S95 - Supervision of Fire Alarm System Inspection and Testing Procedures Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to NFPA 72, what is the required initial and subsequent testing frequency for smoke detector sensitivity?
- Initially within 6 months of installation, and annually thereafter.
- Initially within 1 year of installation, then every alternate year. If two consecutive tests are stable, the interval can extend to 5 years. (Correct answer)
- Annually from the date of installation for the life of the detector.
- Only when a trouble signal indicates a sensitivity issue on the FACP.
Correct answer: Initially within 1 year of installation, then every alternate year. If two consecutive tests are stable, the interval can extend to 5 years.
NFPA 72 requires smoke detector sensitivity to be tested within one year of installation. After the initial test, it must be tested every other year. However, if two consecutive biennial tests show the detector is within the required sensitivity range, the time between tests can be extended to a maximum of five years.
Question 2: An S-95 Certificate of Fitness holder is supervising a fire alarm system when a single smoke detector is replaced. Which of the following best describes the reacceptance testing required by NFPA 72 for this modification?
- The entire system must undergo a full acceptance test as if it were a new installation.
- Only the newly replaced smoke detector needs to be functionally tested.
- The new detector, all functions affected by the change, and 10% of unaffected initiating devices (up to 50) must be tested. (Correct answer)
- No testing is required until the next scheduled annual inspection.
Correct answer: The new detector, all functions affected by the change, and 10% of unaffected initiating devices (up to 50) must be tested.
When a change is made to site-specific software, such as adding or replacing an addressable device, NFPA 72 requires more than just testing the new device. It mandates testing all functions known to be affected by the change, plus a functional test of an additional 10 percent of initiating devices not affected by the change, up to a maximum of 50 devices, to verify system stability.
Question 3: During a monthly inspection of a fire alarm system's secondary power supply, what is a key visual check an S-95 holder must perform on the lead-acid batteries?
- Perform a 30-minute discharge test.
- Measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte.
- Check for corrosion on terminals and signs of leakage from the battery case. (Correct answer)
- Verify the battery manufacturer date is within the last year.
Correct answer: Check for corrosion on terminals and signs of leakage from the battery case.
Monthly visual inspections of batteries are crucial. The S-95 holder should look for signs of deterioration such as corrosion on the terminals or leakage of battery fluid, as these can impede performance during a power failure.
Question 4: A facility manager schedules an annual fire alarm system test in a fully occupied office building. What is a critical procedural step that must be taken prior to beginning the test?
- Disable the building's HVAC system to prevent smoke from spreading.
- Obtain a hot work permit from the local fire department.
- Notify the building occupants and the central monitoring station that testing will be conducted.
- Ensure the fire department is on-site to witness the entire test. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ensure the fire department is on-site to witness the entire test.
Before conducting any testing that could result in an alarm transmission, it is essential to notify both the building occupants (to prevent panic) and the central monitoring station (to prevent an unnecessary fire department dispatch). This is a standard and critical part of any fire alarm testing procedure.
Question 5: When performing an acceptance test on a new fire alarm system, what is the NFPA 72 requirement for testing the secondary power supply (batteries)?
- The batteries must be disconnected and tested with a handheld load tester only.
- The primary (AC) power must be disconnected, and the system must be operated under battery power for a specified duration. (Correct answer)
- The charging voltage must be measured and recorded in the log book.
- The batteries must be replaced with a new set immediately before the test.
Correct answer: The primary (AC) power must be disconnected, and the system must be operated under battery power for a specified duration.
For an acceptance test, NFPA 72 requires disconnecting the primary AC power to verify the system can operate correctly on its secondary power supply. The system is then operated on batteries for a specified duration (e.g., 5 minutes for general alarm, 15 for voice evacuation) to simulate a power outage and ensure the batteries can handle the full system load.
Question 6: Which of the following activities is an S-95 Certificate of Fitness holder explicitly PROHIBITED from performing?
- Visually inspecting smoke detectors for physical damage.
- Acknowledging a trouble signal on the Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP).
- Making repairs to a central station transmitter or other internal system components. (Correct answer)
- Placing the system on test with the central station before a scheduled drill.
Correct answer: Making repairs to a central station transmitter or other internal system components.
The S-95 Certificate of Fitness is for the SUPERVISION of fire alarm systems, which includes visual inspections and operational procedures. It does not authorize the holder to perform repairs or maintenance on the system's internal components, especially critical equipment like the central station transmitter. Such work must be done by a qualified technician.
S95 - Supervision of Fire Alarm System Inspection and Testing Procedures Questions and Answers 1
According to NFPA 72, what is the required initial and subsequent testing frequency for smoke detector sensitivity?