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FDNY F-80 Certificate of Fitness Exam
2026/2027 complete exam material
SECTION A: GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The primary responsibility of a Fire Safety & Alarm Systems Coordinator in a homeless shelter is to:
A) Perform medical checks on residents
B) Maintain shelter cleanliness
C) Ensure fire safety systems are operational and staff are trained
D) Handle resident financial records
Rationale: The coordinator's role focuses on fire safety compliance, system maintenance, and training
staff in emergency procedures .
2. Which of the following must be present on-site at all times in a homeless shelter?
A) Resident financial records
B) The Fire Safety Plan
C) Volunteer schedules
D) Equipment purchase receipts
Rationale: The Fire Safety Plan must be accessible to FDNY and staff at all times .
3. Who is allowed to serve as the Fire Safety Coordinator during a shift?
A) Any staff member
B) Security guard
C) Person holding valid F-80 or F-89 certificate
D) Case worker
Rationale: The coordinator must hold a valid F-80 (or F-89) certificate .
4. The F-80 Certificate of Fitness is required in shelters with:
A) Over 10 residents
B) Sprinkler systems only
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C) No alarm system
D) Fire alarm system & carbon monoxide detection
Rationale: The certificate applies to shelters with fire alarm and CO detection systems .
5. How often must fire drills be conducted in a homeless shelter?
A) Once a year
B) Once a month
C) Once a week
D) Twice a year
Rationale: FDNY requires quarterly fire drills, totaling 4 per year .
6. When must a shelter conduct a fire drill with full evacuation?
A) Twice per year
B) Once per year
C) Every quarter
D) Only when ordered
Rationale: At least one annual drill must include a full evacuation .
7. What is the first step when the fire alarm activates?
A) Call FDNY
B) Reset the system
C) Investigate the cause
D) Evacuate immediately
Rationale: The coordinator must investigate to confirm if there is an actual fire .
8. A manual fire alarm pull station must be located:
A) Anywhere on the floor
B) Within 5 feet of each exit
C) Only at the main entrance
D) By elevators
Rationale: NFPA/FDNY placement requires pull stations within 5 feet of exit doors .
9. How often must the fire alarm system be tested by a licensed technician?
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A) Monthly
B) Quarterly
C) Annually
D) Every 5 years
Rationale: The fire alarm system requires quarterly professional testing .
10. In a shelter, smoke detectors must be located:
A) Only in hallways
B) Only in boiler rooms
C) In every sleeping room
D) Only near kitchens
Rationale: Smoke detectors are required in all sleeping areas .
11. The Fire Safety Coordinator must keep fire drill logs for:
A) 6 months
B) 1 year
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Rationale: FDNY requires retention of drill records for 3 years .
12. When inspecting fire extinguishers, the Coordinator must ensure:
A) The color matches the room décor
B) Extinguishers are fully charged and accessible
C) They are all stored in the basement
D) Expiry dates are ignored
Rationale: Fire extinguishers must be functional, properly maintained, and easily accessible .
13. A coordinator notices a blocked fire exit. The first action should be:
A) Wait until the next inspection
B) Remove the obstruction immediately
C) Inform residents only
D) Report it at the end of the month
Rationale: Immediate action prevents potential evacuation hazards .
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14. Fire doors in corridors must:
A) Remain closed or equipped with automatic closers
B) Be propped open for ventilation
C) Be used as storage areas
D) Be decorated with posters
Rationale: Fire doors prevent the spread of smoke and flames .
15. Which type of alarm requires immediate evacuation?
A) Trouble
B) Fire alarm
C) Supervisory
D) Test signal
Rationale: Only fire alarms require mandatory evacuation .
16. A "trouble" signal means:
A) Fire detected
B) System malfunction
C) Water flow detected
D) CO emergency
Rationale: Trouble indicates wiring, power, or device malfunction .
17. Emergency lighting must activate:
A) When lights are turned off
B) Upon normal power failure
C) Only during evacuation
D) When alarm sounds
Rationale: Emergency lighting engages when power is lost .
18. Sprinkler control valves must be:
A) Locked
B) Closed
C) Open and supervised
D) Painted red
Rationale: Valves must remain open and monitored for tampering .
FDNY F-80 Certificate of Fitness Exam
2026/2027 complete exam material
SECTION A: GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The primary responsibility of a Fire Safety & Alarm Systems Coordinator in a homeless shelter is to:
A) Perform medical checks on residents
B) Maintain shelter cleanliness
C) Ensure fire safety systems are operational and staff are trained
D) Handle resident financial records
Rationale: The coordinator's role focuses on fire safety compliance, system maintenance, and training
staff in emergency procedures .
2. Which of the following must be present on-site at all times in a homeless shelter?
A) Resident financial records
B) The Fire Safety Plan
C) Volunteer schedules
D) Equipment purchase receipts
Rationale: The Fire Safety Plan must be accessible to FDNY and staff at all times .
3. Who is allowed to serve as the Fire Safety Coordinator during a shift?
A) Any staff member
B) Security guard
C) Person holding valid F-80 or F-89 certificate
D) Case worker
Rationale: The coordinator must hold a valid F-80 (or F-89) certificate .
4. The F-80 Certificate of Fitness is required in shelters with:
A) Over 10 residents
B) Sprinkler systems only
,2
C) No alarm system
D) Fire alarm system & carbon monoxide detection
Rationale: The certificate applies to shelters with fire alarm and CO detection systems .
5. How often must fire drills be conducted in a homeless shelter?
A) Once a year
B) Once a month
C) Once a week
D) Twice a year
Rationale: FDNY requires quarterly fire drills, totaling 4 per year .
6. When must a shelter conduct a fire drill with full evacuation?
A) Twice per year
B) Once per year
C) Every quarter
D) Only when ordered
Rationale: At least one annual drill must include a full evacuation .
7. What is the first step when the fire alarm activates?
A) Call FDNY
B) Reset the system
C) Investigate the cause
D) Evacuate immediately
Rationale: The coordinator must investigate to confirm if there is an actual fire .
8. A manual fire alarm pull station must be located:
A) Anywhere on the floor
B) Within 5 feet of each exit
C) Only at the main entrance
D) By elevators
Rationale: NFPA/FDNY placement requires pull stations within 5 feet of exit doors .
9. How often must the fire alarm system be tested by a licensed technician?
,3
A) Monthly
B) Quarterly
C) Annually
D) Every 5 years
Rationale: The fire alarm system requires quarterly professional testing .
10. In a shelter, smoke detectors must be located:
A) Only in hallways
B) Only in boiler rooms
C) In every sleeping room
D) Only near kitchens
Rationale: Smoke detectors are required in all sleeping areas .
11. The Fire Safety Coordinator must keep fire drill logs for:
A) 6 months
B) 1 year
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Rationale: FDNY requires retention of drill records for 3 years .
12. When inspecting fire extinguishers, the Coordinator must ensure:
A) The color matches the room décor
B) Extinguishers are fully charged and accessible
C) They are all stored in the basement
D) Expiry dates are ignored
Rationale: Fire extinguishers must be functional, properly maintained, and easily accessible .
13. A coordinator notices a blocked fire exit. The first action should be:
A) Wait until the next inspection
B) Remove the obstruction immediately
C) Inform residents only
D) Report it at the end of the month
Rationale: Immediate action prevents potential evacuation hazards .
, 4
14. Fire doors in corridors must:
A) Remain closed or equipped with automatic closers
B) Be propped open for ventilation
C) Be used as storage areas
D) Be decorated with posters
Rationale: Fire doors prevent the spread of smoke and flames .
15. Which type of alarm requires immediate evacuation?
A) Trouble
B) Fire alarm
C) Supervisory
D) Test signal
Rationale: Only fire alarms require mandatory evacuation .
16. A "trouble" signal means:
A) Fire detected
B) System malfunction
C) Water flow detected
D) CO emergency
Rationale: Trouble indicates wiring, power, or device malfunction .
17. Emergency lighting must activate:
A) When lights are turned off
B) Upon normal power failure
C) Only during evacuation
D) When alarm sounds
Rationale: Emergency lighting engages when power is lost .
18. Sprinkler control valves must be:
A) Locked
B) Closed
C) Open and supervised
D) Painted red
Rationale: Valves must remain open and monitored for tampering .
