NFPA 921 Exam 2025 Questions and
Answers
3.2.1* Approved. - ANSWER✔✔-Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.
3.2.2* Code. - ANSWER✔✔-A standard that is an extensive compilation of
provisions covering broad subject matter or that is suitable for adoption into law independently of
other codes and standards.
3.2.3* Guide. - ANSWER✔✔-A document that is advisory or informative in
nature and that contains only non-mandatory provisions. A guide may contain mandatory
statements such as when a guide can be used, but the document as a whole is not suitable for
adoption into law.
3.2.4* Recommended Practice. - ANSWER✔✔-A document that is similar in
content and structure to a code or standard but that contains only non-mandatory provisions using
the word "should" to indicate recommendations in the body of the text.
3.2.5* Standard. - ANSWER✔✔-An NFPA Standard, the main text of which
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,contains only mandatory provisions using the word "shall" to indicate requirements and that is in a
form generally suitable for mandatory reference by another standard or code or for adoption into
law. Non-mandatory provisions are not to be
considered a part of the requirements of a standard and shall be located in an appendix, annex,
footnote, informational note, or other means as permitted in the NFPA Manual of Style.
When used in a generic sense, such as in the phrase "standards development process" or "standards
development activities," the term "standards" includes all NFPA Standards, including
Codes, Standards, Recommended Practices, and Guides.
3.3.1* Absolute Temperature. - ANSWER✔✔-A temperature measured in Kelvins (K) or Rankines
(R).
3.3.2 Accelerant. - ANSWER✔✔-A fuel or oxidizer, often an ignitible liquid,
intentionally used to initiate a fire or increase the rate of growth or spread of fire.
3.3.3 Accident - ANSWER✔✔-An unplanned event that interrupts an activity and sometimes causes
injury or damage or a chance occurrence arising from unknown causes; an unexpected happening
due to carelessness, ignorance, and the like.
3.3.4 Active Fire Protection System. - ANSWER✔✔-A system that uses moving mechanical or
electrical parts to achieve a fire protection goal.
3.3.5 Ambient. - ANSWER✔✔-Someone's or something's surroundings, especially
as they pertain to the local environment; for example, ambient air and ambient temperature.
3.3.6 Ampacity. - ANSWER✔✔-The maximum current, in amperes, that a
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, conductor can carry continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature
rating. [70, Article 100]
3.3.7 Ampere. - ANSWER✔✔-The unit of electric current that is equivalent
to a flow of one coulomb per second; one coulomb is defined as 6.24 × 1018 electrons.
3.3.8 Arc. - ANSWER✔✔-A high-temperature luminous electric discharge
across a gap or through a medium such as charred insulation.
3.3.9 Arc Mapping. - ANSWER✔✔-The systematic evaluation of the electrical
circuit configuration, spatial relationship of the circuit components, and identification of electrical
arc sites to assist in the identification of the area of origin and analysis of the fire's spread.
3.3.10 Arc Site. - ANSWER✔✔-The location on a conductor with localized
damage that resulted from an electrical arc.
3.3.11 Arcing Through Char. - ANSWER✔✔-Arcing associated with a matrix
of charred material (e.g., charred conductor insulation) that acts as a semi-conductive medium.
3.3.12 Area of Origin. - ANSWER✔✔-A structure, part of a structure, or
general geographic location within a fire scene, in which the "point of origin" of a fire or explosion
is reasonably believed to be located. (See also 3.3.142, Point of Origin.)
3.3.13 Arrow Pattern. - ANSWER✔✔-A fire pattern displayed on the cross section
of a burned wooden structural member.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Answers
3.2.1* Approved. - ANSWER✔✔-Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.
3.2.2* Code. - ANSWER✔✔-A standard that is an extensive compilation of
provisions covering broad subject matter or that is suitable for adoption into law independently of
other codes and standards.
3.2.3* Guide. - ANSWER✔✔-A document that is advisory or informative in
nature and that contains only non-mandatory provisions. A guide may contain mandatory
statements such as when a guide can be used, but the document as a whole is not suitable for
adoption into law.
3.2.4* Recommended Practice. - ANSWER✔✔-A document that is similar in
content and structure to a code or standard but that contains only non-mandatory provisions using
the word "should" to indicate recommendations in the body of the text.
3.2.5* Standard. - ANSWER✔✔-An NFPA Standard, the main text of which
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,contains only mandatory provisions using the word "shall" to indicate requirements and that is in a
form generally suitable for mandatory reference by another standard or code or for adoption into
law. Non-mandatory provisions are not to be
considered a part of the requirements of a standard and shall be located in an appendix, annex,
footnote, informational note, or other means as permitted in the NFPA Manual of Style.
When used in a generic sense, such as in the phrase "standards development process" or "standards
development activities," the term "standards" includes all NFPA Standards, including
Codes, Standards, Recommended Practices, and Guides.
3.3.1* Absolute Temperature. - ANSWER✔✔-A temperature measured in Kelvins (K) or Rankines
(R).
3.3.2 Accelerant. - ANSWER✔✔-A fuel or oxidizer, often an ignitible liquid,
intentionally used to initiate a fire or increase the rate of growth or spread of fire.
3.3.3 Accident - ANSWER✔✔-An unplanned event that interrupts an activity and sometimes causes
injury or damage or a chance occurrence arising from unknown causes; an unexpected happening
due to carelessness, ignorance, and the like.
3.3.4 Active Fire Protection System. - ANSWER✔✔-A system that uses moving mechanical or
electrical parts to achieve a fire protection goal.
3.3.5 Ambient. - ANSWER✔✔-Someone's or something's surroundings, especially
as they pertain to the local environment; for example, ambient air and ambient temperature.
3.3.6 Ampacity. - ANSWER✔✔-The maximum current, in amperes, that a
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, conductor can carry continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature
rating. [70, Article 100]
3.3.7 Ampere. - ANSWER✔✔-The unit of electric current that is equivalent
to a flow of one coulomb per second; one coulomb is defined as 6.24 × 1018 electrons.
3.3.8 Arc. - ANSWER✔✔-A high-temperature luminous electric discharge
across a gap or through a medium such as charred insulation.
3.3.9 Arc Mapping. - ANSWER✔✔-The systematic evaluation of the electrical
circuit configuration, spatial relationship of the circuit components, and identification of electrical
arc sites to assist in the identification of the area of origin and analysis of the fire's spread.
3.3.10 Arc Site. - ANSWER✔✔-The location on a conductor with localized
damage that resulted from an electrical arc.
3.3.11 Arcing Through Char. - ANSWER✔✔-Arcing associated with a matrix
of charred material (e.g., charred conductor insulation) that acts as a semi-conductive medium.
3.3.12 Area of Origin. - ANSWER✔✔-A structure, part of a structure, or
general geographic location within a fire scene, in which the "point of origin" of a fire or explosion
is reasonably believed to be located. (See also 3.3.142, Point of Origin.)
3.3.13 Arrow Pattern. - ANSWER✔✔-A fire pattern displayed on the cross section
of a burned wooden structural member.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3