S95 S-95 Holder Responsibilities — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An S-95 certificate holder must be present on-site during which activity?
- Routine cleaning of detector covers
- Any impairment to the fire alarm system (Correct answer)
- Monthly utility meter readings
- Annual HVAC maintenance unrelated to alarms
Correct answer: Any impairment to the fire alarm system
The S-95 holder must be present and supervise any impairment, bypass, or testing of the fire alarm system.
Question 2: How long must an S-95 holder retain fire alarm test and inspection records on the premises?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 3 years
FDNY requires that fire alarm test and inspection records be kept on the premises for a minimum of 3 years.
Question 3: When the S-95 holder cannot be present during a planned fire alarm impairment, what must occur?
- A building manager may authorize the impairment verbally
- The impairment must be postponed until the certificate holder is available
- Another qualified S-95 holder must supervise in their place (Correct answer)
- A written log entry is sufficient without supervision
Correct answer: Another qualified S-95 holder must supervise in their place
If the primary S-95 holder is unavailable, another individual holding a valid S-95 certificate must be designated to supervise the impairment.
Question 4: Which document must an S-95 holder maintain that logs every alarm, trouble signal, and supervisory signal?
- Occupancy permit
- Fire alarm log book (Correct answer)
- Building maintenance schedule
- Sprinkler system report
Correct answer: Fire alarm log book
The S-95 holder is responsible for maintaining a fire alarm log book that records all signals, tests, and system events.
Question 5: The FDNY must be notified BEFORE a planned impairment to the fire alarm system that will last longer than:
- 15 minutes
- 30 minutes
- 1 hour (Correct answer)
- 4 hours
Correct answer: 1 hour
The FDNY must be notified in advance of any planned fire alarm system impairment expected to exceed one hour.
Question 6: An S-95 certificate holder discovers a malfunctioning smoke detector in a corridor. What is the FIRST action to take?
- Disable the entire fire alarm panel until repairs are made
- Log the trouble condition and notify the building owner and fire alarm company (Correct answer)
- Remove the detector and leave the zone uncovered
- Wait until the next scheduled inspection to report it
Correct answer: Log the trouble condition and notify the building owner and fire alarm company
Upon discovering a malfunction, the S-95 holder must immediately log the trouble condition and notify the building owner and the fire alarm service company.
Question 7: Which of the following is the S-95 holder NOT responsible for?
- Supervising acceptance tests of new fire alarm equipment
- Maintaining the log book of all alarm activations
- Physically repairing and rewiring fire alarm devices (Correct answer)
- Notifying the FDNY of extended system impairments
Correct answer: Physically repairing and rewiring fire alarm devices
Physical repair and rewiring of fire alarm equipment must be performed by a licensed fire alarm technician, not the S-95 holder.
Question 8: Under FDNY rules, the S-95 certificate holder must ensure that fire alarm system tests are conducted at minimum:
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Semi-annually
- Annually (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Annually
FDNY requires at least an annual inspection and test of the fire alarm system, conducted by a licensed fire alarm company under S-95 supervision.
Question 9: A fire alarm panel shows a 'supervisory' signal. As the S-95 holder, what does this indicate?
- A fire has been detected and evacuation should begin
- A non-emergency condition affecting a system component requires attention (Correct answer)
- The panel battery backup has fully charged
- The system has successfully completed a self-test
Correct answer: A non-emergency condition affecting a system component requires attention
A supervisory signal indicates a non-emergency abnormal condition, such as a valve position change, that needs to be investigated and corrected.
Question 10: An S-95 holder's certificate is issued by:
- The NYC Department of Buildings
- The NYC Fire Department (FDNY) (Correct answer)
- The New York State Fire Marshal
- The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Correct answer: The NYC Fire Department (FDNY)
The S-95 Certificate of Fitness is issued by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
Question 11: During a fire drill, the S-95 holder's role includes:
- Resetting the fire alarm panel prematurely to test occupant response
- Coordinating with building staff and documenting the drill in the log book (Correct answer)
- Silencing all alarm devices before occupants can evacuate
- Notifying occupants the drill is fake so they do not leave their workstations
Correct answer: Coordinating with building staff and documenting the drill in the log book
The S-95 holder must coordinate the fire drill with building staff and accurately document the event in the fire alarm log book.
Question 12: A tenant installs a supplementary alarm device without notifying building management. What is the S-95 holder's responsibility?
- Allow it since it adds extra protection
- Report the unauthorized device and ensure it is evaluated by a licensed technician (Correct answer)
- Remove the device immediately without documentation
- Integrate it into the main panel personally
Correct answer: Report the unauthorized device and ensure it is evaluated by a licensed technician
Unauthorized modifications to a fire alarm system must be reported; a licensed technician must evaluate whether the device meets code before it can remain.
Question 13: When an automatic fire alarm activation occurs in the building, the S-95 holder must:
- Wait for FDNY arrival before investigating the cause
- Immediately silence the alarm panel to prevent occupant panic
- Investigate the cause, document the event, and reset the system only after verifying safety (Correct answer)
- Evacuate with the occupants and take no further action
Correct answer: Investigate the cause, document the event, and reset the system only after verifying safety
After an activation, the S-95 holder must investigate the cause, log all details, and reset the panel only after confirming there is no actual fire or hazard.
Question 14: If the S-95 holder's certificate expires, they must:
- Continue supervising the system until notified by FDNY
- Immediately cease all S-95 supervisory duties until the certificate is renewed (Correct answer)
- Appoint any building employee as a temporary replacement
- File a 30-day extension automatically
Correct answer: Immediately cease all S-95 supervisory duties until the certificate is renewed
An expired S-95 certificate is invalid; the holder may not perform S-95 duties until the certificate is renewed through FDNY.
Question 15: The S-95 holder is on a premises where a partial zone is taken out of service for renovation. What is required?
- Notify FDNY and post a fire watch in the affected area if required (Correct answer)
- Simply tape over the affected detectors and make a log entry
- Shut down the entire fire alarm system to avoid false alarms
- No action is needed if fewer than 10 detectors are affected
Correct answer: Notify FDNY and post a fire watch in the affected area if required
When a zone is impaired, FDNY must be notified and a fire watch must be posted in accordance with FDNY regulations if required.
Question 16: Which of the following signals requires the MOST urgent response from the S-95 holder?
- Supervisory signal on a sprinkler valve
- Trouble signal on a battery backup
- Alarm signal indicating a smoke detector activation (Correct answer)
- Low-voltage trouble on an auxiliary circuit
Correct answer: Alarm signal indicating a smoke detector activation
An alarm signal indicating smoke or fire detection requires the most urgent response, including investigation and potential evacuation, as it may indicate a real fire.
Question 17: The S-95 holder must ensure that the Certificate of Fitness is:
- Kept at the holder's home address for security
- Posted or available on the premises where they are responsible (Correct answer)
- Submitted to the building owner for permanent filing
- Laminated and attached to the main fire alarm panel
Correct answer: Posted or available on the premises where they are responsible
The S-95 Certificate of Fitness must be available on the premises where the holder performs their duties and must be produced upon FDNY request.
Question 18: A contractor performing work accidentally damages a pull station. The S-95 holder should FIRST:
- Allow the contractor to repair it with their own tools
- Log the damage, notify the fire alarm company, and implement a fire watch if required (Correct answer)
- Ignore it if the rest of the system is operational
- Submit a variance request to the NYC DOB
Correct answer: Log the damage, notify the fire alarm company, and implement a fire watch if required
Any damage to a fire alarm device must be logged, the fire alarm company must be notified for proper repair, and a fire watch implemented if required by FDNY.
Question 19: Under FDNY rules, who may reset a fire alarm system after an activation?
- Any building occupant who knows the panel access code
- The S-95 holder or a licensed fire alarm technician after investigation (Correct answer)
- The building superintendent without restriction
- Only the FDNY fire marshal
Correct answer: The S-95 holder or a licensed fire alarm technician after investigation
The fire alarm system may only be reset by the S-95 holder or a licensed fire alarm technician after the cause of the activation has been investigated.
Question 20: An S-95 holder at a high-rise office building must ensure occupants on affected floors are notified via the alarm system using:
- A written memo distributed by hand
- The voice communication system or alarm notification appliances per the fire safety plan (Correct answer)
- Personal cell phone calls to floor wardens only
- A public address announcement by the building manager
Correct answer: The voice communication system or alarm notification appliances per the fire safety plan
High-rise buildings use voice communication systems or alarm notification appliances consistent with the building's fire safety plan to notify occupants.
Question 21: What must the S-95 holder do when FDNY inspectors arrive to examine the fire alarm system?
- Request a 24-hour notice before permitting access
- Provide access to the system, all records, and the log book upon demand (Correct answer)
- Accompany them only if management pre-approves the inspection
- Seal the panel until a company representative is present
Correct answer: Provide access to the system, all records, and the log book upon demand
The S-95 holder must provide FDNY inspectors with immediate access to the fire alarm system, all maintenance records, and the log book upon request.
S95 S-95 Holder Responsibilities
An S-95 certificate holder must be present on-site during which activity?
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for S95
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length S95 mock exam — 35 questions in 53 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed S95 question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable S95 cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- S95 flashcards built from the same question bank.
These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- nyc.gov — Fees, renewal, score validity, eligibility, retake policy, score release, test dates, test delivery, exam format, passing score · verified Oct 2026