Fire Safety Fire Safety Equipment and Alarm Systems 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of fire suppression system is commonly used in commercial kitchen hood systems to suppress grease fires?
- Halon 1301 gas system
- Wet chemical (Class K) system (Correct answer)
- Dry powder system
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) total flooding system
Correct answer: Wet chemical (Class K) system
Wet chemical systems using potassium-based agents are specifically designed to suppress high-temperature cooking oil and grease fires.
Question 2: Under NFPA 72, how often must a building's fire alarm system receive a full inspection by a qualified service provider?
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every five years
Correct answer: Annually
NFPA 72 requires a full inspection and testing of fire alarm systems at least annually by a qualified service provider.
Question 3: A fire sprinkler head is heat-activated. What is the most common activation temperature rating (color-coded orange) for standard office environments?
- 135°F (57°C)
- 155°F (68°C) (Correct answer)
- 175°F (79°C)
- 200°F (93°C)
Correct answer: 155°F (68°C)
Orange-bulb sprinkler heads activate at 135°F (57°C) and are standard for typical office and residential occupancies.
Question 4: In the PASS method for using a fire extinguisher, what does the second 'S' stand for?
- Squeeze the handle
- Spray in a sweeping motion
- Stand back from the fire
- Sweep side to side at the base (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sweep side to side at the base
PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep — the final step is to sweep the nozzle side to side at the base of the fire.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a fire alarm annunciator panel?
- To automatically notify the fire department via telephone
- To display the location of an alarm or trouble condition within the building (Correct answer)
- To suppress a fire by activating sprinklers
- To test battery backup on the main control panel
Correct answer: To display the location of an alarm or trouble condition within the building
An annunciator panel shows responders exactly where in a building an alarm or trouble condition has been triggered, speeding response.
Question 6: Which of the following conditions would cause a fire extinguisher to FAIL a monthly visual inspection?
- The pressure gauge needle is in the green zone
- The pull pin is intact with a tamper seal
- The inspection tag shows last annual service was 14 months ago (Correct answer)
- The extinguisher is mounted on a bracket at eye level
Correct answer: The inspection tag shows last annual service was 14 months ago
NFPA 10 requires annual maintenance; an extinguisher last serviced 14 months ago is overdue and should be flagged during inspection.
Question 7: A voice evacuation system in a high-rise building provides what critical advantage over a standard bell/horn alarm?
- It costs less to install and maintain
- It provides specific, intelligible instructions to occupants about what to do and where to go (Correct answer)
- It activates sprinklers faster than tone-only alarms
- It eliminates the need for emergency lighting
Correct answer: It provides specific, intelligible instructions to occupants about what to do and where to go
Voice evacuation systems deliver clear spoken instructions, reducing panic and guiding occupants to the correct exits or safe areas.
Fire Safety Fire Safety Equipment and Alarm Systems 5
Which type of fire suppression system is commonly used in commercial kitchen hood systems to suppress grease fires?