S95 Codes and Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of supervising station, as defined by NFPA 72, provides the highest level of service by maintaining a UL-listed facility with operators on duty at all times?
- Remote supervising station
- Proprietary supervising station
- Central station (Correct answer)
- Local auxiliary station
Correct answer: Central station
Central stations are UL-listed facilities staffed continuously and provide the highest standardized level of fire alarm monitoring service under NFPA 72 Chapter 26.
Question 2: Under NFPA 72, a central station operator must retransmit a fire alarm signal to the emergency communications center (fire department) within how many seconds of receipt?
- 30 seconds
- 60 seconds
- 90 seconds (Correct answer)
- 120 seconds
Correct answer: 90 seconds
NFPA 72 Section 26.6 requires central station operators to retransmit fire alarm signals to the fire department within 90 seconds of receipt.
Question 3: NFPA 72 requires the AHJ to be notified when a fire alarm system is out of service for more than how many hours within a 24-hour period?
- 4 hours (Correct answer)
- 8 hours
- 12 hours
- 24 hours
Correct answer: 4 hours
Per NFPA 72 Section 10.19.1, the AHJ must be notified when a fire alarm system is out of service for more than 4 hours in any 24-hour period.
Question 4: Which UL standard specifically establishes listing requirements for central station alarm services that supervise fire alarm systems?
- UL 681
- UL 827 (Correct answer)
- UL 864
- UL 2572
Correct answer: UL 827
UL 827 (Standard for Central-Station Alarm Services) defines listing requirements for central stations that monitor fire alarm and other protective signaling systems.
Question 5: What is the primary role of NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) in relation to fire alarm systems?
- Specifying wiring methods for initiating device circuits
- Establishing occupancy-based requirements that trigger mandatory fire alarm installation (Correct answer)
- Certifying fire alarm system technicians
- Defining monitoring station operational procedures
Correct answer: Establishing occupancy-based requirements that trigger mandatory fire alarm installation
NFPA 101 uses occupancy type and building characteristics to determine when a fire alarm system is required, while NFPA 72 governs how that system must be designed and installed.
Question 6: Under NFPA 72, a Class A initiating device circuit differs from Class B primarily because Class A circuits:
- Require supervision of every device on the circuit
- Provide a return path that allows continued operation during a single open-circuit fault (Correct answer)
- Use wireless technology to eliminate physical wiring
- Require an additional power supply at each end of the circuit
Correct answer: Provide a return path that allows continued operation during a single open-circuit fault
Class A circuits include a return conductor path back to the control panel, so a single open-circuit fault does not disable the entire circuit.
Question 7: Under NFPA 72, fire alarm system inspection, testing, and maintenance records must be retained for a minimum of:
- Until the next inspection cycle only
- 1 year after the next required test (Correct answer)
- 3 years regardless of test frequency
- 5 years from the date of installation
Correct answer: 1 year after the next required test
NFPA 72 Section 7.8.2 requires that records be retained until the next required test and for 1 year thereafter.
S95 Codes and Standards 2
Which type of supervising station, as defined by NFPA 72, provides the highest level of service by maintaining a UL-listed facility with operators on duty at all times?