FDNY S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems
Practice Examination 2026–2027 |
Comprehensive 200-Question Practice Test with
Answers & Rationales| Free Pdf Access.
Primary Reference NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) and NYC Fire Code
Section 1: Fire Alarm System Components & Functions
1. Which of the following is NOT a primary component of a fire alarm system as
covered by the S-95 Certificate of Fitness?
A. Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)
B. Notification appliances
C. Elevator recall control
D. Initiating devices
Answer: C. Elevator recall is an interfaced function, not a primary fire alarm system
component like the FACP, initiating devices, and notification appliances.
2. What is the function of a Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)?
A. Store building keys
B. Control and monitor all fire alarm system devices
C. Replace sprinkler systems
D. Provide elevator control only
Answer: B. The FACP is the main "brains" of the system that controls and monitors all fire
alarm system devices, including initiating devices and notification appliances.
3. What does the acronym "NAC" stand for in fire alarm systems?
A. Notification Appliance Circuit
B. Network Alarm Controller
,C. Normal Activation Control
D. Non-Audible Circuit
Answer: A. NAC refers to the circuit that powers notification appliances like horns, strobes,
and speakers.
4. Which NFPA standard governs the installation of fire alarm systems?
A. NFPA 13
B. NFPA 72
C. NFPA 70
D. NFPA 25
Answer: B. NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, providing standards
for the design, installation, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.
5. What is the primary purpose of a fire alarm system?
A. To alert occupants of a fire
B. To extinguish the fire automatically
C. To prevent electrical overloads
D. To monitor building temperature
Answer: A. The main function of a fire alarm system is to alert building occupants and
emergency responders to the presence of a fire.
Section 2: Detector Types & Functions
6. ____________ detectors employ more than one operating principle and operate
independent of each other.
A. Combination
B. Beam
C. Fixed-temperature
D. Ionization
Answer: A. Combination detectors employ more than one operating principle and operate
independently of each other.
7. ____________ detectors are used to protect large areas. It is a light beam broken by
combustible particles.
A. Combination
,B. Beam
C. Fixed-temperature
D. Photoelectric
Answer: B. Beam detectors are used to protect large areas and operate when a light beam
is broken by combustible particles.
8. Which type of fire alarm detector responds primarily to heat?
A. Ionization smoke detector
B. Photoelectric smoke detector
C. Fixed-temperature heat detector
D. Air-sampling detector
Answer: C. Fixed-temperature heat detectors respond when the surrounding temperature
reaches a predetermined level. Smoke detectors respond to smoke particles, not heat.
9. _______ heat detectors activate the alarm when the detector components melt at
a preset temperature.
A. Rate-of-rise
B. Fixed-temperature
C. Combination
D. Ionization
Answer: B. Fixed-temperature heat detectors activate when components melt at a preset
temperature.
10. ___________ detectors are required in any building that has fossil fuel burning
equipment.
A. Smoke
B. Heat
C. Carbon monoxide
D. Flame
Answer: C. Carbon monoxide detectors are required in any building that has fossil fuel
burning equipment.
11. Which type of detector is most sensitive to visible particles?
A. Ionization smoke detector
B. Photoelectric smoke detector
C. Heat detector
D. Flame detector
, Answer: B. Photoelectric detectors respond quickly to visible smoke from smoldering fires.
12. What is the maximum allowable response time for a smoke detector in a
commercial building?
A. 30 seconds
B. 90 seconds
C. 5 minutes
D. 10 minutes
Answer: A. NFPA 72 specifies response times of 10 seconds for fire alarm output functions
to operate once a smoke detector has been activated.
Section 3: Alarm Signals & Notification
13. What is a Fire Alarm signal?
A. A signal initiated by a fire alarm-initiating device such as a manual fire alarm pull
station, smoke detector, water-flow switch, or other device whose activation indicates
the presence of a fire
B. A signal indicating a system is being tested
C. A signal indicating a fault with the fire equipment
D. A signal indicating a system or device being monitored has been compromised
Answer: A. A fire alarm signal is initiated by a fire alarm-initiating device such as a
manual fire alarm pull station, smoke detector, water-flow switch, or other device whose
activation indicates the presence of a fire.
14. What is a Supervisory Signal?
A. A signal indicating an emergency requiring immediate action
B. A signal indicating that a system or device being monitored has been compromised
or is in an abnormal state
C. A signal that indicates a fault with the fire equipment
D. A signal initiated by a manual pull station
Answer: B. A supervisory signal indicates that a system or device being monitored has
been compromised or is in an abnormal state.
15. Is the FDNY dispatched for Supervisory Signals?
A. Yes, immediately
B. No. The Facility Manager should investigate and correct the supervisory condition
Practice Examination 2026–2027 |
Comprehensive 200-Question Practice Test with
Answers & Rationales| Free Pdf Access.
Primary Reference NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) and NYC Fire Code
Section 1: Fire Alarm System Components & Functions
1. Which of the following is NOT a primary component of a fire alarm system as
covered by the S-95 Certificate of Fitness?
A. Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)
B. Notification appliances
C. Elevator recall control
D. Initiating devices
Answer: C. Elevator recall is an interfaced function, not a primary fire alarm system
component like the FACP, initiating devices, and notification appliances.
2. What is the function of a Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)?
A. Store building keys
B. Control and monitor all fire alarm system devices
C. Replace sprinkler systems
D. Provide elevator control only
Answer: B. The FACP is the main "brains" of the system that controls and monitors all fire
alarm system devices, including initiating devices and notification appliances.
3. What does the acronym "NAC" stand for in fire alarm systems?
A. Notification Appliance Circuit
B. Network Alarm Controller
,C. Normal Activation Control
D. Non-Audible Circuit
Answer: A. NAC refers to the circuit that powers notification appliances like horns, strobes,
and speakers.
4. Which NFPA standard governs the installation of fire alarm systems?
A. NFPA 13
B. NFPA 72
C. NFPA 70
D. NFPA 25
Answer: B. NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, providing standards
for the design, installation, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.
5. What is the primary purpose of a fire alarm system?
A. To alert occupants of a fire
B. To extinguish the fire automatically
C. To prevent electrical overloads
D. To monitor building temperature
Answer: A. The main function of a fire alarm system is to alert building occupants and
emergency responders to the presence of a fire.
Section 2: Detector Types & Functions
6. ____________ detectors employ more than one operating principle and operate
independent of each other.
A. Combination
B. Beam
C. Fixed-temperature
D. Ionization
Answer: A. Combination detectors employ more than one operating principle and operate
independently of each other.
7. ____________ detectors are used to protect large areas. It is a light beam broken by
combustible particles.
A. Combination
,B. Beam
C. Fixed-temperature
D. Photoelectric
Answer: B. Beam detectors are used to protect large areas and operate when a light beam
is broken by combustible particles.
8. Which type of fire alarm detector responds primarily to heat?
A. Ionization smoke detector
B. Photoelectric smoke detector
C. Fixed-temperature heat detector
D. Air-sampling detector
Answer: C. Fixed-temperature heat detectors respond when the surrounding temperature
reaches a predetermined level. Smoke detectors respond to smoke particles, not heat.
9. _______ heat detectors activate the alarm when the detector components melt at
a preset temperature.
A. Rate-of-rise
B. Fixed-temperature
C. Combination
D. Ionization
Answer: B. Fixed-temperature heat detectors activate when components melt at a preset
temperature.
10. ___________ detectors are required in any building that has fossil fuel burning
equipment.
A. Smoke
B. Heat
C. Carbon monoxide
D. Flame
Answer: C. Carbon monoxide detectors are required in any building that has fossil fuel
burning equipment.
11. Which type of detector is most sensitive to visible particles?
A. Ionization smoke detector
B. Photoelectric smoke detector
C. Heat detector
D. Flame detector
, Answer: B. Photoelectric detectors respond quickly to visible smoke from smoldering fires.
12. What is the maximum allowable response time for a smoke detector in a
commercial building?
A. 30 seconds
B. 90 seconds
C. 5 minutes
D. 10 minutes
Answer: A. NFPA 72 specifies response times of 10 seconds for fire alarm output functions
to operate once a smoke detector has been activated.
Section 3: Alarm Signals & Notification
13. What is a Fire Alarm signal?
A. A signal initiated by a fire alarm-initiating device such as a manual fire alarm pull
station, smoke detector, water-flow switch, or other device whose activation indicates
the presence of a fire
B. A signal indicating a system is being tested
C. A signal indicating a fault with the fire equipment
D. A signal indicating a system or device being monitored has been compromised
Answer: A. A fire alarm signal is initiated by a fire alarm-initiating device such as a
manual fire alarm pull station, smoke detector, water-flow switch, or other device whose
activation indicates the presence of a fire.
14. What is a Supervisory Signal?
A. A signal indicating an emergency requiring immediate action
B. A signal indicating that a system or device being monitored has been compromised
or is in an abnormal state
C. A signal that indicates a fault with the fire equipment
D. A signal initiated by a manual pull station
Answer: B. A supervisory signal indicates that a system or device being monitored has
been compromised or is in an abnormal state.
15. Is the FDNY dispatched for Supervisory Signals?
A. Yes, immediately
B. No. The Facility Manager should investigate and correct the supervisory condition
