Building Systems Oversight Flashcards
7 cards from real FLSD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Building Systems Oversight flashcards as text
An FLSD notices that several smoke dampers in the HVAC ductwork have been propped open with wooden wedges by HVAC maintenance personnel. What immediate action is required?
Answer: Remove the wedges immediately and restore dampers to operational status, then document the violation
Wedged-open smoke dampers defeat fire compartmentalization and must be restored immediately; the violation must be documented per fire safety plan requirements.
A high-rise office building's fire alarm control panel displays a 'supervisory' signal from the sprinkler system's water flow valve. What does a supervisory signal indicate versus an alarm signal?
Answer: A supervisory signal indicates an abnormal condition (e.g., closed valve) requiring attention; an alarm signal indicates water flow or smoke
Supervisory signals warn of conditions that could impair system operation (like a partially closed valve) and require investigation, while alarm signals indicate fire or water flow.
Under NYC Building Code, what is the minimum fire resistance rating required for ductwork penetrations through a 2-hour fire-rated floor/ceiling assembly without a fire damper?
Answer: The duct must be wrapped with 2-hour rated enclosure
Where fire dampers are not provided, ductwork penetrating rated assemblies must be enclosed in a shaft or wrapped with materials providing equivalent fire resistance.
What does the term 'common path of travel' mean in the context of building egress design that an FLSD must understand?
Answer: The portion of exit access where occupants must travel in a single direction before reaching a choice of two exits
Common path of travel is the distance occupants must walk before having a choice of two separate exits; building codes limit this distance to reduce risk.
A building's wet-pipe sprinkler system in an unheated parking garage begins discharging water in winter despite no fire. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: A frozen and burst sprinkler pipe due to temperatures below 40°F
Wet-pipe systems in unheated spaces are vulnerable to freezing; water in the pipes freezes, expands, and can rupture pipes or heads causing accidental discharge.
When testing emergency lighting in a high-rise building, the FLSD finds that lights in one stairwell extinguish after 60 minutes. NYC FC requires emergency lighting to operate for a minimum of how long?
Answer: 90 minutes
NYC FC and NFPA 101 require emergency lighting systems to provide illumination for a minimum of 90 minutes upon loss of normal power.
An FLSD conducting a building systems inspection notices the fire command station (FCS) panel has a zone in 'trouble' status. What is the correct protocol?
Answer: Investigate and correct the trouble condition; notify FDNY if the impairment affects life safety systems
A trouble signal at the FCS indicates a fault in the fire alarm system that must be investigated and corrected, with FDNY notification required if life safety systems are impaired.