, Question 1
A new 5-story office building is being designed with a wet-pipe automatic
sprinkler system. The building has a 12-inch concrete floor slab and a 2-hour
fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling assembly. The owner requests a combined
standpipe and sprinkler system. According to NFPA 13, which of the following
statements is most accurate regarding the required fire department connection
(FDC) and its location?
A. The FDC must be located within 50 feet of a fire hydrant and shall be
a 4-inch Storz connection.
B. The FDC shall be located on the street side of the building and be no
more than 100 feet from a hydrant.
C. The FDC shall be located so that it is visible and accessible from the
street, and the distance from the FDC to the nearest hydrant shall not
exceed 100 feet unless approved by the AHJ.
D. The FDC is not required for a combined system if the standpipe
system is manual.
Correct Answer: C - The FDC shall be located so that it is visible
and accessible from the street, and the distance from the FDC to
the nearest hydrant shall not exceed 100 feet unless approved by
the AHJ.
RATIONALE
NFPA 13 and NFPA 14 require the FDC to be visible and accessible
from the street, and within 100 feet of a hydrant unless the AHJ
approves otherwise. Option A is incorrect because the distance is not
fixed at 50 feet and the connection size varies. Option B is incorrect
because the FDC must be on the street side but the 100-foot rule is to a
hydrant, not a fixed distance from the building. Option D is incorrect
because a combined system still requires an FDC.
Page 2
, Question 2
During a hydraulic calculation for a tree system, the most hydraulically remote
area is identified. The sprinkler at the remote end has a discharge coefficient
(K) of 5.6 and a minimum required pressure of 7 psi. What is the flow rate
from this sprinkler?
A. 14.8 gpm
B. 39.2 gpm
C. 7.0 gpm
D. 5.6 gpm
Correct Answer: A - 14.8 gpm
RATIONALE
Flow rate Q = KP. Q = 5.6 × 7 5.6 × 2.6458 14.8 gpm. Options B, C,
and D are incorrect because they misapply the formula or use the
K-factor as the flow directly.
Question 3
A fire sprinkler contractor is preparing a bid for a project in Virginia. The
project requires a performance bond. Which of the following statements
regarding Virginia contractor licensing and bonding is correct?
A. A performance bond is required for all fire sprinkler contractor
projects over $10,000.
B. Fire sprinkler contractors are exempt from bonding requirements if
they have general liability insurance.
C. The Virginia Board for Contractors requires a surety bond or letter of
credit for certain classes of fire sprinkler contractor licenses, with
amounts set by regulation.
D. Performance bonds are only required for federal projects, not state or
private projects.
Correct Answer: C - The Virginia Board for Contractors requires
a surety bond or letter of credit for certain classes of fire
Page 3
, sprinkler contractor licenses, with amounts set by regulation.
RATIONALE
The Virginia Board for Contractors requires a surety bond or letter of
credit for certain classes of fire sprinkler contractor licenses, with
amounts specified in the regulations. Option A is incorrect because
bonding requirements are not based solely on project value. Option B
is incorrect because insurance does not replace bonding. Option D is
incorrect because state and private projects may also require bonds.
Question 4
A wet-pipe sprinkler system in a parking garage is subject to freezing. The
contractor proposes using a dry-pipe valve with a 4-inch riser and a
1,000-gallon air compressor. According to NFPA 13, which of the following is
a critical requirement for the dry-pipe valve and air supply?
A. The dry-pipe valve must be listed for the specific system size and the
air compressor must be sized to fill the system to 40 psi within 30
minutes.
B. The dry-pipe valve must be installed in a heated enclosure and the air
compressor must maintain a minimum of 10 psi at all times.
C. The dry-pipe valve must be a deluge valve and the air compressor
must be capable of 100 psi.
D. The dry-pipe valve must be installed below the sprinkler riser and the
air compressor must be manually operated.
Correct Answer: A - The dry-pipe valve must be listed for the
specific system size and the air compressor must be sized to fill
the system to 40 psi within 30 minutes.
Page 4
A new 5-story office building is being designed with a wet-pipe automatic
sprinkler system. The building has a 12-inch concrete floor slab and a 2-hour
fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling assembly. The owner requests a combined
standpipe and sprinkler system. According to NFPA 13, which of the following
statements is most accurate regarding the required fire department connection
(FDC) and its location?
A. The FDC must be located within 50 feet of a fire hydrant and shall be
a 4-inch Storz connection.
B. The FDC shall be located on the street side of the building and be no
more than 100 feet from a hydrant.
C. The FDC shall be located so that it is visible and accessible from the
street, and the distance from the FDC to the nearest hydrant shall not
exceed 100 feet unless approved by the AHJ.
D. The FDC is not required for a combined system if the standpipe
system is manual.
Correct Answer: C - The FDC shall be located so that it is visible
and accessible from the street, and the distance from the FDC to
the nearest hydrant shall not exceed 100 feet unless approved by
the AHJ.
RATIONALE
NFPA 13 and NFPA 14 require the FDC to be visible and accessible
from the street, and within 100 feet of a hydrant unless the AHJ
approves otherwise. Option A is incorrect because the distance is not
fixed at 50 feet and the connection size varies. Option B is incorrect
because the FDC must be on the street side but the 100-foot rule is to a
hydrant, not a fixed distance from the building. Option D is incorrect
because a combined system still requires an FDC.
Page 2
, Question 2
During a hydraulic calculation for a tree system, the most hydraulically remote
area is identified. The sprinkler at the remote end has a discharge coefficient
(K) of 5.6 and a minimum required pressure of 7 psi. What is the flow rate
from this sprinkler?
A. 14.8 gpm
B. 39.2 gpm
C. 7.0 gpm
D. 5.6 gpm
Correct Answer: A - 14.8 gpm
RATIONALE
Flow rate Q = KP. Q = 5.6 × 7 5.6 × 2.6458 14.8 gpm. Options B, C,
and D are incorrect because they misapply the formula or use the
K-factor as the flow directly.
Question 3
A fire sprinkler contractor is preparing a bid for a project in Virginia. The
project requires a performance bond. Which of the following statements
regarding Virginia contractor licensing and bonding is correct?
A. A performance bond is required for all fire sprinkler contractor
projects over $10,000.
B. Fire sprinkler contractors are exempt from bonding requirements if
they have general liability insurance.
C. The Virginia Board for Contractors requires a surety bond or letter of
credit for certain classes of fire sprinkler contractor licenses, with
amounts set by regulation.
D. Performance bonds are only required for federal projects, not state or
private projects.
Correct Answer: C - The Virginia Board for Contractors requires
a surety bond or letter of credit for certain classes of fire
Page 3
, sprinkler contractor licenses, with amounts set by regulation.
RATIONALE
The Virginia Board for Contractors requires a surety bond or letter of
credit for certain classes of fire sprinkler contractor licenses, with
amounts specified in the regulations. Option A is incorrect because
bonding requirements are not based solely on project value. Option B
is incorrect because insurance does not replace bonding. Option D is
incorrect because state and private projects may also require bonds.
Question 4
A wet-pipe sprinkler system in a parking garage is subject to freezing. The
contractor proposes using a dry-pipe valve with a 4-inch riser and a
1,000-gallon air compressor. According to NFPA 13, which of the following is
a critical requirement for the dry-pipe valve and air supply?
A. The dry-pipe valve must be listed for the specific system size and the
air compressor must be sized to fill the system to 40 psi within 30
minutes.
B. The dry-pipe valve must be installed in a heated enclosure and the air
compressor must maintain a minimum of 10 psi at all times.
C. The dry-pipe valve must be a deluge valve and the air compressor
must be capable of 100 psi.
D. The dry-pipe valve must be installed below the sprinkler riser and the
air compressor must be manually operated.
Correct Answer: A - The dry-pipe valve must be listed for the
specific system size and the air compressor must be sized to fill
the system to 40 psi within 30 minutes.
Page 4
