FLSD Conducting Training and Drills 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a drill reveals that occupants consistently use elevators instead of stairwells during an evacuation, what is the FIRST corrective action an FLSD should take?
- Immediately retrain elevator operators to redirect occupants
- Document the deficiency and schedule a follow-up drill within 30 days
- Post additional signage at elevator banks directing occupants to stairwells (Correct answer)
- Notify the building owner and FDNY of the elevator misuse pattern
Correct answer: Post additional signage at elevator banks directing occupants to stairwells
Posting clear directional signage at elevator banks is the most immediate corrective action to redirect occupants to stairwells during future evacuations.
Question 2: Under NYC Fire Code, which staff member is specifically required to receive training on the use of a standpipe hose system?
- Fire Safety Director
- Building superintendent only
- Designated trained staff (fire brigade members) (Correct answer)
- All building occupants
Correct answer: Designated trained staff (fire brigade members)
Designated trained staff, often called fire brigade members, must receive hands-on standpipe hose system training as part of a comprehensive fire safety program.
Question 3: A new tenant's employees refuse to participate in a scheduled fire drill. What is the FLSD's proper course of action?
- Exclude the floor from the drill and note the noncompliance in the drill record
- Notify the FDNY before the drill that certain floors will not participate
- Coordinate with building management to enforce tenant lease obligations regarding drills (Correct answer)
- Cancel the drill until all tenants agree to participate
Correct answer: Coordinate with building management to enforce tenant lease obligations regarding drills
The FLSD should work through building management to enforce lease provisions that require tenant cooperation with fire safety drills.
Question 4: Which of the following scenarios BEST demonstrates an effective tabletop exercise for a high-rise fire safety team?
- Physically evacuating all floors to test stairwell capacity
- Walking through an incident scenario verbally with key staff to identify decision gaps (Correct answer)
- Testing the fire alarm system by pulling multiple stations simultaneously
- Timing occupant evacuation from the uppermost floor
Correct answer: Walking through an incident scenario verbally with key staff to identify decision gaps
A tabletop exercise involves key personnel discussing a simulated scenario to identify procedural gaps without physical evacuation.
Question 5: How often must a Certificate of Fitness holder for Fire Safety Director conduct fire drills in a high-rise office building under NYC requirements?
- Once per year
- Twice per year (Correct answer)
- Once per quarter
- Monthly
Correct answer: Twice per year
NYC Fire Code requires fire drills to be conducted at least twice per year in high-rise office buildings.
Question 6: During a drill debrief, an occupant reports that the stairwell door on the 18th floor was locked from the stairwell side. What should the FLSD do FIRST?
- File a complaint with the Department of Buildings
- Immediately inspect and correct the door condition before the building reopens (Correct answer)
- Note it in the drill report and schedule a repair within 30 days
- Notify the tenant on that floor to unlock the door
Correct answer: Immediately inspect and correct the door condition before the building reopens
A locked stairwell door is an immediate life-safety hazard that must be corrected before normal building operations resume.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of conducting a partial evacuation drill (floor-by-floor) in a high-rise building?
- To reduce the cost of conducting full building evacuations
- To test evacuation procedures without disrupting the entire building's operations (Correct answer)
- To comply with OSHA requirements for phased evacuations
- To allow the FDNY to observe stairwell conditions floor by floor
Correct answer: To test evacuation procedures without disrupting the entire building's operations
Partial evacuation drills allow testing of procedures on specific floors while minimizing disruption to the entire building's occupants and operations.
FLSD Conducting Training and Drills 4
When a drill reveals that occupants consistently use elevators instead of stairwells during an evacuation, what is the FIRST corrective action an FLSD should take?