CAT Alarm Technician Compliance Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NFPA 72, what is the minimum required audibility level for a fire alarm notification appliance above the average ambient sound level?
- 5 dB
- 10 dB
- 15 dB (Correct answer)
- 20 dB
Correct answer: 15 dB
NFPA 72 requires fire alarm audible appliances to produce a sound level at least 15 dB above the average ambient sound level.
Question 2: Which organization administers the Certified Alarm Technician Level I (CAT) certification program?
- NFPA
- ESA (Electronic Security Association) (Correct answer)
- UL
- NICET
Correct answer: ESA (Electronic Security Association)
The ESA (Electronic Security Association) administers the CAT Level I certification program for alarm technicians.
Question 3: When an alarm company performs a fire alarm inspection in a jurisdiction that has adopted NFPA 72, who is typically responsible for ensuring the system meets code requirements?
- The equipment manufacturer
- The building owner only
- The alarm contractor of record (Correct answer)
- The local fire marshal exclusively
Correct answer: The alarm contractor of record
The alarm contractor of record bears primary responsibility for ensuring the installed system meets applicable NFPA 72 code requirements.
Question 4: What does UL Listing of alarm equipment primarily indicate?
- The product meets a specific price standard
- The product has been tested and meets defined safety and performance standards (Correct answer)
- The product is government approved for all jurisdictions
- The product is the only acceptable brand for commercial use
Correct answer: The product has been tested and meets defined safety and performance standards
UL Listing means the product has been independently tested by Underwriters Laboratories and found to meet specific safety and performance standards.
Question 5: According to NFPA 72, what is the maximum allowable spacing between smoke detectors on a smooth ceiling when using the standard 30-foot spacing rule?
- 30 feet between detectors
- 900 square feet coverage area per detector (Correct answer)
- 30-foot radius from each detector
- 60 feet between detectors
Correct answer: 900 square feet coverage area per detector
The standard 900 sq ft coverage area per detector is derived from the 30-foot spacing rule applied to a smooth, flat ceiling.
Question 6: Which standard governs the installation of burglar alarm systems (intrusion detection) in the United States?
- NFPA 72
- NFPA 101
- UL 2050
- SIA CP-01 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: SIA CP-01
SIA CP-01 is the Control Panel Standard that governs features of intrusion alarm control panels to reduce false alarms.
Question 7: A technician installs a fire alarm system and discovers the AHJ requires a different detector spacing than what the manufacturer specifies. Which requirement takes precedence?
- Manufacturer specifications always override AHJ requirements
- The AHJ requirement takes precedence over manufacturer specs (Correct answer)
- The technician may choose whichever is more convenient
- Federal law supersedes both
Correct answer: The AHJ requirement takes precedence over manufacturer specs
The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) has final authority on code interpretations, and their requirements take precedence over manufacturer recommendations.
CAT Alarm Technician Compliance Standards 2
Under NFPA 72, what is the minimum required audibility level for a fire alarm notification appliance above the average ambient sound level?