FE FE Documentation & Record Keeping 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a monthly visual inspection, what should the inspector document if an extinguisher is found to be missing?
- Nothing — only pass/fail is needed
- The location, date, and discovery of the missing unit, then notify the responsible party immediately (Correct answer)
- Only the unit serial number in a log
- Monthly inspections don't require documentation
Correct answer: The location, date, and discovery of the missing unit, then notify the responsible party immediately
A missing extinguisher must be documented with location and date, and the responsible party notified immediately so replacement is expedited.
Question 2: Which organization's certification is most widely recognized in the US for portable fire extinguisher service technicians?
- OSHA
- NICET (National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies) (Correct answer)
- NFPA
- ICC (International Code Council)
Correct answer: NICET (National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies)
NICET offers widely recognized certification for fire protection technicians, including portable fire extinguisher servicing.
Question 3: What must a service report provided to the building owner after annual maintenance include?
- Only the total invoice amount
- A list of all extinguishers serviced, deficiencies found, corrective actions taken, and technician identification (Correct answer)
- Only extinguishers that failed inspection
- Only the next service due date
Correct answer: A list of all extinguishers serviced, deficiencies found, corrective actions taken, and technician identification
The service report must comprehensively document all units serviced, any deficiencies found, corrections made, and who performed the work.
Question 4: What is the significance of the manufacture date stamped on a fire extinguisher cylinder?
- It determines warranty coverage only
- It establishes the starting point for hydrostatic test intervals and maximum service life limits (Correct answer)
- It is used only for inventory purposes
- It indicates the date of first inspection
Correct answer: It establishes the starting point for hydrostatic test intervals and maximum service life limits
The manufacture date starts the clock for all time-based service intervals, including hydrostatic tests and any applicable maximum service life.
Question 5: Which record must be created when a new extinguisher is placed into service for the first time?
- No record is needed until the first annual inspection
- An initial placement record including location, type, size, serial number, and date of installation (Correct answer)
- Only a purchase receipt
- A hydrostatic test record
Correct answer: An initial placement record including location, type, size, serial number, and date of installation
An initial placement record establishes baseline documentation including the extinguisher's location, type, size, serial number, and installation date.
Question 6: What must a technician do if they discover that a previous service record was falsified or inaccurate?
- Correct the record silently
- Document the discrepancy, notify the service company management, and ensure all deficiencies are corrected (Correct answer)
- Ignore it if the extinguisher currently passes inspection
- Ask the customer what they prefer
Correct answer: Document the discrepancy, notify the service company management, and ensure all deficiencies are corrected
Falsified records are a serious compliance and liability issue; the technician must document the discrepancy and escalate it through proper channels.
FE FE Documentation & Record Keeping 2
During a monthly visual inspection, what should the inspector document if an extinguisher is found to be missing?