Practice Test Geeks(CAT) Certified Alarm Technician Level I Practice Test
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Preventive Maintenance Procedures 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 Preventive Maintenance Procedures flashcards as text

  1. What is the correct way to clean a photoelectric smoke detector's sensing chamber during PM?

    Answer: Use compressed air or a soft brush per manufacturer instructions; avoid liquids in the chamber

    Liquids can contaminate optical surfaces; only dry methods approved by the manufacturer should be used in sensing chambers.

  2. During PM on a 24-hour monitored residential alarm, the technician bypasses a window contact to prevent false alarms while working. What must happen before leaving?

    Answer: Remove the bypass and confirm the zone is fully restored and communicating to the central station

    All bypasses must be removed and verified functional before leaving, and the central station should be notified the system is restored.

  3. A technician performs a walk test on a motion detector and the panel does not register activation in three passes. The most likely cause is:

    Answer: The detector is not aimed correctly, is obstructed, or the zone wiring has a fault

    No registration typically points to detector alignment issues, physical obstructions, or a wiring fault on that zone.

  4. What is the significance of checking end-of-line (EOL) resistor values during a PM inspection of a burglar alarm system?

    Answer: Correct EOL resistance confirms zone supervision is intact and detects open or short circuit conditions

    The panel monitors EOL resistance to distinguish between normal, open, short, and alarm conditions; incorrect values cause misclassification.

  5. When should alarm system PM records be retained, according to best practices and NFPA 72?

    Answer: For a minimum of 1 year or as required by the AHJ, whichever is longer

    NFPA 72 requires that inspection records be maintained for a minimum period and made available to the AHJ upon request.

  6. A glass-break detector fails to respond to a glass-break simulator during PM testing. After verifying the simulator battery is good, what is the next diagnostic step?

    Answer: Check the detector's mounting surface, aiming, and maximum coverage distance against manufacturer specs

    Glass-break detectors are highly sensitive to placement, aiming angle, and distance; verifying installation compliance is the first diagnostic step.

  7. Which of the following best describes the purpose of performing a full system restore test at the conclusion of a PM visit?

    Answer: To confirm all devices are functional, bypasses are cleared, and the system is in normal supervisory condition

    A final restore test confirms every zone and device tested is operational and the system is fully armed and communicating before the technician departs.