350 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Q: What is the fire triangle? ANSWER The fire triangle consists of heat,
fuel, and oxygen - the three elements necessary for combustion to occur.
2. Q: What happens when you remove one element of the fire triangle?
ANSWER Fire cannot exist or will be extinguished when any one of the three
elements is removed.
3. Q: What are the four classes of fire? ANSWER Class A (ordinary
combustibles), Class B (flammable liquids), Class C (electrical), and Class D
(combustible metals).
4. Q: What type of extinguisher is used for Class A fires? ANSWER
Water, foam, or multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers.
5. Q: What type of extinguisher is used for Class B fires? ANSWER Foam,
carbon dioxide, or dry chemical extinguishers.
6. Q: What type of extinguisher is used for Class C fires? ANSWER
Carbon dioxide or dry chemical extinguishers (non-conductive agents).
7. Q: What is the minimum fire flow required for residential sprinkler
systems? ANSWER 13 GPM for residential sprinkler heads according to
NFPA 13D.
8. Q: What is the maximum coverage area for a standard spray sprinkler
in light hazard occupancy? ANSWER 200 square feet per sprinkler head.
9. Q: What is the minimum operating pressure for residential sprinkler
heads? ANSWER 7 psi according to NFPA 13D.
10. Q: What is the purpose of a fire pump? ANSWER To increase water
pressure in the fire protection system when adequate pressure is not available
from the water supply.
,11. Q: What is the difference between wet and dry sprinkler systems?
ANSWER Wet systems have water in the pipes at all times; dry systems have
pressurized air or nitrogen and water is held back by a valve.
12. Q: What temperature rating is typically used for residential sprinkler
heads? ANSWER 135°F to 170°F depending on the ceiling temperature.
13. Q: What is the maximum distance between sprinkler heads in a
residential system? ANSWER 12 feet on center according to NFPA 13D.
14. Q: What is a fire damper? ANSWER A device installed in HVAC ducts
that closes automatically to prevent fire spread through ductwork.
15. Q: What is the purpose of a backflow preventer in fire protection
systems? ANSWER To prevent contaminated water from the fire system
from flowing back into the potable water supply.
16. Q: What is the minimum pipe size for a residential sprinkler system
supply line? ANSWER 1 inch diameter according to NFPA 13D.
17. Q: What is a deluge sprinkler system? ANSWER A system where all
sprinkler heads are open and water discharge is controlled by a deluge valve
activated by a separate detection system.
18. Q: What is the maximum spacing between hangers for 2-inch steel
pipe? ANSWER 12 feet according to NFPA 13.
19. Q: What is a dry pendant sprinkler head used for? ANSWER In areas
subject to freezing where the sprinkler extends into an unheated space.
20. Q: What is the purpose of an inspector's test connection? ANSWER
To test the water flow alarm and simulate the flow from one sprinkler head.
21. Q: What is the minimum residual pressure required at the most remote
sprinkler in an NFPA 13 system? ANSWER 7 psi for standard spray heads.
22. Q: What is a preaction sprinkler system? ANSWER A dry system that
requires both fire detection activation and sprinkler head operation before water
is discharged.
23. Q: What is the maximum number of sprinklers that can be supplied by
a 1-inch branch line? ANSWER 3 sprinklers according to NFPA 13D.
24. Q: What is the purpose of a flow switch in a sprinkler system?
ANSWER To detect water flow and activate the fire alarm when sprinklers
operate.
, 25. Q: What is the standard thread for sprinkler heads in the United
States? ANSWER 1/2-inch NPT (National Pipe Thread).
26. Q: What is the minimum water supply duration required for NFPA
13D systems? ANSWER 10 minutes of water supply.
27. Q: What is a quick response sprinkler head? ANSWER A sprinkler
with a thermal element that responds faster to temperature changes than
standard response heads.
28. Q: What is the purpose of a pressure reducing valve in fire protection
systems? ANSWER To reduce and regulate water pressure to appropriate
levels for system components.
29. Q: What is the maximum horizontal distance from a wall to a sprinkler
head? ANSWER Half the maximum spacing allowed between sprinklers.
30. Q: What is a fire department connection (FDC)? ANSWER An
external connection that allows the fire department to pump water into the
sprinkler system.
31. Q: What pressure is typically used for hydrostatic testing of sprinkler
systems? ANSWER 200 psi or 50 psi above normal working pressure,
whichever is greater.
32. Q: What is the purpose of a main drain test? ANSWER To verify water
supply adequacy and test the operation of alarms and monitoring equipment.
33. Q: What is the minimum ceiling clearance required below sprinkler
heads? ANSWER 18 inches for storage and 36 inches for rack storage areas.
34. Q: What type of sprinkler head has a decorative plate that conceals the
operating elements? ANSWER Concealed or recessed sprinkler head.
35. Q: What is the maximum number of sprinklers allowed on a cross main
in residential systems? ANSWER 8 sprinklers per cross main according to
NFPA 13D.
36. Q: What is the purpose of a control valve in a sprinkler system?
ANSWER To shut off water flow to sections of the system for maintenance or
emergency purposes.
37. Q: What is the standard color coding for 165°F temperature rated
sprinkler heads? ANSWER Orange or red colored bulb/link.
38. Q: What is the minimum slope required for dry pipe sprinkler systems?
ANSWER 1/4 inch per 10 feet toward the dry pipe valve.
1. Q: What is the fire triangle? ANSWER The fire triangle consists of heat,
fuel, and oxygen - the three elements necessary for combustion to occur.
2. Q: What happens when you remove one element of the fire triangle?
ANSWER Fire cannot exist or will be extinguished when any one of the three
elements is removed.
3. Q: What are the four classes of fire? ANSWER Class A (ordinary
combustibles), Class B (flammable liquids), Class C (electrical), and Class D
(combustible metals).
4. Q: What type of extinguisher is used for Class A fires? ANSWER
Water, foam, or multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers.
5. Q: What type of extinguisher is used for Class B fires? ANSWER Foam,
carbon dioxide, or dry chemical extinguishers.
6. Q: What type of extinguisher is used for Class C fires? ANSWER
Carbon dioxide or dry chemical extinguishers (non-conductive agents).
7. Q: What is the minimum fire flow required for residential sprinkler
systems? ANSWER 13 GPM for residential sprinkler heads according to
NFPA 13D.
8. Q: What is the maximum coverage area for a standard spray sprinkler
in light hazard occupancy? ANSWER 200 square feet per sprinkler head.
9. Q: What is the minimum operating pressure for residential sprinkler
heads? ANSWER 7 psi according to NFPA 13D.
10. Q: What is the purpose of a fire pump? ANSWER To increase water
pressure in the fire protection system when adequate pressure is not available
from the water supply.
,11. Q: What is the difference between wet and dry sprinkler systems?
ANSWER Wet systems have water in the pipes at all times; dry systems have
pressurized air or nitrogen and water is held back by a valve.
12. Q: What temperature rating is typically used for residential sprinkler
heads? ANSWER 135°F to 170°F depending on the ceiling temperature.
13. Q: What is the maximum distance between sprinkler heads in a
residential system? ANSWER 12 feet on center according to NFPA 13D.
14. Q: What is a fire damper? ANSWER A device installed in HVAC ducts
that closes automatically to prevent fire spread through ductwork.
15. Q: What is the purpose of a backflow preventer in fire protection
systems? ANSWER To prevent contaminated water from the fire system
from flowing back into the potable water supply.
16. Q: What is the minimum pipe size for a residential sprinkler system
supply line? ANSWER 1 inch diameter according to NFPA 13D.
17. Q: What is a deluge sprinkler system? ANSWER A system where all
sprinkler heads are open and water discharge is controlled by a deluge valve
activated by a separate detection system.
18. Q: What is the maximum spacing between hangers for 2-inch steel
pipe? ANSWER 12 feet according to NFPA 13.
19. Q: What is a dry pendant sprinkler head used for? ANSWER In areas
subject to freezing where the sprinkler extends into an unheated space.
20. Q: What is the purpose of an inspector's test connection? ANSWER
To test the water flow alarm and simulate the flow from one sprinkler head.
21. Q: What is the minimum residual pressure required at the most remote
sprinkler in an NFPA 13 system? ANSWER 7 psi for standard spray heads.
22. Q: What is a preaction sprinkler system? ANSWER A dry system that
requires both fire detection activation and sprinkler head operation before water
is discharged.
23. Q: What is the maximum number of sprinklers that can be supplied by
a 1-inch branch line? ANSWER 3 sprinklers according to NFPA 13D.
24. Q: What is the purpose of a flow switch in a sprinkler system?
ANSWER To detect water flow and activate the fire alarm when sprinklers
operate.
, 25. Q: What is the standard thread for sprinkler heads in the United
States? ANSWER 1/2-inch NPT (National Pipe Thread).
26. Q: What is the minimum water supply duration required for NFPA
13D systems? ANSWER 10 minutes of water supply.
27. Q: What is a quick response sprinkler head? ANSWER A sprinkler
with a thermal element that responds faster to temperature changes than
standard response heads.
28. Q: What is the purpose of a pressure reducing valve in fire protection
systems? ANSWER To reduce and regulate water pressure to appropriate
levels for system components.
29. Q: What is the maximum horizontal distance from a wall to a sprinkler
head? ANSWER Half the maximum spacing allowed between sprinklers.
30. Q: What is a fire department connection (FDC)? ANSWER An
external connection that allows the fire department to pump water into the
sprinkler system.
31. Q: What pressure is typically used for hydrostatic testing of sprinkler
systems? ANSWER 200 psi or 50 psi above normal working pressure,
whichever is greater.
32. Q: What is the purpose of a main drain test? ANSWER To verify water
supply adequacy and test the operation of alarms and monitoring equipment.
33. Q: What is the minimum ceiling clearance required below sprinkler
heads? ANSWER 18 inches for storage and 36 inches for rack storage areas.
34. Q: What type of sprinkler head has a decorative plate that conceals the
operating elements? ANSWER Concealed or recessed sprinkler head.
35. Q: What is the maximum number of sprinklers allowed on a cross main
in residential systems? ANSWER 8 sprinklers per cross main according to
NFPA 13D.
36. Q: What is the purpose of a control valve in a sprinkler system?
ANSWER To shut off water flow to sections of the system for maintenance or
emergency purposes.
37. Q: What is the standard color coding for 165°F temperature rated
sprinkler heads? ANSWER Orange or red colored bulb/link.
38. Q: What is the minimum slope required for dry pipe sprinkler systems?
ANSWER 1/4 inch per 10 feet toward the dry pipe valve.
