F89 Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield F89 facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A fire warden observes an occupant propping open a fire door with a trash can. What is the correct response? → Remove the obstruction and educate the occupant on fire door requirements
2. What is the role of a deputy fire warden? → To assume the fire warden's duties if the primary warden is absent
3. What is the regulatory basis for requiring fire drills in NYC commercial high-rise buildings? → NYC Fire Code sections incorporating Local Law 5 of 1973 and subsequent amendments
4. When a fire warden discovers that a stairwell is impassable due to smoke, what should they do? → Redirect occupants to an alternate stairwell and notify the FLSD immediately
5. What type of building communication system is required for FLSD use during emergencies in NYC high-rises? → A fire warden phone system or two-way voice communication
6. What is the purpose of the 'fire warden communication system' separate from the public address system? → To allow two-way private communication between the FLSD and individual floor wardens
7. What is the difference between a wet-pipe and dry-pipe sprinkler system? → Wet-pipe has water constantly in the pipes; dry-pipe has pressurized air until activation
8. Which agency must be notified before conducting a fire drill that will activate the building's fire alarm system? → The building's alarm monitoring company
9. What is the required fire resistance rating for exit stairwell enclosures in buildings over 4 stories? → 2 hours
10. After a fire drill, what information should the FLSD include in the drill report? → Date, time, number of participants, deficiencies noted, and corrective actions
11. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of a fire warden during an evacuation? → Ensuring all occupants on the assigned floor have exited and reporting to the FLSD
12. Which elevator status information should an FLSD be ready to provide arriving firefighters? → Which elevators have recalled, are available for Phase II use, or are malfunctioning
13. What color EXIT sign is required in New York City buildings? → Red with white lettering
14. During a fire emergency, which person has authority over building occupants and fire wardens in the lobby command center? → The FLSD
15. When the FDNY arrives at a building after a fire alarm activation, the FLSD should first: → Meet the FDNY at the lobby and provide status information
16. Every Building or structure, new or old, designed for human occupancy shall be provided with _________? → Exit
17. What is the purpose of an evacuation assembly point? → To provide a designated location for accounting for evacuated occupants
18. In a non-fire emergency such as a power outage, what is the FLSD's primary concern? → Ensuring emergency lighting and egress paths remain functional
19. How long must an FLSD retain fire safety logs and incident reports in New York City? → 3 years
20. What is the minimum education or experience requirement to obtain an F-89 Certificate of Fitness? → Completion of an FDNY-approved fire safety director course and passing the FDNY exam
21. Who is authorized to give the all-clear signal after a building emergency? → The Fire Department Incident Commander or FLSD after FDNY authorization
22. The primary function of a fire door is to exit a building in case of fire. → FALSE
23. Which of the following should you NOT do during a fire emergency? → Re-enter the building without the permission of authorities
24. When the occupant load for any storey or portion thereof is more than 500 but not more than 100, the means of egress shall ______________. → Not be less than 3
25. Under NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code, elevators are classified as: → Not a means of egress for building occupants during fire emergencies
26. During a fire alarm, the FLSD observes that the fire command panel shows a trouble signal. What does this indicate? → A fault or malfunction in the fire alarm system circuit or component
27. During warden training, which scenario should be specifically addressed for mobility-impaired occupants? → Procedures for relocating mobility-impaired occupants to Areas of Rescue Assistance
28. After a fire emergency is resolved, who authorizes the return of elevators to normal passenger service? → The fire department incident commander, after formally releasing the scene
29. What is the maximum door opening force allowed for egress doors under NYC Building Code? → 30 pounds for interior doors and 50 pounds for exterior doors
30. What role does photographic documentation play after a fire incident in a high-rise building? → It supports the incident investigation by visually recording conditions before cleanup