Emergency Response Procedures Flashcards

Under NFPA 72, when a fire alarm system is taken out of service for repairs lasting more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period, which action is REQUIRED?

Answer: Notify the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) and implement a fire watch

NFPA 72 requires that when a fire alarm system is out of service for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period, the AHJ must be notified and an approved fire watch must be implemented.

A 'pre-signal' fire alarm system is designed to:

Answer: Alert a supervising station first, allowing trained staff to investigate before a general alarm sounds

A pre-signal system delays the general occupant alarm to allow trained staff (such as building security or supervisors) to investigate and confirm the alarm before a full evacuation is initiated.

During a multi-zone fire alarm activation in a large facility, zone prioritization requires the supervisor to focus first on:

Answer: The zone where the initial alarm originated and any adjacent zones

Emergency response prioritization focuses on the zone of origin and immediately adjacent zones, as fire spreads laterally and vertically from the point of origin.

A fire alarm supervisor notices that the audible alarm devices activate but the strobe lights do not during a test. Under ADA requirements, this indicates:

Answer: A code-required life safety deficiency that must be corrected immediately or documented with compensatory measures

Visible notification appliances (strobes) are required by ADA and NFPA 72 for hearing-impaired occupants; non-functioning strobes are a life safety deficiency requiring immediate corrective action or documented compensatory measures.

When coordinating with firefighters arriving on scene during a fire alarm activation, the supervisor should meet them at the:

Answer: Fire alarm control unit (FACU) or fire command center

Firefighters are trained to report to the FACU or fire command center first, where the supervisor can provide zone status, system information, and building layout details to support their response.

A Class A wiring style for fire alarm circuits, compared to Class B, provides the advantage of:

Answer: Continued circuit operation even after a single open or ground fault

Class A wiring uses a loop configuration with end-of-line supervision, allowing the circuit to remain fully operational after a single open or ground fault by rerouting signals through the return path.

After a confirmed false alarm caused by steam from a newly installed kitchen exhaust system, the BEST corrective action for the supervisor to recommend is:

Answer: Replace the smoke detector with a rate-of-rise heat detector or multi-sensor detector better suited to the environment

Selecting detection technology appropriate for the environment—such as a heat detector or multi-criteria detector resistant to steam—eliminates nuisance alarms while maintaining proper protection.