Fire Safety Fire Prevention and Hazard Identification 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes a 'fire load' in a building?
- The weight capacity of a fire escape ladder
- The total amount of combustible material in a space that contributes to fire intensity (Correct answer)
- The maximum number of occupants allowed during a fire drill
- The electrical load on fire alarm systems
Correct answer: The total amount of combustible material in a space that contributes to fire intensity
Fire load refers to the total quantity of combustible materials in a space, expressed in BTUs or kg, which determines potential fire intensity and duration.
Question 2: When should a portable fire extinguisher inspection be performed in a workplace?
- Only after a fire has occurred
- Annually by a certified professional only
- Monthly visual checks by staff and annually by a certified professional (Correct answer)
- Every five years during scheduled maintenance
Correct answer: Monthly visual checks by staff and annually by a certified professional
OSHA and NFPA 10 require monthly visual inspections by designated staff and annual maintenance checks by a certified fire extinguisher professional.
Question 3: A space heater placed too close to a curtain in an office is an example of which fire hazard type?
- Chemical hazard
- Electrical arc hazard
- Heat source to combustible material proximity hazard (Correct answer)
- Spontaneous combustion hazard
Correct answer: Heat source to combustible material proximity hazard
Placing a heat-generating device near combustible materials like curtains reduces the ignition time needed for a fire to start, a classic proximity hazard.
Question 4: What fire hazard is associated with lint accumulation in a clothes dryer exhaust duct?
- Carbon monoxide poisoning only
- Highly combustible buildup that can ignite from dryer heat (Correct answer)
- Increased moisture that promotes mold growth
- Reduction in dryer efficiency with no fire risk
Correct answer: Highly combustible buildup that can ignite from dryer heat
Lint is highly combustible, and accumulation in dryer exhaust ducts combined with dryer heat is a leading cause of residential and laundry room fires.
Question 5: Which action should be taken when a sprinkler head is accidentally damaged or broken in a building?
- Cap it temporarily with tape until repairs are convenient
- Immediately notify maintenance and shut off the water supply to that zone if needed (Correct answer)
- Leave it alone since sprinklers self-repair
- Replace it with any available hardware store fitting
Correct answer: Immediately notify maintenance and shut off the water supply to that zone if needed
A damaged sprinkler head must be reported immediately and addressed by qualified personnel, as it compromises fire suppression capability and can cause water damage.
Question 6: What makes polyurethane foam furniture particularly hazardous in a fire?
- It absorbs water and makes firefighting more difficult
- It burns extremely fast and releases toxic black smoke (Correct answer)
- It contains metal components that conduct heat
- It does not burn but melts, creating slip hazards
Correct answer: It burns extremely fast and releases toxic black smoke
Polyurethane foam ignites quickly, burns intensely, and releases large quantities of toxic black smoke including carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.
Question 7: An NFPA 704 diamond placard with a red '4' at the top indicates what level of flammability hazard?
- Will not burn under normal conditions
- Burns below room temperature — extremely flammable (Correct answer)
- Requires moderate heating to ignite
- Combustible if heated but not at room temperature
Correct answer: Burns below room temperature — extremely flammable
An NFPA 704 flammability rating of 4 (red quadrant) indicates materials that will rapidly vaporize at normal pressures and temperatures and burn readily, such as flammable gases.
Fire Safety Fire Prevention and Hazard Identification 5
Which of the following best describes a 'fire load' in a building?