CFPS study plan

Explain the fire tetrahedron and use it to classify how water, foam, oxygen displacement, and chemical inhibition each interrupt combustion.

Sequence the stages of compartment fire development and identify the observable indicators of flashover, backdraft, and ventilation-limited burning.

Calculate heat release rate from mass-loss rate and heat of combustion, and compute the heat release of a given fuel load in megajoules.

Distinguish conduction, convection, radiation, and direct flame contact, and assign a realistic building example to each.

Apply fire chemistry to match extinguishing agents to five given fuel and scenario combinations, justifying each choice.

Outline the standards development and code adoption cycle, and explain which edition applies to a given project timeline.

Differentiate prescriptive versus performance-based provisions and identify where each is permissible.

Assign occupancy classifications for ten sample occupancies and state the inspection obligation attached to each.

Compare water-based, foam, carbon dioxide, clean agent, and dry/wet chemical systems by extinguishing mechanism, suitable fuels, and prohibited applications.

Distinguish sprinkler head types by activation profile, temperature rating, and intended occupancy, and select heads for four given spaces.

Describe the components and function of a fire pump, standpipe system, and backflow arrangement in a suppression water train.

Explain inspection, testing, and maintenance intervals for sprinkler systems, extinguishers, and special agent systems.

Trace the detection-to-notification sequence and state the function and failure mode of each component in the chain.

Select detection technology (spot smoke, beam, heat, flame, gas, aspirating) for six described environments, naming the reason for rejection of the others.

Differentiate conventional zoned and addressable systems, supervised versus unsupervised circuits, and explain the purpose of each signal type.

Verify that suppression activation, supervisory signals, and notification appliances are wired and sequenced to operate together.

Calculate occupant load from floor area and use factors for five occupancy types.

Compute required egress width, number of exits, and capacity for both the level of exit discharge and the total building.

Measure and evaluate travel distance, common path of travel, and dead-end limits against code thresholds.

Relate human behavior research findings to design decisions such as notification timing, exit signage, and defend-in-place strategies.

Perform friction loss, elevation pressure, and fitting-loss calculations and combine them into a total system demand.

Read and interpret a water supply curve, identify the available fire flow at a given residual pressure, and compare it to the required demand.

Explain the relationship among flow, pressure, nozzle discharge, and pipe size, and solve nozzle reaction and discharge problems.

Describe the purpose of a fire flow test and identify the factors that reduce available supply.

Classify hazardous materials by physical, health, and reactivity hazard using hazard identification systems and safety data sheets.

Specify storage separation, ventilation, containment, and quantity limits for a given quantity of flammable liquid.

Walk through a fire risk assessment, ranking identified risks and assigning controls with a defensible priority order.

Devise pre-incident planning considerations for a facility storing reactive or toxic materials, including isolation distances and run-off control.

Complete a full-length timed mock examination under test-day conditions without notes or references.

Diagnose the two weakest domains from the mock results and re-drill them with targeted practice sets.

Consolidate all formulas and thresholds into a single reference sheet built from memory, then verify and correct it.

Re-solve every missed mock question and articulate the reasoning error behind each miss.