FLSD Fire Alarm Systems 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a fire alarm system is taken out of service for maintenance in a high-rise building, what is the REQUIRED compensatory measure?
- Post a sign on the FACP indicating the outage
- Implement an approved fire watch (Correct answer)
- Notify only building management
- Switch to battery backup power only
Correct answer: Implement an approved fire watch
When a fire alarm system or portion of it is out of service, NFPA 72 and local codes require an approved fire watch to be implemented until the system is restored.
Question 2: A duct smoke detector in an HVAC system activates. What is the PRIMARY purpose of this detector?
- To provide early warning to building occupants via audible alarms
- To shut down the HVAC system and prevent smoke from circulating through ductwork (Correct answer)
- To trigger the sprinkler system in the mechanical room
- To alert the fire department directly via a dedicated alarm line
Correct answer: To shut down the HVAC system and prevent smoke from circulating through ductwork
Duct smoke detectors are primarily designed to shut down HVAC equipment to prevent the spread of smoke throughout a building via the duct system.
Question 3: What is the minimum audible alarm sound pressure level required at a sleeping area in a residential occupancy under NFPA 72?
- 55 dB(A)
- 65 dB(A) at the pillow
- 75 dB(A) at the pillow (Correct answer)
- 85 dB(A) at the pillow
Correct answer: 75 dB(A) at the pillow
NFPA 72 requires a minimum of 75 dB(A) measured at the pillow level to ensure sleeping occupants are awakened by a fire alarm.
Question 4: Which condition would cause a fire alarm system to enter 'alarm verification' mode?
- A manual pull station is activated
- A single smoke detector triggers in a system configured for verification (Correct answer)
- Two or more smoke detectors activate simultaneously
- The FACP battery voltage drops below threshold
Correct answer: A single smoke detector triggers in a system configured for verification
Alarm verification delays the alarm signal briefly after a single smoke detector activates, allowing time to confirm the signal is genuine and reduce nuisance alarms.
Question 5: During annual fire alarm testing in a high-rise office building, who is responsible for coordinating the test with the appropriate authority?
- The fire alarm monitoring company only
- The building owner or their representative, such as the FLSD (Correct answer)
- The fire alarm installing contractor independently
- The building tenants collectively
Correct answer: The building owner or their representative, such as the FLSD
The building owner or their designated representative, such as the FLSD, is responsible for coordinating fire alarm tests with the fire department and the monitoring company.
Question 6: A carbon monoxide (CO) detector integrated into a fire alarm system activates. What action should an FLSD take FIRST?
- Order a full building evacuation immediately
- Investigate the source of CO, ventilate the area, and notify the fire department (Correct answer)
- Reset the alarm panel and monitor for reactivation
- Disable the CO detector to prevent further false alarms
Correct answer: Investigate the source of CO, ventilate the area, and notify the fire department
CO alarms require immediate investigation to identify the source, ventilation to disperse the gas, and notification of the fire department as CO is a life-safety hazard.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'positive alarm sequence' (PAS) feature in a fire alarm system?
- To automatically confirm an alarm with a second detector before notifying the fire department
- To provide a brief delay allowing trained personnel to investigate and reset the alarm before full notification occurs (Correct answer)
- To sequence audible alarms floor-by-floor from the top down
- To require two simultaneous detector activations before any notification
Correct answer: To provide a brief delay allowing trained personnel to investigate and reset the alarm before full notification occurs
Positive Alarm Sequence (PAS) allows a brief investigation period (up to 180 seconds) by a trained responder before the full fire alarm sequence and fire department notification are initiated.
FLSD Fire Alarm Systems 5
When a fire alarm system is taken out of service for maintenance in a high-rise building, what is the REQUIRED compensatory measure?