FL Fire Alarm flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Certified vs. registered contractor

A certified fire protection system contractor may work anywhere in Florida; a registered contractor is limited to the municipality or county that issued the registration.

Qualifying agent rule

A qualifying agent may qualify only one fire protection system contracting business unless the licensing board approves an additional business, and the agent must supervise the work.

Continuing education hours

Certified fire alarm contractors complete 14 hours per biennial renewal cycle, including at least one hour each on Florida laws and rules, workers' compensation, workplace safety, and business practices.

License number requirement

Under s. 489.119, the contractor's certificate or registration number must appear on advertising, bids, contracts, and vehicles; omitting it is a citable violation.

Financial responsibility amount

Certificate holders must maintain a $10,000 surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit, or demonstrate at least $10,000 net worth, and file proof with DBPR.

Notice to Owner deadline

On private projects, a contractor must serve a Notice to Owner within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials to preserve the right to file a construction lien.

Notice of Commencement threshold

On projects over $2,500, the owner records a Notice of Commencement before the first inspection; the contractor must receive a certified copy before starting work.

Private retainage limit

Under s. 713.346, retainage on private construction contracts is limited to 10 percent of each progress payment until final completion.

Final Payment Affidavit

Before filing a lien foreclosure action, a contractor must provide a Contractor's Final Payment Affidavit stating the amount owed and that the owner was given notice.

Recovery Fund cap

The Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund may pay up to $50,000 per claimant for financial losses caused by a licensed contractor's misconduct, subject to aggregate caps.

Written contract threshold

Fire alarm contracts over $500 must be in writing and include the license number, scope of work, price, and payment schedule under Florida contracting rules.

Section 440.10 liability

A general contractor is liable for workers' compensation benefits to employees of an uninsured subcontractor, so coverage must be verified before any sub starts work.

Officer exemption rule

A corporate officer owning at least 10 percent may elect exemption from workers' compensation by filing the election with the Division of Workers' Compensation.

First injury report

The employer must report a workplace injury to the workers' compensation carrier within 7 days of knowledge; the carrier then reports to the state within 14 days.

Temporary total disability rate

Florida pays temporary total disability indemnity at 66 2/3 percent of the average weekly wage, subject to the statewide maximum and minimum rates for the injury date.

Coverage lapse consequence

A lapse in workers' compensation coverage must be reported to the licensing board and can result in suspension of the contractor's license until coverage is reinstated.

Fall protection trigger

OSHA requires fall protection in construction at heights of 6 feet or more, using guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.

Extension ladder setback

Extension ladders use a 4-to-1 base setback ratio, must extend 3 feet above the landing, and the top three rungs may not be used for standing.

Lockout/tagout requirement

29 CFR 1910.147 requires a written energy control procedure, trained employees, and verified de-energization before working on alarm panels or circuits.

Arc flash clothing

NFPA 70E requires arc-rated clothing and PPE for energized work performed within the arc flash boundary, based on an incident energy analysis.

Hazard communication program

29 CFR 1910.1200 requires a written hazard communication program, accessible Safety Data Sheets, and labels on secondary containers of chemicals such as battery electrolyte.

Confined space entry

Entry into vaults and risers requires atmospheric testing, an attendant outside the space, and a permit under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA.

False alarm definition

A false alarm is any alarm activation not caused by a fire or emergency condition, including activations from construction dust, cooking smoke, or system malfunction.

False alarm fee authority

Section 633.4265 allows local governments to adopt false alarm fees, often escalating after the second or third false alarm within a 12-month period.

Detector distance from diffusers

Smoke detectors should be at least 3 feet from HVAC supply diffusers and at least 20 feet from cooking appliances to reduce nuisance activations.

Alarm verification period

NFPA 72 alarm verification requires a 60-second confirmation period before a smoke detector signal is transmitted, reducing nuisance alarm transmissions.

Construction phase detector protection

During construction, detectors are covered or disabled and the system placed on test; the AHJ must be notified before any part of the system is disabled.

FBC update cycle

The Florida Building Code is updated every three years; the 8th Edition took effect December 31, 2023, and local amendments require state approval.

NFPA 72 adoption

NFPA 72 is adopted by reference in the Florida Building Code; the edition cited by the current code governs fire alarm design, installation, testing, and maintenance.

Battery calculation requirement

Battery calculations must show 24 hours of standby plus 5 minutes of alarm (15 minutes for voice systems) at the end of the battery's useful life.

Record of Completion

NFPA 72 requires a Record of Completion and a Record of Inspection and Testing after acceptance testing of every initiating device and notification appliance.

High-rise fire alarm threshold

Florida Building Code requires voice evacuation and a fire command center in high-rise buildings over 75 feet, with specific pathway survivability requirements.