NFPA 72 Fire Alarm Systems: Key Concepts
and Components Questions with Verified
Correct Answers
Protected Premises Fire Alarm System
Any fire alarm system located at the protected premises (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 23).
EVACS (In-Building Fire Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications Systems)
Dedicated manual or automatic equipment for originating and distributing voice instructions,
alert, and evacuation signals to building occupants (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 24).
MNS (In-Building Mass Notification Systems)
System used to provide information/instructions using intelligible voice, visual signals, text,
graphics, or tactile communication (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 24).
Supervising Station Alarm Systems
Facilities that receive signals from alarm systems with personnel in attendance at all times
(Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 26).
Types of Supervising Stations
Central station, Remote station, and Proprietary station.
PEARS (Public Emergency Alarm Reporting Systems)
System of alarm-initiating devices and communications infrastructure (other than public
telephone networks) covering a wide geographic area (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 27).
Household Fire Alarm Systems
, System of devices using a FACU to produce an alarm signal to notify household occupants to
evacuate (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 29).
Alarm Input Signal
Signal sent to panel originating from a field device indicating the presence of a fire condition.
Supervisory Input Signal
Signal indicating an off-normal condition in a supervised system (e.g., fire suppression
system valve tamper).
Carbon Monoxide Alarm Signal
Activation of a Temporal 4 notification pattern indicating an unsafe concentration of deadly
CO gas.
Alarm Output Signal
Signal sent from panel to field devices firing notification appliances to alert building
occupants.
Automated Control Output Signal
Signal sent from panel to mitigate hazards by controlling independent systems (e.g., HVAC
shutdown).
Fire Alarm Control Unit (FACU) Functions
1. Provides power to field devices. 2. Monitors for opens, shorts, and grounds. 3. Controls
fire safety outputs. 4. Receives input signals from field devices.
Addressable System
and Components Questions with Verified
Correct Answers
Protected Premises Fire Alarm System
Any fire alarm system located at the protected premises (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 23).
EVACS (In-Building Fire Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications Systems)
Dedicated manual or automatic equipment for originating and distributing voice instructions,
alert, and evacuation signals to building occupants (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 24).
MNS (In-Building Mass Notification Systems)
System used to provide information/instructions using intelligible voice, visual signals, text,
graphics, or tactile communication (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 24).
Supervising Station Alarm Systems
Facilities that receive signals from alarm systems with personnel in attendance at all times
(Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 26).
Types of Supervising Stations
Central station, Remote station, and Proprietary station.
PEARS (Public Emergency Alarm Reporting Systems)
System of alarm-initiating devices and communications infrastructure (other than public
telephone networks) covering a wide geographic area (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 27).
Household Fire Alarm Systems
, System of devices using a FACU to produce an alarm signal to notify household occupants to
evacuate (Covered by NFPA 72, Chapter 29).
Alarm Input Signal
Signal sent to panel originating from a field device indicating the presence of a fire condition.
Supervisory Input Signal
Signal indicating an off-normal condition in a supervised system (e.g., fire suppression
system valve tamper).
Carbon Monoxide Alarm Signal
Activation of a Temporal 4 notification pattern indicating an unsafe concentration of deadly
CO gas.
Alarm Output Signal
Signal sent from panel to field devices firing notification appliances to alert building
occupants.
Automated Control Output Signal
Signal sent from panel to mitigate hazards by controlling independent systems (e.g., HVAC
shutdown).
Fire Alarm Control Unit (FACU) Functions
1. Provides power to field devices. 2. Monitors for opens, shorts, and grounds. 3. Controls
fire safety outputs. 4. Receives input signals from field devices.
Addressable System
