CO Fire Alarm Systems Contractor Exam
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. What does NFPA 72 primarily govern?
A. Building structural load requirements
B. Electrical service entrance installation
C. Installation and maintenance of fire alarm systems
D. Fire sprinkler hydraulics
NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code and regulates the
application, installation, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.
2. Which device initiates a fire alarm signal automatically?
A. Manual pull station
B. Smoke detector
C. Fire alarm control panel
D. Annunciator
Automatic detection devices sense fire conditions without human
activation.
3. What is the minimum sound level for audible fire alarm notification in
occupied areas?
A. 55 dBA
B. 70 dBA
C. 15 dBA above ambient
D. 120 dBA
NFPA 72 requires audible alarms to be at least 15 dBA above ambient
noise.
,4. A manual pull station must be located within what maximum travel
distance?
A. 50 ft
B. 100 ft
C. 200 ft
D. 300 ft
NFPA 72 specifies a maximum travel distance of 200 ft between manual
pull stations.
5. Which fire alarm circuit must remain operational during a single
ground fault?
A. IDC
B. SLC
C. NAC
D. Remote annunciator circuits
A signaling line circuit must continue to operate with one ground fault.
6. Which class of circuit continues to operate during a single open?
A. Class A
B. Class A
C. Class C
D. Class X
Class A circuits are designed to continue functioning despite a single open.
7. What is the primary function of a NAC?
A. Device address assignment
B. Powering notification appliances
C. Monitoring supervision circuits
D. Communicating with dispatch
Notification Appliance Circuits power horns, strobes, and speakers.
8. Which type of detector is best for flaming fires?
A. Photoelectric
B. Ionization
, C. Beam
D. Heat
Ionization detectors respond more quickly to fast-flaming fires.
9. What type of detector responds to smoldering fires?
A. Ionization
B. Photoelectric
C. Rate-of-rise heat
D. Fixed-temperature heat
Photoelectric sensors detect larger smoke particles from smoldering fires.
10. What is the minimum height above the floor for installing manual
pull stations?
A. 24 in
B. 42–48 in
C. 50–60 in
D. 30–36 in
NFPA 72 sets the mounting height at 42–48 inches.
11. What is the standby power duration for a commercial fire alarm
system?
A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 36 hours
D. 48 hours
NFPA 72 requires 24 hours standby plus 5 minutes alarm.
12. How long must the system operate in alarm on secondary power?
A. 1 minute
B. 3 minutes
C. 5 minutes
D. 15 minutes
After standby, the system must support 5 minutes of full alarm load.
13. Which device is used to monitor sprinkler system water flow?
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. What does NFPA 72 primarily govern?
A. Building structural load requirements
B. Electrical service entrance installation
C. Installation and maintenance of fire alarm systems
D. Fire sprinkler hydraulics
NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code and regulates the
application, installation, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.
2. Which device initiates a fire alarm signal automatically?
A. Manual pull station
B. Smoke detector
C. Fire alarm control panel
D. Annunciator
Automatic detection devices sense fire conditions without human
activation.
3. What is the minimum sound level for audible fire alarm notification in
occupied areas?
A. 55 dBA
B. 70 dBA
C. 15 dBA above ambient
D. 120 dBA
NFPA 72 requires audible alarms to be at least 15 dBA above ambient
noise.
,4. A manual pull station must be located within what maximum travel
distance?
A. 50 ft
B. 100 ft
C. 200 ft
D. 300 ft
NFPA 72 specifies a maximum travel distance of 200 ft between manual
pull stations.
5. Which fire alarm circuit must remain operational during a single
ground fault?
A. IDC
B. SLC
C. NAC
D. Remote annunciator circuits
A signaling line circuit must continue to operate with one ground fault.
6. Which class of circuit continues to operate during a single open?
A. Class A
B. Class A
C. Class C
D. Class X
Class A circuits are designed to continue functioning despite a single open.
7. What is the primary function of a NAC?
A. Device address assignment
B. Powering notification appliances
C. Monitoring supervision circuits
D. Communicating with dispatch
Notification Appliance Circuits power horns, strobes, and speakers.
8. Which type of detector is best for flaming fires?
A. Photoelectric
B. Ionization
, C. Beam
D. Heat
Ionization detectors respond more quickly to fast-flaming fires.
9. What type of detector responds to smoldering fires?
A. Ionization
B. Photoelectric
C. Rate-of-rise heat
D. Fixed-temperature heat
Photoelectric sensors detect larger smoke particles from smoldering fires.
10. What is the minimum height above the floor for installing manual
pull stations?
A. 24 in
B. 42–48 in
C. 50–60 in
D. 30–36 in
NFPA 72 sets the mounting height at 42–48 inches.
11. What is the standby power duration for a commercial fire alarm
system?
A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 36 hours
D. 48 hours
NFPA 72 requires 24 hours standby plus 5 minutes alarm.
12. How long must the system operate in alarm on secondary power?
A. 1 minute
B. 3 minutes
C. 5 minutes
D. 15 minutes
After standby, the system must support 5 minutes of full alarm load.
13. Which device is used to monitor sprinkler system water flow?
