FDNY S-95 Fire Alarm Systems Supervision Exam 2026/2027 | 300+
Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–50
1. What is the primary purpose of a fire alarm system?
A. To provide building heating
B. To warn occupants and transmit fire-condition signals
C. To control elevator music
D. To provide emergency lighting only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A fire alarm system monitors initiating devices, warns
occupants of fire conditions, and transmits appropriate signals. It is a
life-safety system rather than a general building-management
system.
2. What does S-95 primarily authorize a Certificate of Fitness holder
to supervise?
A. Fire alarm systems without voice communication
B. Electrical wiring installations
C. Sprinkler-pipe installation
D. Elevator maintenance
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: S-95 is intended for supervision of approved fire alarm
systems where an FLSD, F-80, or other applicable higher-level
certification is not required and the system does not have the
qualifying voice-communication arrangement.
3. Which component receives signals from initiating devices and
processes them?
A. Fire extinguisher
B. Fire Alarm Control Panel
C. Sprinkler head
D. Exit sign
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) receives inputs from
automatic and manual initiating devices and processes those signals
to activate appropriate outputs.
4. Which of the following is an initiating device?
A. Manual pull station
B. Fire extinguisher cabinet
C. Exit door
D. Stair railing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A manual pull station originates a change-of-state
condition and sends a fire alarm signal to the FACP when activated.
5. Which signal indicates an emergency requiring immediate action,
such as fire?
A. Trouble signal
B. Supervisory signal
C. Alarm signal
D. Maintenance signal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An alarm signal indicates an emergency condition
requiring immediate action. Fire alarm initiating devices can
generate this type of signal.
6. What does a supervisory signal generally indicate?
A. A confirmed fire
B. An abnormal condition involving a monitored system or device
C. Normal operation
D. Completed maintenance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A supervisory signal indicates that a monitored system or
device has been compromised or is in an abnormal condition. It
requires investigation and correction.
7. Which condition commonly produces a trouble signal?
,A. Normal sprinkler pressure
B. Battery failure
C. Manual pull activation
D. Smoke detection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Battery problems, AC power failure, ground faults, open
or short circuits, communication failures, and internal component
problems can generate trouble signals.
8. Does a supervisory signal normally indicate a fire condition?
A. Yes, always
B. Yes, if the panel is silent
C. No
D. Only at night
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Supervisory signals indicate abnormal conditions in
monitored fire-protection equipment but are not themselves
indications of a fire condition.
9. Does a trouble signal normally indicate a fire condition?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Only when the battery is low
D. Only when a pull station is activated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A trouble signal indicates a fault or impaired condition
involving the fire alarm system, transmitter, or communication path.
It is not itself a fire alarm signal.
10. What is an approved central station?
A. Any private security office
B. A central station company approved by FDNY
C. A building lobby
D. A fire extinguisher room
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: An approved central station is a central station company
that has the appropriate FDNY authorization to receive and process
fire alarm signals.
11. What happens when a fire alarm signal reaches an FDNY-
approved central station?
A. It is ignored until business hours
B. It is retransmitted to the Fire Department
C. It is automatically deleted
D. It is converted into a trouble signal
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Central station operators process fire alarm signals and
retransmit them to the Fire Department as required.
12. How should a central station prioritize a fire alarm signal?
A. After trouble signals
B. After supervisory signals
C. Before other signals
D. Only after contacting the owner
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fire alarm signals receive priority over other types of
signals at the central station.
13. How quickly should a fire alarm signal be retransmitted to FDNY?
A. Immediately
B. Within one hour
C. At the end of the shift
D. The next business day
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The FDNY S-95 material states that fire alarm signals are
to be retransmitted immediately upon receipt by the central station.
14. Which device can initiate a fire alarm signal?
A. Manual pull station
B. Office chair
Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–50
1. What is the primary purpose of a fire alarm system?
A. To provide building heating
B. To warn occupants and transmit fire-condition signals
C. To control elevator music
D. To provide emergency lighting only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A fire alarm system monitors initiating devices, warns
occupants of fire conditions, and transmits appropriate signals. It is a
life-safety system rather than a general building-management
system.
2. What does S-95 primarily authorize a Certificate of Fitness holder
to supervise?
A. Fire alarm systems without voice communication
B. Electrical wiring installations
C. Sprinkler-pipe installation
D. Elevator maintenance
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: S-95 is intended for supervision of approved fire alarm
systems where an FLSD, F-80, or other applicable higher-level
certification is not required and the system does not have the
qualifying voice-communication arrangement.
3. Which component receives signals from initiating devices and
processes them?
A. Fire extinguisher
B. Fire Alarm Control Panel
C. Sprinkler head
D. Exit sign
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) receives inputs from
automatic and manual initiating devices and processes those signals
to activate appropriate outputs.
4. Which of the following is an initiating device?
A. Manual pull station
B. Fire extinguisher cabinet
C. Exit door
D. Stair railing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A manual pull station originates a change-of-state
condition and sends a fire alarm signal to the FACP when activated.
5. Which signal indicates an emergency requiring immediate action,
such as fire?
A. Trouble signal
B. Supervisory signal
C. Alarm signal
D. Maintenance signal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An alarm signal indicates an emergency condition
requiring immediate action. Fire alarm initiating devices can
generate this type of signal.
6. What does a supervisory signal generally indicate?
A. A confirmed fire
B. An abnormal condition involving a monitored system or device
C. Normal operation
D. Completed maintenance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A supervisory signal indicates that a monitored system or
device has been compromised or is in an abnormal condition. It
requires investigation and correction.
7. Which condition commonly produces a trouble signal?
,A. Normal sprinkler pressure
B. Battery failure
C. Manual pull activation
D. Smoke detection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Battery problems, AC power failure, ground faults, open
or short circuits, communication failures, and internal component
problems can generate trouble signals.
8. Does a supervisory signal normally indicate a fire condition?
A. Yes, always
B. Yes, if the panel is silent
C. No
D. Only at night
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Supervisory signals indicate abnormal conditions in
monitored fire-protection equipment but are not themselves
indications of a fire condition.
9. Does a trouble signal normally indicate a fire condition?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Only when the battery is low
D. Only when a pull station is activated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A trouble signal indicates a fault or impaired condition
involving the fire alarm system, transmitter, or communication path.
It is not itself a fire alarm signal.
10. What is an approved central station?
A. Any private security office
B. A central station company approved by FDNY
C. A building lobby
D. A fire extinguisher room
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: An approved central station is a central station company
that has the appropriate FDNY authorization to receive and process
fire alarm signals.
11. What happens when a fire alarm signal reaches an FDNY-
approved central station?
A. It is ignored until business hours
B. It is retransmitted to the Fire Department
C. It is automatically deleted
D. It is converted into a trouble signal
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Central station operators process fire alarm signals and
retransmit them to the Fire Department as required.
12. How should a central station prioritize a fire alarm signal?
A. After trouble signals
B. After supervisory signals
C. Before other signals
D. Only after contacting the owner
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fire alarm signals receive priority over other types of
signals at the central station.
13. How quickly should a fire alarm signal be retransmitted to FDNY?
A. Immediately
B. Within one hour
C. At the end of the shift
D. The next business day
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The FDNY S-95 material states that fire alarm signals are
to be retransmitted immediately upon receipt by the central station.
14. Which device can initiate a fire alarm signal?
A. Manual pull station
B. Office chair
