NICET Inspection and Testing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How often must automatic sprinkler system inspections be performed according to NFPA 25?
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Quarterly and annually depending on component (Correct answer)
- Every 5 years
Correct answer: Quarterly and annually depending on component
NFPA 25 establishes a tiered inspection schedule where some components are inspected quarterly and others annually.
Question 2: What test is performed to verify that a fire pump starts automatically?
- Hydrostatic test
- Churn test
- Flow test
- No-flow test (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No-flow test
A no-flow (churn) test verifies the fire pump starts automatically and runs at shutoff conditions without flowing water.
Question 3: Under NFPA 25, how often must a full flow fire pump test be conducted?
- Monthly
- Every 6 months
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 3 years
Correct answer: Annually
NFPA 25 requires an annual full flow fire pump test to verify the pump meets its rated performance across its flow curve.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a hydrostatic test on a newly installed sprinkler system?
- To flush debris from the piping
- To verify the system holds pressure without leaks (Correct answer)
- To test sprinkler head activation temperature
- To balance flow across all sprinkler zones
Correct answer: To verify the system holds pressure without leaks
A hydrostatic test pressurizes the system to 200 psi (or 50 psi above maximum operating pressure) for 2 hours to verify there are no leaks.
Question 5: Which of the following requires a 5-year internal inspection under NFPA 25?
- Sprinkler heads
- Dry pipe valves
- Fire pump packing glands
- Sprinkler pipe interior for obstruction investigation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sprinkler pipe interior for obstruction investigation
NFPA 25 requires a 5-year internal inspection of sprinkler pipe to investigate for potential obstructions like scale, debris, or biological growth.
Question 6: What condition triggers an obstruction investigation of a sprinkler system per NFPA 25?
- Any sprinkler activation
- Discolored water during drain test, discharge of foreign material, or known contamination (Correct answer)
- Annual inspection due date
- Replacement of any sprinkler head
Correct answer: Discolored water during drain test, discharge of foreign material, or known contamination
NFPA 25 triggers an obstruction investigation when discolored water, foreign material discharge, or known contamination sources are identified.
NICET Inspection and Testing 1
How often must automatic sprinkler system inspections be performed according to NFPA 25?