CAT CAT Codes, Standards, and Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NFPA 72, what is the minimum battery backup duration required for a supervised fire alarm system?
- 24 hours in standby plus 5 minutes in alarm (Correct answer)
- 8 hours in standby only
- 72 hours in standby plus 10 minutes in alarm
- 4 hours total
Correct answer: 24 hours in standby plus 5 minutes in alarm
NFPA 72 requires fire alarm systems to operate for at least 24 hours on battery standby followed by 5 minutes of full alarm operation.
Question 2: What does NEC Article 760 regulate?
- Fire alarm systems wiring and equipment (Correct answer)
- General residential wiring
- Service entrance conductors
- Communications cables
Correct answer: Fire alarm systems wiring and equipment
NEC Article 760 covers the installation of fire alarm systems, including power-limited and non-power-limited wiring methods and cable types.
Question 3: What is UL 681 the standard for?
- Installation and classification of burglar and holdup alarm systems (Correct answer)
- Fire alarm control panels
- Central station alarm monitoring facilities
- Security camera systems
Correct answer: Installation and classification of burglar and holdup alarm systems
UL 681 covers the installation requirements and performance classifications for burglar alarm and holdup alarm systems in residential and commercial applications.
Question 4: What must occur before a newly installed fire alarm system can be placed into service?
- Acceptance testing witnessed by the AHJ or their representative (Correct answer)
- Payment of the monitoring contract
- A 30-day trial run period
- Panel self-diagnostic completion
Correct answer: Acceptance testing witnessed by the AHJ or their representative
NFPA 72 requires a formal acceptance test of all system functions performed in the presence of, or approved by, the AHJ before a fire alarm system goes live.
Question 5: Under UL 827, how often must central station operators be recertified?
- Every 2 years (Correct answer)
- Annually
- Every 5 years
- Only at initial hiring
Correct answer: Every 2 years
UL 827 requires central station operators to be recertified every two years to maintain UL-listed central station status.
Question 6: What does the NFPA 72 'pathway survivability' requirement address?
- Fire alarm circuit wiring must remain operational during a fire in certain building types (Correct answer)
- Alarm panels must survive water damage
- Backup batteries must survive a 130°F environment
- Sirens must operate in high-wind conditions
Correct answer: Fire alarm circuit wiring must remain operational during a fire in certain building types
Pathway survivability requires that alarm circuit wiring in high-rise and similar buildings be protected so it continues to function during a fire event.
CAT CAT Codes, Standards, and Regulations 2
Under NFPA 72, what is the minimum battery backup duration required for a supervised fire alarm system?