CAT Preventive Maintenance Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How often should backup batteries in a fire alarm control panel typically be load-tested according to NFPA 72?
- Monthly
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 5 years
- Every 6 months
Correct answer: Annually
NFPA 72 requires batteries to be load-tested annually to verify they can sustain the system under alarm conditions.
Question 2: When performing PM on a passive infrared (PIR) detector, which condition would most likely cause false alarms?
- Low ambient temperature
- Dirty lens cover (Correct answer)
- High battery voltage
- Loose conduit fitting
Correct answer: Dirty lens cover
A dirty lens reduces sensitivity inconsistently, causing erratic triggering that can produce false alarms.
Question 3: What is the primary reason for lubricating mechanical components of a siren or bell during preventive maintenance?
- To increase decibel output
- To prevent corrosion and ensure reliable activation (Correct answer)
- To reduce current draw
- To improve radio frequency range
Correct answer: To prevent corrosion and ensure reliable activation
Lubrication prevents corrosion and mechanical wear that could cause the device to fail when activated.
Question 4: During a PM inspection, a technician finds that a smoke detector's sensitivity reading is outside the listed range. What is the correct action?
- Clean the detector and retest; replace if still out of range (Correct answer)
- Adjust the sensitivity dial to the center position
- Log the reading and schedule follow-up in 6 months
- Spray compressed air and mark as passed
Correct answer: Clean the detector and retest; replace if still out of range
NFPA 72 requires cleaning and retesting; if sensitivity remains outside range, the detector must be replaced.
Question 5: Which tool is specifically used to test the sensitivity of an ionization or photoelectric smoke detector during PM?
- Multimeter
- Aerosol smoke tester or magnetics sensitivity meter (Correct answer)
- Oscilloscope
- Clamp-on ammeter
Correct answer: Aerosol smoke tester or magnetics sensitivity meter
Calibrated aerosol smoke or a sensitivity meter measures whether a detector responds within its listed sensitivity window.
Question 6: A control panel's trouble log shows repeated ground faults that clear on their own. What PM step should be prioritized?
- Replace the main control board
- Inspect wiring insulation in areas exposed to moisture or physical damage (Correct answer)
- Increase the panel's output voltage
- Disable the ground fault circuit to eliminate false logs
Correct answer: Inspect wiring insulation in areas exposed to moisture or physical damage
Intermittent ground faults typically indicate degraded insulation often caused by moisture intrusion or physical damage.
Question 7: What documentation must be completed after every preventive maintenance visit on a fire alarm system?
- Only an internal technician work order
- A signed inspection report retained by the owner and available to the AHJ (Correct answer)
- A verbal summary to the building manager
- A federal EPA compliance form
Correct answer: A signed inspection report retained by the owner and available to the AHJ
NFPA 72 mandates a written inspection, testing, and maintenance record be provided to the owner and available to the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
CAT Preventive Maintenance Procedures 2
How often should backup batteries in a fire alarm control panel typically be load-tested according to NFPA 72?