (you may use a VFD with a sump pump)
✔✔For paved and impervious areas collected in a sump, how is runoff calculated? -
✔✔A value of 1 gpm for every 24 sf can be assigned for locations where the annual rate
of rainfall is 4in/hr
✔✔How is the rate of discharge from a subsoil drainage system calculated? - ✔✔By
assigning a value of 2 gpm for each 100sf area where the soil is sandy and 1 gpm per
100sf for clay soils. Don’t forget to add the additional flow rate of clear water wastes
such as condensate drains, etc.
✔✔What should always be provided to keep harmful debris away from the pump in a
sump basin? - ✔✔A settling basin.
✔✔What kind of check valve should be used for pump discharge lines from
sump/ejector basins and why? - ✔✔A spring-loaded or weight-loaded check valve, to
keep the water from running back into a discharge basin and short cycling the pump.
✔✔What should always be installed at the discharge of each pump discharge line
(sump/ejector basin)? - ✔✔A check valve and shutoff valve (the shutoff valve on the
discharge side of the check valve so the check valve can be serviced)
✔✔What is a good rule of thumb for ejector vent sizing? - ✔✔Assign a size that is one-
half the size of the subdrain discharge pipe into the basin, or a minimum of 3 inches.
✔✔How many fixture units are equivalent to 1 gpm of pump discharge (in an ejector
system)? - ✔✔2 FUs
✔✔When an ejector vent is connected to the building venting system, how is the
addtional load on the vent pipe calculated? - ✔✔By converting the gpm discharge rate
into FU.
✔✔Ejector basins should not retain the waste discharge for a period exceeding how
long? - ✔✔12 hours
✔✔In an ejector basin, the high and low water levels should be maintained where and
why? - ✔✔The high water level should be at least 3 inches below the invert of the
entering piping to prevent backflow and allow air circulation. The low water level should
, be at least 6 inches above the bottom of the basin to ensure the suction intake of the
pump is covered by water.
✔✔What is the minimum run time on an ejector system to avoid excessive pump
cycling? - ✔✔5 minutes of pump capacity between high and low water levels
✔✔In an ejector system, how is the length of run measured and what its the minimum
size? - ✔✔From the pump outlet to the highest point, it should be at least the same size
as the pump discharge outlet. (after this point, the piping is sized as required for the
gravity house drain)
✔✔What is the recommended design velocity for flow in an ejector system? - ✔✔5 - 10
fps.
✔✔How do you determine the head of the ejector pump? - ✔✔Add the static head,
measured from the low water line in the receiver up to the highest point pumped, and
the friction head loss in the discharge piping and fittings.
✔✔In a duplex sewage ejector system, each pump is sized to satisfy what condition? -
✔✔Peak inflow.
✔✔What is used to size the ejector pump? - ✔✔Use the water supply fixture unit
method to determine flow into the receiver, then total FU is converted to GPM using a
table.
✔✔When are pneumatic-type ejectors commonly used? - ✔✔When the discharge rate
is 100 GPM or less, when large solids must be handled, where ground conditions are
such that the space below the floor is restricted, where compressed air is readily
available, and in explosion proof conditions.
✔✔What two types of lifting devices are employed for the automatic discharge of sump
or ejector basin contents? - ✔✔1) Centrifugal pumps 2) Pneumatic ejectors
✔✔A sump handles what? - ✔✔Clear waste water (sump basin not airtight, needs no
venting)
✔✔An ejector handles what? - ✔✔Sewage (ejector basin is airtight and requires
venting)
✔✔What is a subdrain? - ✔✔The portion of a drainage system that cannot drain by
gravity into the building sewer. (these wastes flow into a receiving tank or sump, which
is pumped into the gravity drainage system)
QUESTIONS SET A+
✔✔What activates a fire pump? - ✔✔When the pressure in the fire sprinkler system
drops below a set threshold which is typically the performance value of the jockey
pump.
✔✔To what is the fire pump supply and discharge connected to? - ✔✔The municipal or
fire protection water supply at the intake and to the building’s sprinkler system risers
at the discharge. (Fire pump installations are governed by NFPA 20)
✔✔How is the overall fire demand established? - ✔✔By hydraulic calculations
performed by the engineer, by code, or by the insurance rating organization The end
result is the amount of flow required at a calculated pressure.
✔✔What are the minimum pressure outlet requirements for hydraulically calculated
standpipe systems? - ✔✔100 psi (not to exceed 175 psi at the top) at the outlet of the
hydraulically most remote 2-1/2” hose connection and 65 psi (not to exceed 100 psi
at the top) at the outlet of the hydraulically most remote 1-1/2” hose connection.
Ensure these values with a pressure regulating device or fire pump.
✔✔What are the minimum flow rates for Class I and Class III standpipes? - ✔✔500 gpm
for the hydraulically most remote standpipe, 250 gpm per additional standpipe, with the
total not exceeding 1250 gpm, or 1000 gpm for fully sprinklered buildings
✔✔What is a Class III Standpipe? - ✔✔A system that provides trained personnel a 1-
1/2” hose connection and a 2-1/2” hose connection for fire department/heavy fire
stream trained personnel.
✔✔What is a Class II Standpipe? - ✔✔A system that provides 1-1/2‚Äù hose connection
to trained building personnel during an initial response.
✔✔What is a Class I Standpipe? - ✔✔Provides a 2-1/2‚Äù hose connection for fire
department and those trained in heavy fire streams
,✔✔Where is the need for standpipes outlined and what is their purpose? - ✔✔The
adopted building and/or fire code. The purpose of installing a standpipe system is to
give fire department personnel a readily accessible water supply during fire events.
They may either be wet or dry type.
✔✔What approach are most fire sprinkler designs based on? - ✔✔Area and density
approach. Water flow requirements are based on degree of hazard, the design area is a
theoretical worst-case scenario, and the design density is a measurement of how much
water per square foot of floor area should be applied to the design area.
✔✔What are the four common types of automatic water-based sprinkler systems? -
✔✔1) Wet pipe 2) Dry pipe 3) Deluge 4) Preaction
✔✔What are the four authorities that may have jurisdiction regarding fire sprinkler
design? - ✔✔1) State fire marshal 2) Local fire department 3) Building department 4)
Insuring agency
✔✔What does NFPA 24 address? - ✔✔Standard for the Installation of Private Fire
Service Mains and Their Appurtenances
✔✔What does NFPA 20 address? - ✔✔Standard for the Installation of Stationary
Pumps for Fire Protection
✔✔What does NFPA 14 address? - ✔✔Standard for the installation of Standpipe and
Hose Systems
✔✔What does NFPA 13 address? - ✔✔Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems (13D: one and two family dwellings) (13R: residences up to and including 4
stories)
✔✔Design information for automatic sprinkler systems in non-residential properties is
set by who? Are these mandatory provisions? - ✔✔NFPA, just recommendations unless
referenced in other codes.
✔✔What plays a role in determining whether or not fire sprinklers are required? -
✔✔Building height and use classification.
✔✔How does a fire suppression system work against the ‚Äúfire triangle‚Äù? - ✔✔Fire
suppression systems put out fires by taking away one or more elements from the fire
triangle
✔✔What three things make up the ‚Äúfire triangle‚Äù? - ✔✔Oxygen, heat, and fuel.
,✔✔What pump capacity is thought of as ‚Äúgood design‚Äù for sump basins? - ✔✔1-
1/4 times the maximum inflow to protect against unusual flow conditions, and a duplex
sump system (each sized at 1-1/4 the max inflow) should be used for rainfall collection
to protect against flooding in the event of pump failure during a storm. Also, a source of
emergency power for storm water sump pumps is a good idea because storms and
power failures often occur at the same time. (you may use a VFD with a sump pump)
✔✔For paved and impervious areas collected in a sump, how is runoff calculated? -
✔✔A value of 1 gpm for every 24 sf can be assigned for locations where the annual rate
of rainfall is 4in/hr
✔✔How is the rate of discharge from a subsoil drainage system calculated? - ✔✔By
assigning a value of 2 gpm for each 100sf area where the soil is sandy and 1 gpm per
100sf for clay soils. Don’t forget to add the additional flow rate of clear water wastes
such as condensate drains, etc.
✔✔What should always be provided to keep harmful debris away from the pump in a
sump basin? - ✔✔A settling basin.
✔✔What kind of check valve should be used for pump discharge lines from
sump/ejector basins and why? - ✔✔A spring-loaded or weight-loaded check valve, to
keep the water from running back into a discharge basin and short cycling the pump.
✔✔What should always be installed at the discharge of each pump discharge line
(sump/ejector basin)? - ✔✔A check valve and shutoff valve (the shutoff valve on the
discharge side of the check valve so the check valve can be serviced)
✔✔What is a good rule of thumb for ejector vent sizing? - ✔✔Assign a size that is one-
half the size of the subdrain discharge pipe into the basin, or a minimum of 3 inches.
✔✔How many fixture units are equivalent to 1 gpm of pump discharge (in an ejector
system)? - ✔✔2 FUs
✔✔When an ejector vent is connected to the building venting system, how is the
addtional load on the vent pipe calculated? - ✔✔By converting the gpm discharge rate
into FU.
✔✔Ejector basins should not retain the waste discharge for a period exceeding how
long? - ✔✔12 hours
✔✔In an ejector basin, the high and low water levels should be maintained where and
why? - ✔✔The high water level should be at least 3 inches below the invert of the
entering piping to prevent backflow and allow air circulation. The low water level should
, be at least 6 inches above the bottom of the basin to ensure the suction intake of the
pump is covered by water.
✔✔What is the minimum run time on an ejector system to avoid excessive pump
cycling? - ✔✔5 minutes of pump capacity between high and low water levels
✔✔In an ejector system, how is the length of run measured and what its the minimum
size? - ✔✔From the pump outlet to the highest point, it should be at least the same size
as the pump discharge outlet. (after this point, the piping is sized as required for the
gravity house drain)
✔✔What is the recommended design velocity for flow in an ejector system? - ✔✔5 - 10
fps.
✔✔How do you determine the head of the ejector pump? - ✔✔Add the static head,
measured from the low water line in the receiver up to the highest point pumped, and
the friction head loss in the discharge piping and fittings.
✔✔In a duplex sewage ejector system, each pump is sized to satisfy what condition? -
✔✔Peak inflow.
✔✔What is used to size the ejector pump? - ✔✔Use the water supply fixture unit
method to determine flow into the receiver, then total FU is converted to GPM using a
table.
✔✔When are pneumatic-type ejectors commonly used? - ✔✔When the discharge rate
is 100 GPM or less, when large solids must be handled, where ground conditions are
such that the space below the floor is restricted, where compressed air is readily
available, and in explosion proof conditions.
✔✔What two types of lifting devices are employed for the automatic discharge of sump
or ejector basin contents? - ✔✔1) Centrifugal pumps 2) Pneumatic ejectors
✔✔A sump handles what? - ✔✔Clear waste water (sump basin not airtight, needs no
venting)
✔✔An ejector handles what? - ✔✔Sewage (ejector basin is airtight and requires
venting)
✔✔What is a subdrain? - ✔✔The portion of a drainage system that cannot drain by
gravity into the building sewer. (these wastes flow into a receiving tank or sump, which
is pumped into the gravity drainage system)
