TFM 12 FIRE ALARM TECHNICAL ACTUAL TEST PAPER
2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔What is a Supervisory signal? - ✔✔A signal that indicates the need for action in
connection with the SUPERVISION of fire equipment.
✔✔What is a Trouble signal? - ✔✔A signal that indicates a fault with the fire equipment.
It must have an audible signal, distinctive from alarm signals.
✔✔Does an exterior harm for a sprinkler system need to be supervised? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔What is a Cloud Chamber Smoke detection? - ✔✔A detector draws an air sample
into a high humidity, low pressure chamber. The conditions in the chamber cause the
moisture in the air to condense on the smoke particles, forming a cloud. The density of
this cloud is measured by a photoelectric principle, if it meets a certain criteria, an alarm
is generated.
✔✔What is an Ionization Smoke detector? - ✔✔A detector that used a small amount of
radio active material to ionize the air between two differently charged electrodes. When
smoke is present between these electrodes, it causes the conductance of the air to
decrease, and this causes the alarm to trip.
✔✔What is Photo Electric Light Scattering Smoke Detection? - ✔✔A detector that uses
a light source and a photosensitive sensor, arranged so that light will only fall on the
sensor when smoke particles are present. The particles reflect and retract light towards
the sensor, tripping the alarm.
✔✔What is important about the way trouble signals sound? - ✔✔They must be
distinctive from alarm signals.
✔✔What three procedures must be in place before it is permitted to install a means to
silence trouble/supervisory/alarm signals? - ✔✔The means shall be key operated and
contained within a locked enclosure
The means shall transfer it's audible warning to a visual warning.
The audible trouble signal shall sound when the system is set to silent mode and no
trouble or supervisory exists.
✔✔Fire/supervisory signals shall be ____ in sound from other signals and shall not be
used for any other purpose. - ✔✔Distinctive
✔✔What code shall all wiring, cable and equipment be in accordance with? - ✔✔NFPA
70, National Electric Code, Specifically articles 760, 770, and 800.
, ✔✔All systems shall test free of _______, except for application in which _______ are
approved. - ✔✔grounds, grounds
✔✔So long as a single open, ground, or short circuit conditioned do not affect the
operation equipment, what is not needed? - ✔✔Monitoring for integrity, such conditions
must not prevent alarm, trouble or supervisory signals being sent.
✔✔If speakers are used to generate audible fire signals, What rule must apply? -
✔✔The speaker must be monitored for integrity, and failure should result in a trouble
signal.
✔✔Where must a spot type heat and smoke sensors be located on walls and ceilings? -
✔✔On the ceiling- not less than 4 inches from the sidewall.
On the wall- between 4 inches and 12 inches from the ceiling.
✔✔When more than one detector is used on a ceiling, what spacing measurement shall
be used? - ✔✔All points shall have a detector equal to 0.7 times the listed spacing.
✔✔When water flow occurs that is equal or greater than the flow of a single sprinkler,
how quickly shall the alarm signal initiate? - ✔✔Within 90 seconds
✔✔Can detectors be installed within an air duct system? Can they be used as a
substitute for open area protection? - ✔✔Yes and No
✔✔Detectors shall be ________ for the purpose for which they are being used. -
✔✔Listed (i.e zone listed)
✔✔Which signals must take priority over all other signals? - ✔✔Fire. Even if a non fire
signal is generated first.
✔✔How many fire alarm boxes (pull stations) are required in systems employing
automatic fire or water flow detectors? - ✔✔At least one, located where required by the
authority having jurisdiction.
✔✔Systems that require two automatic detectors to initiate the alarm may only be used
after which 3 conditions are filled? - ✔✔The systems are not prohibited by the AHJ.
At least two automatic detectors are in each protected space.
The alarm verification feature is not used.
2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔What is a Supervisory signal? - ✔✔A signal that indicates the need for action in
connection with the SUPERVISION of fire equipment.
✔✔What is a Trouble signal? - ✔✔A signal that indicates a fault with the fire equipment.
It must have an audible signal, distinctive from alarm signals.
✔✔Does an exterior harm for a sprinkler system need to be supervised? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔What is a Cloud Chamber Smoke detection? - ✔✔A detector draws an air sample
into a high humidity, low pressure chamber. The conditions in the chamber cause the
moisture in the air to condense on the smoke particles, forming a cloud. The density of
this cloud is measured by a photoelectric principle, if it meets a certain criteria, an alarm
is generated.
✔✔What is an Ionization Smoke detector? - ✔✔A detector that used a small amount of
radio active material to ionize the air between two differently charged electrodes. When
smoke is present between these electrodes, it causes the conductance of the air to
decrease, and this causes the alarm to trip.
✔✔What is Photo Electric Light Scattering Smoke Detection? - ✔✔A detector that uses
a light source and a photosensitive sensor, arranged so that light will only fall on the
sensor when smoke particles are present. The particles reflect and retract light towards
the sensor, tripping the alarm.
✔✔What is important about the way trouble signals sound? - ✔✔They must be
distinctive from alarm signals.
✔✔What three procedures must be in place before it is permitted to install a means to
silence trouble/supervisory/alarm signals? - ✔✔The means shall be key operated and
contained within a locked enclosure
The means shall transfer it's audible warning to a visual warning.
The audible trouble signal shall sound when the system is set to silent mode and no
trouble or supervisory exists.
✔✔Fire/supervisory signals shall be ____ in sound from other signals and shall not be
used for any other purpose. - ✔✔Distinctive
✔✔What code shall all wiring, cable and equipment be in accordance with? - ✔✔NFPA
70, National Electric Code, Specifically articles 760, 770, and 800.
, ✔✔All systems shall test free of _______, except for application in which _______ are
approved. - ✔✔grounds, grounds
✔✔So long as a single open, ground, or short circuit conditioned do not affect the
operation equipment, what is not needed? - ✔✔Monitoring for integrity, such conditions
must not prevent alarm, trouble or supervisory signals being sent.
✔✔If speakers are used to generate audible fire signals, What rule must apply? -
✔✔The speaker must be monitored for integrity, and failure should result in a trouble
signal.
✔✔Where must a spot type heat and smoke sensors be located on walls and ceilings? -
✔✔On the ceiling- not less than 4 inches from the sidewall.
On the wall- between 4 inches and 12 inches from the ceiling.
✔✔When more than one detector is used on a ceiling, what spacing measurement shall
be used? - ✔✔All points shall have a detector equal to 0.7 times the listed spacing.
✔✔When water flow occurs that is equal or greater than the flow of a single sprinkler,
how quickly shall the alarm signal initiate? - ✔✔Within 90 seconds
✔✔Can detectors be installed within an air duct system? Can they be used as a
substitute for open area protection? - ✔✔Yes and No
✔✔Detectors shall be ________ for the purpose for which they are being used. -
✔✔Listed (i.e zone listed)
✔✔Which signals must take priority over all other signals? - ✔✔Fire. Even if a non fire
signal is generated first.
✔✔How many fire alarm boxes (pull stations) are required in systems employing
automatic fire or water flow detectors? - ✔✔At least one, located where required by the
authority having jurisdiction.
✔✔Systems that require two automatic detectors to initiate the alarm may only be used
after which 3 conditions are filled? - ✔✔The systems are not prohibited by the AHJ.
At least two automatic detectors are in each protected space.
The alarm verification feature is not used.
