Free S-13 Color Coding and Signage Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What color must all piping for a standpipe system be painted?
- Yellow
- Red (Correct answer)
- Green
- Blue
Correct answer: Red
FDNY regulations require that all piping and fittings dedicated to a standpipe system be painted red. This universal color coding allows firefighters to quickly identify standpipe components during an emergency.
Question 2: What color should the body and caps of a Fire Department Connection (FDC) for a dedicated standpipe system be?
- Red body, yellow caps
- Yellow body, red caps
- Red body, red caps (Correct answer)
- Green body, green caps
Correct answer: Red body, red caps
The FDC for a system that only supplies a standpipe must have a red body and red caps. If the system were a combination standpipe/sprinkler, the body would be red but the caps would be yellow.
Question 3: A sign at the Fire Department Connection must indicate which of the following?
- The date of the last hydrostatic test
- The name of the S-13 certificate holder
- The pressure required at the inlets to deliver system demand (Correct answer)
- The location of the main control valve
Correct answer: The pressure required at the inlets to deliver system demand
The sign at the FDC must clearly indicate the pressure required at the inlets to deliver the system demand. It must also state which parts of the building the FDC serves, such as 'STANDPIPE FOR FLOORS 1-10'.
Question 4: What color must the valve wheel or handle of a normally closed control valve be painted?
- Red
- Green
- Yellow (Correct answer)
- Black
Correct answer: Yellow
To prevent confusion, valve handles are color-coded. A normally open valve handle is painted green, while a normally closed valve handle must be painted yellow.
Question 5: What information is required on a sign posted at a main control valve?
- The portion of the system controlled by the valve (Correct answer)
- The name of the installing contractor
- The date the valve was last operated
- The manufacturer's model number
Correct answer: The portion of the system controlled by the valve
A sign must be placed at each main control valve indicating the portion of the system it controls. This is essential for both maintenance personnel and firefighters to quickly understand the impact of operating that specific valve.
Question 6: If a standpipe system shares a water supply with a sprinkler system, what color should the FDC caps be?
- Red
- Yellow (Correct answer)
- Green
- Silver
Correct answer: Yellow
For a combination standpipe and sprinkler system, the FDC body is painted red, but the caps are painted yellow. This color scheme immediately informs the FDNY that the connection supplies both types of fire protection systems.
Free S-13 Color Coding and Signage Questions and Answers
What color must all piping for a standpipe system be painted?