TFM 12 CORE EXAM MANUAL UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔What is General Purpose cable? - ✔✔A. Cable for general purpose fire alarm use
✔✔What 'type' shall plenum cable be? - ✔✔FPLP
✔✔What substitutions are allowed for the above? - ✔✔CMP
✔✔What 'type' shall riser wire be? - ✔✔FPLR
✔✔What substitutions are permitted for the above? - ✔✔FPLP
✔✔What 'type' shall general purpose wire be? - ✔✔FPL
✔✔What substitutions are permitted for the above? - ✔✔CM
✔✔What is the maximum voltage permitted through NPLFA cables? - ✔✔600 volts
✔✔What is the maximum voltage permitted through multi-conductor NPLFA cables? -
✔✔150 volts
✔✔What is the voltage rating of PLFA cables? - ✔✔Not less than 300 volts
✔✔Shall the voltage be marked on PLFA cables? - ✔✔No
✔✔What is a 'Rate Compensation Detector'? - ✔✔A device that responds when the
temperature reaches a pre-determined level.
✔✔What is a 'Rate of Rise Detector'? - ✔✔A device that responds when the
temperature rises at a rate exceeding a pre-determined value
✔✔Which sensor is best at detecting 'invisible' smoke particles? - ✔✔Ionization
✔✔Which sensor is best at detecting thick, 'visible' smoke particles? - ✔✔Photoelectric
✔✔What is a 'Spot Type Detector'? - ✔✔A device in which the detecting element is
concentrated at a particular location.
✔✔What is a 'Digital DACR? - ✔✔Digital Alarm Communicator Receiver
✔✔Name a DACT. - ✔✔Impassa
, ✔✔What is an Alarm Signal? - ✔✔A signal indicating an emergency that requires
IMMEDIATE action
✔✔Does an exterior horn for a sprinkler system need to be supervised? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔Does a fire hood sprinkler system in a kitchen need to be monitored by the fire alarm
system? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔What is 'Photoelectric 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
✔✔Fire/ Supervisory signals shall be (x) 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
✔✔All systems shall test free of , except for applications in which are approved. -
✔✔Grounds
✔✔So long as single open, ground or short circuit conditions do not affect the operation
of 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? -
✔✔Any failure should result in a trouble signal.
✔✔In a one or two family dwelling, where must smoke detectors be located? - ✔✔All
sleeping rooms, outside of each sleeping area and on all levels of the dwelling,
(including basements).
✔✔Where must spot-type heat and smoke sensors be located on walls? - ✔✔Between
4in and 12in 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.
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔What is General Purpose cable? - ✔✔A. Cable for general purpose fire alarm use
✔✔What 'type' shall plenum cable be? - ✔✔FPLP
✔✔What substitutions are allowed for the above? - ✔✔CMP
✔✔What 'type' shall riser wire be? - ✔✔FPLR
✔✔What substitutions are permitted for the above? - ✔✔FPLP
✔✔What 'type' shall general purpose wire be? - ✔✔FPL
✔✔What substitutions are permitted for the above? - ✔✔CM
✔✔What is the maximum voltage permitted through NPLFA cables? - ✔✔600 volts
✔✔What is the maximum voltage permitted through multi-conductor NPLFA cables? -
✔✔150 volts
✔✔What is the voltage rating of PLFA cables? - ✔✔Not less than 300 volts
✔✔Shall the voltage be marked on PLFA cables? - ✔✔No
✔✔What is a 'Rate Compensation Detector'? - ✔✔A device that responds when the
temperature reaches a pre-determined level.
✔✔What is a 'Rate of Rise Detector'? - ✔✔A device that responds when the
temperature rises at a rate exceeding a pre-determined value
✔✔Which sensor is best at detecting 'invisible' smoke particles? - ✔✔Ionization
✔✔Which sensor is best at detecting thick, 'visible' smoke particles? - ✔✔Photoelectric
✔✔What is a 'Spot Type Detector'? - ✔✔A device in which the detecting element is
concentrated at a particular location.
✔✔What is a 'Digital DACR? - ✔✔Digital Alarm Communicator Receiver
✔✔Name a DACT. - ✔✔Impassa
, ✔✔What is an Alarm Signal? - ✔✔A signal indicating an emergency that requires
IMMEDIATE action
✔✔Does an exterior horn for a sprinkler system need to be supervised? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔Does a fire hood sprinkler system in a kitchen need to be monitored by the fire alarm
system? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔What is 'Photoelectric 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
✔✔Fire/ Supervisory signals shall be (x) 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
✔✔All systems shall test free of , except for applications in which are approved. -
✔✔Grounds
✔✔So long as single open, ground or short circuit conditions do not affect the operation
of 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? -
✔✔Any failure should result in a trouble signal.
✔✔In a one or two family dwelling, where must smoke detectors be located? - ✔✔All
sleeping rooms, outside of each sleeping area and on all levels of the dwelling,
(including basements).
✔✔Where must spot-type heat and smoke sensors be located on walls? - ✔✔Between
4in and 12in 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.
