CFI Fire & Life Safety Codes 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: NFPA 101 classifies a building story as a 'story above grade plane' when the floor is above grade plane by more than what percentage of the story's perimeter?
- 25%
- 50% (Correct answer)
- 33%
- 75%
Correct answer: 50%
A story is above grade plane when its floor is above grade plane for more than 50% of the total perimeter of that story.
Question 2: Under NFPA 13, a light hazard occupancy sprinkler system design requires a minimum density of how many gallons per minute per square foot?
- 0.05 gpm/sq ft
- 0.10 gpm/sq ft (Correct answer)
- 0.15 gpm/sq ft
- 0.20 gpm/sq ft
Correct answer: 0.10 gpm/sq ft
NFPA 13 requires a minimum design density of 0.10 gpm/sq ft for light hazard occupancies.
Question 3: Which of the following is NOT a required component of a fire safety and evacuation plan per IFC Section 404?
- Procedures for reporting emergencies
- Emergency egress and relocation routes
- Automatic suppression system maintenance schedules (Correct answer)
- Procedures for accounting for all building occupants
Correct answer: Automatic suppression system maintenance schedules
IFC Section 404 requires emergency procedures, egress routes, and occupant accounting but does not require suppression system maintenance schedules in the evacuation plan.
Question 4: According to NFPA 101, the travel distance to an exit in a business occupancy with sprinklers must not exceed:
- 100 feet
- 150 feet
- 200 feet (Correct answer)
- 300 feet
Correct answer: 200 feet
NFPA 101 allows a maximum travel distance of 200 feet to an exit in a sprinklered business occupancy.
Question 5: The IFC defines a 'hazardous material' threshold quantity triggering additional code requirements based on which two primary factors?
- Material cost and flashpoint
- Physical hazard class and quantity stored (Correct answer)
- Toxicity rating and container size
- Flammability class and vapor pressure
Correct answer: Physical hazard class and quantity stored
IFC hazardous material permit thresholds are based on the physical hazard class of the material and the quantity stored or used.
Question 6: Under NFPA 72, what is the maximum spacing allowed for smoke detectors installed in a standard flat ceiling environment?
- 15-foot radius / 30-foot grid
- 21-foot radius / 30-foot grid (Correct answer)
- 30-foot radius / 60-foot grid
- 21-foot radius / 42-foot grid
Correct answer: 21-foot radius / 30-foot grid
NFPA 72 allows smoke detectors to be spaced on a 30-foot grid with a maximum 21-foot radius from the detector to any point.
Question 7: A fire inspector finds that exit signs in a building are not illuminated. Under IFC, the minimum required illuminance at the exit sign face is:
- 1 foot-candle
- 5 foot-candles (Correct answer)
- 10 foot-candles
- 50 foot-candles
Correct answer: 5 foot-candles
IFC and NFPA 101 require externally illuminated exit signs to have a minimum of 5 foot-candles on the illuminated surface.
CFI Fire & Life Safety Codes 3
NFPA 101 classifies a building story as a 'story above grade plane' when the floor is above grade plane by more than what percentage of the story's perimeter?