FACP Power Supply & Battery Systems 2

Question 1

For a non-sprinklered building, what is the minimum secondary (standby) power duration required by NFPA 72?

Accepted Answer

60 hours

Answer

NFPA 72 requires 60 hours of standby power for non-sprinklered buildings, significantly more than the 24 hours required for sprinklered buildings.

Question 2

What happens to an FACP when AC primary power is lost?

Accepted Answer

The panel automatically switches to secondary battery power and generates a trouble signal

Answer

When AC power is lost, the FACP automatically transfers to battery backup and initiates a trouble signal to notify the responsible party of the power loss condition.

Question 3

What is 'float charging' in the context of FACP battery systems?

Accepted Answer

A continuous low-level charge that maintains fully charged batteries while compensating for self-discharge

Answer

Float charging is a continuous low-current method that keeps batteries fully charged by compensating for natural self-discharge without overcharging them.

Question 4

When calculating battery size for an FACP, how is the alarm load component determined?

Accepted Answer

Alarm current multiplied by alarm duration converted to hours

Answer

The alarm load component is calculated as alarm current multiplied by the required alarm duration in hours (e.g., 5 minutes = 5/60 hours), then added to the standby load.

Question 5

Which condition requires FACP battery replacement per NFPA 72?

Accepted Answer

Battery capacity falls below 80% of its rated ampere-hour value

Answer

Per NFPA 72, batteries must be replaced when capacity testing reveals they can no longer deliver 80% of their rated ampere-hour capacity, regardless of age.

FACP - Fire Alarm Control Panel Certification Practice Test

FACP - Fire Alarm Control Panel Certification Practice Test

FACP Power Supply & Battery Systems 2