TFM 12 FIRE ALARM TECHNICAL EXAM ACTUAL /NEWEST WITH WELL
SORTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS /GRADED A+
1. What is the primary standard governing the installation, testing, and maintenance of fire
alarm systems in the United States?
ANSWER: NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
2. According to NFPA 72, what is the maximum allowable air velocity past a spot-type smoke
detector?
ANSWER: The maximum air velocity shall not exceed 300 ft/min (1.5 m/s) for ceiling-mounted
detectors.
3. A manual fire alarm box (pull station) must be installed at a height of _____ above the
finished floor.
ANSWER: 42 to 48 inches (1.07 to 1.22 m).
4. What does NAC stand for in fire alarm systems?
ANSWER: Notification Appliance Circuit.
5. What is the primary function of a Fire Alarm Control Unit (FACU)?
ANSWER: To monitor input devices, control output devices, and provide system status and
power.
6. What is the purpose of an end-of-line (EOL) resistor?
ANSWER: To supervise the wiring for integrity. It allows the panel to monitor the circuit for open
or short faults.
7. A Class B circuit wiring style is also known as a _____ circuit.
ANSWER: Style B (or Non-redundant/Conventional pathway).
,8. A Class A circuit wiring style is also known as a _____ circuit.
ANSWER: Style A (or Redundant pathway).
9. In a Class A circuit, how are devices wired in relation to the panel?
ANSWER: Devices are wired in parallel, with two separate paths ("go" and "return") leaving the
panel and returning to it.
10. What is the maximum allowable resistance for a ground fault in a fire alarm system, as per
NFPA 72?
ANSWER: NFPA 72 does not specify a maximum resistance. It requires the system to indicate a
ground fault when the resistance is 100,000 ohms or less.
11. What is the purpose of a synchronizer module on a NAC?
ANSWER: To synchronize the temporal pattern (Code 3) of all audible notification appliances
(horns, speakers) on the circuit.
12. The standard audible fire alarm signal for building evacuation is the _____ pattern.
ANSWER: Temporal Code 3 (three half-second beeps, a half-second pause, repeated).
13. What is the minimum sound level (dBA) required for audible appliances in sleeping areas?
ANSWER: 75 dBA at the pillow level, or 15 dBA above the average ambient sound level.
14. The standard visual fire alarm signal for a strobe in a public or common area must be clear
of a _____ degree field of view.
ANSWER: 360 degrees.
15. What is the required candela rating for a wall-mounted strobe in a corridor less than 20 feet
wide?
, ANSWER: 15 candela minimum.
16. In a sleeping room, the strobe must be rated at a minimum of _____ candela.
ANSWER: 110 candela.
17. What does SLC stand for in a fire alarm system?
ANSWER: Signaling Line Circuit.
18. An SLC is typically used with what type of fire alarm system?
ANSWER: Addressable (or Intelligent) systems.
19. What is the primary advantage of an addressable fire alarm system over a conventional
system?
ANSWER: It can identify the specific location (device address) of an alarm or trouble condition.
20. What is the purpose of an isolator module on an SLC?
ANSWER: To isolate a short circuit on the SLC, preventing a single fault from disabling the entire
loop.
21. Heat detectors are best suited for locations where what type of fire is expected?
ANSWER: A fast-growing, high-heat fire, or in areas where smoke detectors would cause false
alarms (e.g., dusty, dirty environments).
22. What are the two main types of fixed-temperature heat detectors?
ANSWER: Bimetallic and Fixed-Temperature Fusible Alloy (Rate Compensation).
23. A rate-of-rise (ROR) heat detector will alarm if the temperature rises faster than a preset
rate, typically _____ per minute.
SORTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS /GRADED A+
1. What is the primary standard governing the installation, testing, and maintenance of fire
alarm systems in the United States?
ANSWER: NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
2. According to NFPA 72, what is the maximum allowable air velocity past a spot-type smoke
detector?
ANSWER: The maximum air velocity shall not exceed 300 ft/min (1.5 m/s) for ceiling-mounted
detectors.
3. A manual fire alarm box (pull station) must be installed at a height of _____ above the
finished floor.
ANSWER: 42 to 48 inches (1.07 to 1.22 m).
4. What does NAC stand for in fire alarm systems?
ANSWER: Notification Appliance Circuit.
5. What is the primary function of a Fire Alarm Control Unit (FACU)?
ANSWER: To monitor input devices, control output devices, and provide system status and
power.
6. What is the purpose of an end-of-line (EOL) resistor?
ANSWER: To supervise the wiring for integrity. It allows the panel to monitor the circuit for open
or short faults.
7. A Class B circuit wiring style is also known as a _____ circuit.
ANSWER: Style B (or Non-redundant/Conventional pathway).
,8. A Class A circuit wiring style is also known as a _____ circuit.
ANSWER: Style A (or Redundant pathway).
9. In a Class A circuit, how are devices wired in relation to the panel?
ANSWER: Devices are wired in parallel, with two separate paths ("go" and "return") leaving the
panel and returning to it.
10. What is the maximum allowable resistance for a ground fault in a fire alarm system, as per
NFPA 72?
ANSWER: NFPA 72 does not specify a maximum resistance. It requires the system to indicate a
ground fault when the resistance is 100,000 ohms or less.
11. What is the purpose of a synchronizer module on a NAC?
ANSWER: To synchronize the temporal pattern (Code 3) of all audible notification appliances
(horns, speakers) on the circuit.
12. The standard audible fire alarm signal for building evacuation is the _____ pattern.
ANSWER: Temporal Code 3 (three half-second beeps, a half-second pause, repeated).
13. What is the minimum sound level (dBA) required for audible appliances in sleeping areas?
ANSWER: 75 dBA at the pillow level, or 15 dBA above the average ambient sound level.
14. The standard visual fire alarm signal for a strobe in a public or common area must be clear
of a _____ degree field of view.
ANSWER: 360 degrees.
15. What is the required candela rating for a wall-mounted strobe in a corridor less than 20 feet
wide?
, ANSWER: 15 candela minimum.
16. In a sleeping room, the strobe must be rated at a minimum of _____ candela.
ANSWER: 110 candela.
17. What does SLC stand for in a fire alarm system?
ANSWER: Signaling Line Circuit.
18. An SLC is typically used with what type of fire alarm system?
ANSWER: Addressable (or Intelligent) systems.
19. What is the primary advantage of an addressable fire alarm system over a conventional
system?
ANSWER: It can identify the specific location (device address) of an alarm or trouble condition.
20. What is the purpose of an isolator module on an SLC?
ANSWER: To isolate a short circuit on the SLC, preventing a single fault from disabling the entire
loop.
21. Heat detectors are best suited for locations where what type of fire is expected?
ANSWER: A fast-growing, high-heat fire, or in areas where smoke detectors would cause false
alarms (e.g., dusty, dirty environments).
22. What are the two main types of fixed-temperature heat detectors?
ANSWER: Bimetallic and Fixed-Temperature Fusible Alloy (Rate Compensation).
23. A rate-of-rise (ROR) heat detector will alarm if the temperature rises faster than a preset
rate, typically _____ per minute.
