DE Fire Alarm flashcards
DE Fire Alarm · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- NFPA 72 purpose
- NFPA 72 provides requirements for the design, installation, commissioning, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems, including notification and emergency communications.
- Authority having jurisdiction
- The organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing code requirements or approving equipment, materials, installations, or procedures.
- Listed device
- Equipment included in a list published by an organization acceptable to the AHJ that maintains periodic inspection of production and whose listing states compliance with a recognized standard.
- Supervisory signal
- A signal indicating a condition of a system or protected premises requiring action, such as a closed valve or low air pressure, distinct from alarm and trouble signals.
- Trouble signal
- A signal indicating a fault in a circuit, component, or power supply that compromises system operation, requiring distinct audible and visual characteristics.
- Smoke detector spacing
- Spot-type smoke detectors on a smooth ceiling are spaced at 30 ft (9.1 m) listed spacing, reduced by a 0.7 multiplier for ceilings above 10 ft.
- Ionization vs photoelectric
- Ionization detectors respond better to small particles from flaming fires; photoelectric detectors respond better to larger particles from smoldering fires.
- Manual fire alarm box location
- Manual boxes must be within 5 ft of an exit door, mounted 42 to 48 in. above the floor, and spaced so travel distance does not exceed 200 ft.
- Heat detector spacing
- Fixed-temperature and rate-of-rise spot heat detectors commonly use 25 ft (7.6 m) listed spacing for 10 ft ceilings, reduced by 0.7 for higher ceilings.
- Duct smoke detector requirement
- Duct smoke detectors are required in air handling systems over 2,000 cfm where the system serves more than one story or more than 15,000 sq ft.
- Temporal-three pattern
- The standard evacuation signal: 0.5 s on, 0.5 s off, 0.5 s on, 0.5 s off, 0.5 s on, 1.5 s off, repeated.
- Audible signal level
- Public mode audible signals must produce at least 15 dBA above ambient or 5 dBA above ambient where ambient exceeds 105 dBA, measured 10 ft from the appliance.
- Visible appliance candela rule
- Public mode visible appliances require 0.0375 candela per square foot of floor area with a minimum of 15 cd, mounted 80 to 96 in. above the floor.
- Sleeping area sound level
- Private mode sleeping areas require at least 75 dBA at the pillow or 15 dBA above ambient, whichever is greater.
- Voice system intelligibility
- Voice evacuation systems must produce speech at least 15 dBA above ambient and meet intelligibility criteria such as CIS or STI where required by the AHJ.
- Class A circuit
- A supervised circuit that provides redundant paths and continues to operate during a single open or ground fault, unlike Class B circuits.
- Class X circuit
- A supervised circuit that continues to operate during a single open, ground fault, or short circuit, providing the highest pathway integrity.
- End-of-line device
- A resistor or listed module installed at the end of a notification appliance circuit to allow the control unit to supervise the circuit for opens and shorts.
- Survivability requirement
- Where required by the building code, fire alarm circuits must be protected by a 2-hour fire-rated pathway or listed circuit integrity cable.
- Primary power connection
- The control unit must connect to a dedicated, unswitched branch circuit marked at the disconnect means and provided with lockout/tagout capability.
- Secondary power duration
- Secondary power must operate the system for 24 hours plus 5 minutes of alarm signaling, or 15 minutes for voice evacuation, unless the AHJ requires 60 hours.
- Battery calculation formula
- Standby current times standby hours plus alarm current times alarm minutes divided by 60 equals ampere-hours, then add a 20 percent derating factor.
- Battery charging requirement
- The charger must restore the battery to 70 percent capacity within 4 hours and provide charging current per the manufacturer's listing, typically 13.8 V float for 12 V batteries.
- Annual testing requirement
- Initiating devices, notification appliances, and control equipment must be inspected and tested annually, with records maintained and made available to the AHJ.
- Smoke detector test method
- Smoke detectors are tested annually with a listed aerosol or calibrated test method, and heat detectors with a listed heat source or manufacturer's method.
- Record of completion
- A document completed at acceptance that records the system installation, calculations, and testing results, retained for the life of the system.
- Battery test interval
- Batteries are inspected and tested semiannually or per manufacturer instructions and replaced when they fail load testing, typically every 5 years.
- Design hazard analysis
- Design begins with a hazard analysis and review of the building code and NFPA 101 to determine whether a system is required and what type.
- Detector location near HVAC
- Detectors must be at least 3 ft from HVAC supply diffusers and 36 in. from air handling openings to avoid dilution of smoke.
- Notification appliance spacing
- Audible appliances are spaced to achieve required dBA throughout the area; visible appliances use the 0.0375 cd per square foot rule and listed spacing.
- Delaware fire code adoption
- Delaware adopts the International Fire Code and NFPA 1 as the state fire prevention code, with NFPA 72 referenced for fire alarm installation and testing.
- Delaware licensing authority
- The Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission licenses fire alarm contractors and technicians, requiring examination, renewal, and continuing education.