CET Fire Service & Emergency Operations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a high-rise building, elevator machine rooms are often pressurized during a fire event. What is the primary reason for this?
- To cool elevator motors during extended fire service operation
- To prevent smoke infiltration into the machine room and hoistway (Correct answer)
- To increase elevator speed for faster firefighter deployment
- To maintain hydraulic fluid temperature
Correct answer: To prevent smoke infiltration into the machine room and hoistway
Pressurizing machine rooms and hoistways prevents smoke from migrating into these spaces, protecting equipment and maintaining safe elevator operation.
Question 2: A certified elevator technician discovers that the Phase I key switch is stuck in the 'ON' position and cannot be returned to 'OFF.' What is the correct immediate action?
- Leave it in the 'ON' position since that is the safer fail state
- Tag the switch out of service and notify the building owner and authority having jurisdiction (Correct answer)
- Manually override the switch to force it to 'OFF'
- Place the elevator on independent service as a substitute
Correct answer: Tag the switch out of service and notify the building owner and authority having jurisdiction
A malfunctioning Phase I key switch must be tagged out of service and reported to the building owner and AHJ since it is a life-safety component.
Question 3: Under ASME A17.1, what minimum illumination is required inside an elevator car during firefighters' Phase II service?
- No specific illumination requirement exists for Phase II
- At least 1 foot-candle at floor level
- Emergency lighting providing at least 5 foot-candles (Correct answer)
- The normal car lighting must remain fully operational
Correct answer: Emergency lighting providing at least 5 foot-candles
ASME A17.1 requires emergency in-car lighting of at least 5 foot-candles during firefighters' service so occupants and firefighters can operate safely.
Question 4: A firefighter using Phase II service presses a floor button but the doors do not close. What most likely caused this?
- The door open button is being held simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Phase I has not been deactivated at the lobby panel
- The door close limit switch has failed permanently
- The elevator needs to be reset to Phase I before Phase II works
Correct answer: The door open button is being held simultaneously
In Phase II, doors will not close if the door open button is being held; releasing it allows the close button to function.
Question 5: When a building fire alarm system activates but the fire is confirmed to be in the basement, elevators should recall to:
- The main designated level (lobby)
- The alternate designated level (one floor above main) (Correct answer)
- The floor immediately above the basement
- The top floor of the building
Correct answer: The alternate designated level (one floor above main)
When the main designated level is at or adjacent to the fire floor, elevators recall to the alternate designated level, typically one floor above the main.
Question 6: What does the term 'non-stop' mean in the context of Phase I elevator recall?
- The elevator travels at maximum speed
- The elevator does not respond to hall calls or car calls en route to the designated level (Correct answer)
- The elevator bypasses all safety circuits
- The elevator doors do not open at intermediate floors
Correct answer: The elevator does not respond to hall calls or car calls en route to the designated level
Non-stop recall means the elevator bypasses all registered hall and car calls and travels directly to the designated level without stopping.
Question 7: Which of the following is NOT a required feature of the in-car Phase II firefighters' service switch?
- It must be key-operated
- It must be located in the car operating panel
- It must have an 'ON' and 'OFF' position
- It must automatically call for help when activated (Correct answer)
Correct answer: It must automatically call for help when activated
Phase II switches must be key-operated with ON/OFF positions in the car operating panel, but they do not have an automatic distress call function.
CET Fire Service & Emergency Operations 3
In a high-rise building, elevator machine rooms are often pressurized during a fire event.
What is the primary reason for this?