Practice Test Geeks(CAT) Certified Alarm Technician Level I Practice Test
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Material Selection & Properties Flashcards

7 cards from real CAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Material Selection & Properties flashcards as text

  1. A power-limited fire alarm cable (FPLR) installed in a riser shaft must meet which minimum flammability standard?

    Answer: Flame does not spread more than 8 feet up the cable (UL 1666 riser test)

    FPLR riser-rated cable must pass UL 1666, which requires the flame not to spread more than 8 feet above the flame source in a vertical burn test.

  2. When running shielded cable for a low-voltage alarm circuit near a 120 V AC branch circuit, what is the minimum recommended parallel separation distance per NEC guidelines?

    Answer: 2 inches

    NEC Article 725 recommends at least 2 inches of separation when running Class 2 or 3 circuits parallel to power conductors to minimize inductive interference.

  3. Which plastic material is most resistant to deformation under continuous mechanical load (creep) at elevated temperatures?

    Answer: Nylon (polyamide)

    Nylon (polyamide) has superior creep resistance and maintains mechanical strength at elevated temperatures compared to the other listed plastics.

  4. A magnetic door contact has a gap specification of 3/8 inch. Which housing material of the magnet section best maintains its field strength over time without re-magnetizing?

    Answer: Ceramic (ferrite) permanent magnet

    Ceramic (ferrite) magnets are hard magnetic materials that resist demagnetization over time, making them ideal for door contacts.

  5. An alarm installer must choose between solid and stranded conductors for a 200-foot home run to a control panel. Which is the best choice and why?

    Answer: Stranded, because it is more flexible and less prone to fatigue cracking at terminations

    Stranded wire resists metal fatigue from repeated bending at termination points and is easier to route through conduit and enclosures.

  6. Which material property is expressed by the term 'dielectric strength'?

    Answer: The maximum electric field an insulating material can withstand without breaking down

    Dielectric strength is the maximum voltage per unit thickness an insulator can withstand before electrical breakdown occurs, measured in volts per mil.

  7. A technician is selecting standoffs to mount a circuit board inside a metal enclosure. Which material prevents static discharge damage to the PCB while providing mechanical support?

    Answer: Nylon (non-conductive) standoffs

    Non-conductive nylon standoffs isolate the PCB from the metal enclosure, preventing static or stray current paths that could damage sensitive components.