CFPS Building Life Safety Systems 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In an atrium building, which smoke management strategy uses large exhaust fans to remove smoke from the atrium space at a rate sufficient to keep the smoke layer above occupied floors?
- Smoke containment
- Pressurization of adjacent spaces
- Atrium exhaust (Correct answer)
- Zoned smoke control
Correct answer: Atrium exhaust
Atrium exhaust (also called smoke exhaust) removes hot gases and smoke from the top of the atrium to maintain a tenable smoke-free layer at lower levels.
Question 2: A door used as a means of egress must swing in the direction of egress travel when serving a room or area with an occupant load of at least how many persons?
- 25
- 50 (Correct answer)
- 75
- 100
Correct answer: 50
Doors serving areas with an occupant load of 50 or more must swing in the direction of egress travel per IBC and NFPA 101.
Question 3: Which exit component provides a protected path of travel between a building's interior and a public way that is separated from the interior by rated construction?
- Exit access corridor
- Exit discharge
- Exit (exit enclosure)
- Exit passageway (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Exit passageway
An exit passageway is a horizontal component of the exit system that is enclosed by fire-rated construction and connects to a public way.
Question 4: Under IBC, what minimum fire-resistance rating is required for exit enclosures (stairways) in buildings four or more stories in height?
- 30 minutes
- 1 hour
- 2 hours (Correct answer)
- 3 hours
Correct answer: 2 hours
IBC requires exit enclosures in buildings four or more stories to have a minimum 2-hour fire-resistance rating.
Question 5: What term describes the systematic, controlled process of moving occupants from a building in danger to a safe location during an emergency?
- Defend-in-place
- Progressive horizontal evacuation
- Staged evacuation (Correct answer)
- Total evacuation
Correct answer: Staged evacuation
Staged evacuation involves moving occupants in phases—typically beginning with the fire floor and adjacent floors—rather than evacuating the entire building simultaneously.
Question 6: Which life safety system component automatically closes fire doors held open by magnetic door holders upon receiving an alarm signal?
- Door coordinator
- Door closer
- Fire alarm control panel
- Electromagnetic door holder release (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Electromagnetic door holder release
Electromagnetic door holders release their hold on doors when they receive a signal from the fire alarm control panel, allowing the door closers to shut the doors.
Question 7: What is the minimum illumination level required at the floor level for means of egress lighting under NFPA 101?
- 0.5 foot-candles
- 1 foot-candle (Correct answer)
- 2 foot-candles
- 5 foot-candles
Correct answer: 1 foot-candle
NFPA 101 requires means of egress to be illuminated at not less than 1 foot-candle at floor level along the path of egress.
CFPS Building Life Safety Systems 3
In an atrium building, which smoke management strategy uses large exhaust fans to remove smoke from the atrium space at a rate sufficient to keep the smoke layer above occupied floors?