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MA Fire Alarm study materials
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MA Fire Alarm practice questions

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Question 1Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

Which chapter of the Massachusetts General Laws contains the state's primary fire prevention statute governing fire alarm systems and related permits?

  1. Chapter 148 Correct answer.
  2. Chapter 90
  3. Chapter 146
  4. Chapter 143

Explanation

Chapter 148 is the Massachusetts fire prevention statute; it establishes the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations and authorizes the fire safety code and related licensing of fire protection work. The other chapters address building construction, plumbing and gas fitting, and motor vehicles.

Question 2Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

Which body promulgates the fire prevention regulations codified in Title 527 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations?

  1. Division of Professional Licensure
  2. Board of Fire Prevention Regulations Correct answer.
  3. Board of State Examiners of Electricians
  4. Board of Building Regulations and Standards

Explanation

Title 527 CMR is the fire prevention title and is adopted by the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations within the Department of Fire Services. The building code falls under a different board and a different CMR title.

Question 3Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

Massachusetts fire safety regulations reference which NFPA standard for the installation, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems?

  1. NFPA 72 Correct answer.
  2. NFPA 13
  3. NFPA 70
  4. NFPA 101

Explanation

NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, is the standard referenced for fire alarm design, installation, testing, and maintenance. The other documents cover sprinklers, life safety features, and electrical wiring methods.

Question 4Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

Before installing a new fire alarm system in an existing commercial building, the contractor must first obtain a permit from:

  1. the local building commissioner alone
  2. the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations
  3. the State Fire Marshal's office in every case
  4. the fire chief having jurisdiction Correct answer.

Explanation

Permits to install or alter fire alarm systems are issued by the head of the fire department having jurisdiction, which serves as the local authority having jurisdiction for this work. The state fire marshal and the Board do not issue project-level installation permits.

Question 5Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

Which state agency contains the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which administers fire safety code enforcement and fire alarm licensing programs?

  1. Department of Fire Services Correct answer.
  2. Department of Public Health
  3. Department of Labor Standards
  4. Division of Professional Licensure

Explanation

The Department of Fire Services houses the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which administers the fire safety code and the fire alarm licensing program. The other agencies have health, workplace safety, or general professional licensing missions.

Question 6Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, which governs fire protection features including fire alarm requirements for occupancies, appears at:

  1. 780 CMR 1.00
  2. 527 CMR 1.00 Correct answer.
  3. 248 CMR 1.00
  4. 105 CMR 1.00

Explanation

527 CMR 1.00 is the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, which adopts NFPA 1 with Massachusetts amendments. The other citations belong to the building code, the plumbing and gas code, and Department of Public Health regulations.

Question 7Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

Under Massachusetts law, who is authorized to install, alter, repair, maintain, or service fire alarm systems for compensation?

  1. Only holders of a Board-issued fire alarm credential Correct answer.
  2. Any licensed electrician acting alone
  3. Any employee of the alarm equipment manufacturer
  4. Any person working under the building inspector's direction

Explanation

The fire prevention statute makes it unlawful to engage in fire alarm system work without the appropriate license or certificate of competency issued by the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations. An electrician license or manufacturer employment does not authorize fire alarm system work.

Question 8Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

A person who holds a Massachusetts fire alarm systems technician certificate must perform work:

  1. under a licensed fire alarm systems contractor Correct answer.
  2. only after notifying the State Fire Marshal in writing
  3. only in the city or town where the exam was taken
  4. only between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays

Explanation

Technician certification authorizes an individual to perform fire alarm work under the auspices of a licensed fire alarm systems contractor. The certificate is not a stand-alone contracting credential and carries no time-of-day or municipal restriction.

Question 9Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

An existing office building is converted to a restaurant with assembly occupancy. What does Massachusetts fire safety code require of the fire alarm system?

  1. Remove it if the building is fully sprinklered
  2. Replace only the notification appliances
  3. Upgrade it to current code for the new use Correct answer.
  4. Leave it as is until the next scheduled inspection

Explanation

A change of use or occupancy that creates a greater hazard requires the fire protection features, including the fire alarm system, to be brought into compliance with current code requirements for the new occupancy classification. Deferring the work, replacing only appliances, or deleting the system does not satisfy that obligation.

Question 10Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

After finishing a new fire alarm installation, the contractor must:

  1. mail the shop drawings to the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations
  2. have the system tested in the presence of the AHJ Correct answer.
  3. apply to the Board for a variance from testing
  4. wait 30 days before energizing the system

Explanation

Acceptance testing must be conducted and witnessed by the authority having jurisdiction, with a record of completion documenting the results. There is no waiting period and no variance is required to conduct the test.

Question 11Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

Records of fire alarm inspection, testing, and maintenance performed at a building must be:

  1. sent to the Board within 24 hours of each test
  2. retained and available to the AHJ Correct answer.
  3. destroyed once the technician leaves the site
  4. filed only with the equipment manufacturer

Explanation

Documentation of inspection, testing, and maintenance must be kept on site or otherwise available for review by the authority having jurisdiction. There is no requirement to send test reports to the state Board within a fixed deadline.

Question 12Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

Under Massachusetts carbon monoxide alarm requirements, CO alarms must be installed in a dwelling that:

  1. has fossil-fuel equipment or an attached garage Correct answer.
  2. was built before 1975 regardless of equipment
  3. has a residential fire sprinkler system
  4. is heated solely by electric baseboard

Explanation

Massachusetts requires carbon monoxide alarms in dwellings that contain fossil-fuel-burning equipment, an attached garage, or another potential source of carbon monoxide. Dwellings with no such source and no attached garage are generally not subject to the requirement.

Question 13Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

Absent a more frequent interval required by the code or the manufacturer's listing, NFPA 72 requires initiating devices and notification appliances to be inspected and tested:

  1. only at initial acceptance
  2. monthly
  3. every five years
  4. annually Correct answer.

Explanation

The testing table in NFPA 72 sets an annual interval for most initiating devices and notification appliances, with certain items on different frequencies. Testing is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time event at acceptance.

Question 14Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

A contractor wants to relocate several smoke detectors from the locations shown on approved plans. The contractor must:

  1. proceed if the total device count is unchanged
  2. notify the owner in writing within 30 days
  3. get revised plans approved before the change Correct answer.
  4. request a variance from the local board of appeals

Explanation

Installation must conform to the approved plans, so any deviation requires revised plans to be submitted and approved before the change is made. An unchanged device count or owner notification does not substitute for that approval.

Question 15Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

The 120-volt branch circuit that supplies power to a fire alarm control panel must be installed by:

  1. the building owner's maintenance staff
  2. a licensed electrician Correct answer.
  3. any person working under a homeowner's permit
  4. the fire alarm technician holding a systems certificate

Explanation

Line-voltage supply wiring is electrical work governed by the Massachusetts Electrical Code and must be performed by a licensed electrician. The fire alarm technician connects the low-voltage and control-side wiring to the panel.

Question 16Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

To qualify for a Massachusetts fire alarm systems license, an applicant generally must:

  1. meet experience rules and pass the Board exam Correct answer.
  2. hold a journeyman electrician license
  3. be sponsored by an equipment manufacturer
  4. be a registered professional engineer

Explanation

The licensing statute and Board rules require documented experience or qualifications and successful completion of the licensing examination. Professional engineering registration, an electrician license, and manufacturer sponsorship are neither required nor sufficient on their own.

Question 17Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

A town adopts a local ordinance requiring voice evacuation fire alarm notification in a building type that the state fire safety code does not address. The ordinance is:

  1. enforceable, as local rules may be stricter Correct answer.
  2. void, because towns cannot regulate fire safety
  3. valid only if filed with the Board by the marshal
  4. unenforceable until the legislature amends the statute

Explanation

Localities derive fire safety authority from the fire prevention statute and may impose requirements more stringent than the statewide code. When a local rule and the state code differ, the stricter requirement controls.

Question 18Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

A contractor licensed to install fire alarm systems in Connecticut contracts for a project in Massachusetts. Before performing the work, the contractor must:

  1. register with the local fire department only
  2. obtain the appropriate Massachusetts license from the Board Correct answer.
  3. do nothing, because licenses are reciprocal among states
  4. file a copy of the Connecticut license with the town clerk

Explanation

Massachusetts licenses fire alarm contractors and technicians through its own Board, and an out-of-state license does not automatically authorize work in the state. The contractor must qualify for and hold the Massachusetts credential.

Question 19Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

After a fire alarm system has been accepted, responsibility for keeping it in proper operating condition rests with:

  1. the authority having jurisdiction
  2. the installing contractor indefinitely
  3. the equipment manufacturer
  4. the owner or the owner's representative Correct answer.

Explanation

The fire code and NFPA 72 place the duty to maintain, inspect, and test the system on the owner or the owner's designated representative. A contractor's obligation ends at acceptance unless a service agreement provides otherwise.

Question 20Massachusetts laws, regulations, and licensing requirements

In a new building subject to the Massachusetts fire safety code, the fire alarm system must be installed and accepted before:

  1. a certificate of occupancy is issued Correct answer.
  2. the foundation is poured
  3. the sprinkler system is hydrostatically tested
  4. the building permit application is filed

Explanation

Occupancy approval cannot be granted until the required fire protection systems, including the fire alarm system, have been tested and accepted by the authority having jurisdiction. The alarm is installed well after the building permit stage and is independent of sprinkler hydrostatic testing.

Question 21Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

NEC Article 760 establishes requirements for which of the following?

  1. Emergency lighting and exit sign branch circuits serving means of egress
  2. Intrusion detection and burglar alarm circuits in commercial buildings
  3. Fire alarm systems, including their circuits, detectors, and notification appliances Correct answer.
  4. Optical fiber cables installed for telecommunications and data backbone use

Explanation

Article 760 of the NEC governs the installation of fire alarm systems and their conductors, including power-limited and non-power-limited fire alarm circuits. Emergency lighting circuits fall under Article 700, while intrusion alarm wiring is covered by Article 725.

Question 22Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Which NFPA document is titled the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code?

  1. NFPA 70
  2. NFPA 13
  3. NFPA 72 Correct answer.
  4. NFPA 101

Explanation

NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code and contains the installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for fire alarm and signaling systems. It is the primary performance and installation standard referenced by the building and fire codes for alarm systems.

Question 23Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

On a smooth, flat ceiling, the maximum spacing between spot-type smoke detectors is which of the following?

  1. 25 ft
  2. 20 ft
  3. 50 ft
  4. 30 ft Correct answer.

Explanation

NFPA 72 permits a maximum spacing of 30 ft between spot-type smoke detectors on smooth ceilings, with the first detector located no more than half the listed spacing from a side wall. Detectors must also be located at least 4 in. from side walls to avoid dead air space.

Question 24Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Manual fire alarm boxes must be mounted so that their operable portion is located between which heights above the finished floor?

  1. 36 in. and 42 in.
  2. 42 in. and 48 in. Correct answer.
  3. 30 in. and 36 in.
  4. 48 in. and 54 in.

Explanation

NFPA 72 requires the operable portion of a manual fire alarm box to be not less than 42 in. and not more than 48 in. above the finished floor. This range keeps pull stations reachable for the general public, including persons using wheelchairs.

Question 25Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

For a protected-premises fire alarm system in a commercial occupancy, the secondary (standby) power supply must be capable of operating the system for which duration?

  1. 24 hours of standby followed by 5 minutes in alarm Correct answer.
  2. 4 hours of standby followed by 15 minutes in alarm
  3. 24 hours of standby followed by 30 minutes in alarm
  4. 60 hours of standby followed by 5 minutes in alarm

Explanation

NFPA 72 requires a secondary power supply for commercial protected-premises systems sized for 24 hours of standby operation followed by 5 minutes of alarm operation. The alarm period assumes full load on all notification appliances.

Question 26Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

In public mode, an audible fire alarm signal must be at least 15 dBA above the average ambient sound level and not less than which sound pressure level?

  1. 65 dBA Correct answer.
  2. 55 dBA
  3. 75 dBA
  4. 85 dBA

Explanation

NFPA 72 requires public mode audible signals to exceed the average ambient sound level by 15 dBA and to be at least 65 dBA at all occupied locations. The upper limit is 120 dBA at the minimum hearing distance.

Question 27Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A fire alarm cable is to be installed in an environmental air-handling space above a suspended ceiling. The cable must be which of the following?

  1. Installed in rigid metal conduit for its entire length
  2. Any cable that is listed for fire alarm use
  3. Listed as suitable for use in ducts, plenums, and other air-handling spaces Correct answer.
  4. Rated for direct burial

Explanation

NEC Article 760 requires conductors and cables installed in ducts, plenums, and other space used for environmental air to be specifically listed for that use. A general fire alarm listing alone does not satisfy the air-handling space requirement.

Question 28Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Under NFPA 72, smoke detectors must be tested at which minimum frequency?

  1. Quarterly
  2. Monthly
  3. Annually Correct answer.
  4. Semi-annually

Explanation

NFPA 72 inspection, testing, and maintenance tables require smoke detectors to be tested at least annually. Detectors in dirty or harsh environments may require more frequent testing based on manufacturer instructions.

Question 29Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A 135°F spot-type heat detector with a listed spacing of 50 ft is installed on a smooth ceiling that is 10 ft high. What is the maximum spacing between detectors?

  1. 50 ft Correct answer.
  2. 20 ft
  3. 30 ft
  4. 70 ft

Explanation

At a ceiling height of 10 ft, a listed 50 ft spacing for a 135°F to 174°F spot-type heat detector may be used without reduction. Spacing must be reduced when the ceiling is higher than 10 ft.

Question 30Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A smoke detector is being placed near a supply air diffuser on the ceiling. What is the minimum permitted distance from the diffuser?

  1. 10 ft
  2. 12 in.
  3. 6 ft
  4. 36 in. Correct answer.

Explanation

NFPA 72 requires spot-type smoke detectors to be located at least 36 in. from supply air diffusers so that air discharge does not delay or prevent smoke from reaching the detector. Distance from return air openings is not restricted in the same way.

Question 31Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Smoke detectors installed in elevator lobbies primarily serve to do which of the following?

  1. Transmit an alarm directly to the fire department
  2. Automatically activate the building sprinkler system
  3. Release magnetic hold-opens on stairwell doors
  4. Initiate elevator Phase I recall Correct answer.

Explanation

Detectors in elevator lobbies are part of the elevator recall strategy and cause the cars to return nonstop to the designated recall floor under Phase I. Sprinkler waterflow alarms, not lobby detectors, perform the functions listed in the other choices.

Question 32Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A signaling line circuit leaves the control unit, serves the devices, and returns to the control unit over a separate path. This circuit is classified as which of the following?

  1. Class N
  2. Class A Correct answer.
  3. Class B
  4. Class X

Explanation

A Class A circuit is one that leaves the control unit and returns on a separate path, so a single open fault will not disable devices beyond the break. Class B circuits do not return to the control unit, and a single open fault disables everything beyond the fault.

Question 33Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Which document must be completed and delivered to the owner when a fire alarm system is accepted?

  1. Fire alarm permit application
  2. Sprinkler as-built plan set
  3. Record of Completion Correct answer.
  4. Shop drawing transmittal

Explanation

NFPA 72 requires a Record of Completion documenting that the system has been installed and tested in accordance with the design and the code. It is signed by the installing contractor and often by the owner's representative.

Question 34Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

On a conventional (non-addressable) fire alarm system, a single initiation device zone must not exceed which area?

  1. 22,500 sq ft Correct answer.
  2. 50,000 sq ft
  3. Any area, provided all devices are listed
  4. 10,000 sq ft

Explanation

NFPA 72 limits a single initiating device circuit zone to 22,500 sq ft so that responders can locate the general area of alarm. Larger areas require additional zones or addressable devices.

Question 35Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Wall-mounted visible notification appliances must be installed with the top of the lens not less than 80 in. and not more than what height above the finished floor?

  1. 84 in.
  2. 96 in. Correct answer.
  3. 108 in.
  4. 90 in.

Explanation

NFPA 72 sets the mounting range for wall-mounted visible appliances at 80 in. to 96 in. above the finished floor. Within that range, the manufacturer's listed instructions govern the exact height.

Question 36Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

In a sleeping room, the fire alarm audible signal must produce at least which sound level at the pillow?

  1. 85 dBA
  2. 70 dBA
  3. 65 dBA
  4. 75 dBA Correct answer.

Explanation

NFPA 72 requires a sound level of at least 75 dBA measured at the pillow level in sleeping areas, or 15 dBA above ambient if that is greater. This threshold is intended to reliably awaken occupants.

Question 37Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Manual fire alarm boxes must be installed within what maximum distance of an exit doorway, measured along the path of travel?

  1. 5 ft Correct answer.
  2. 25 ft
  3. 10 ft
  4. 15 ft

Explanation

NFPA 72 requires a manual fire alarm box to be located within 5 ft of an exit doorway, measured along the path of travel, so occupants encounter it while leaving. Additional boxes are then distributed so travel distance does not exceed the code limit.

Question 38Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A supervising station located on the protected premises and operated under the owner's control is classified as which type?

  1. Auxiliary station
  2. Central station
  3. Remote supervising station
  4. Proprietary supervising station Correct answer.

Explanation

A proprietary supervising station is located on the protected premises and is under the same ownership as the property it serves. Central and remote stations are located off premises and serve other parties.

Question 39Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A notification appliance circuit is wired Class B and develops a single open fault. What is the result?

  1. Only a supervisory signal is generated with no loss of output
  2. All appliances beyond the point of the fault are lost Correct answer.
  3. No appliance on the circuit is affected
  4. The entire circuit is guaranteed to keep operating normally

Explanation

A Class B circuit has no return path, so an open fault disables every appliance downstream of the break. Class A circuits return to the control unit and preserve operation beyond a single open fault.

Question 40Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

How must the branch circuit supplying a fire alarm control unit be marked at the disconnect means?

  1. FIRE ALARM CIRCUIT CONTROL Correct answer.
  2. LIFE SAFETY
  3. EMERGENCY POWER
  4. DO NOT DE-ENERGIZE

Explanation

NFPA 72 requires the branch circuit supplying the fire alarm control unit to be marked 'FIRE ALARM CIRCUIT CONTROL' at the disconnecting means, and the marking must be in red. This alerts anyone working on the circuit that it serves the fire alarm system.

Question 41Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A 135°F spot-type heat detector listed at 50 ft spacing is installed on a smooth ceiling 14 ft high. What is the maximum permitted spacing?

  1. 35 ft
  2. 30 ft Correct answer.
  3. 45 ft
  4. 40 ft

Explanation

Listed heat detector spacing is reduced by 10 percent for each foot of ceiling height above 10 ft. Here the height is 4 ft above 10 ft, requiring a 40 percent reduction: 50 ft x 0.60 = 30 ft.

Question 42Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Where smoke detectors are installed on a sloped ceiling, the first detector must be located in which position?

  1. At least 4 in. horizontally from the peak
  2. Within 12 in. of the peak
  3. Within 3 ft of the peak, measured horizontally Correct answer.
  4. Anywhere on the slope if the ceiling pitch is uniform

Explanation

Smoke rising along a sloped ceiling concentrates near the highest point, so NFPA 72 requires a detector within 3 ft of the peak measured horizontally. Additional detectors are then spaced down the slope based on the listed spacing.

Question 43Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A Class X signaling line circuit is characterized by which of the following features?

  1. All devices share a single pair of conductors with no isolation between them
  2. The circuit must return to the control unit over the same pathway it left
  3. The circuit must be installed in a 2-hour fire-rated enclosure for its entire length
  4. Each device or device group is isolated so a short circuit does not disable the remaining devices Correct answer.

Explanation

Class X circuits provide a level of performance in which a single open, short, or ground fault does not prevent other devices from operating, achieved through fault isolation at each device or group. The other choices describe Class B performance, pathway survivability, or a configuration that is not a recognized class.

Question 44Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Which condition must be annunciated by the fire alarm system as a supervisory signal rather than as an alarm?

  1. Manual fire alarm box activation
  2. A sprinkler control valve that is partially closed Correct answer.
  3. Waterflow switch activation on a sprinkler system
  4. Smoke detector activation in a corridor

Explanation

Supervisory signals indicate an off-normal condition of a system or device that protects the premises, such as a closed sprinkler control valve. Waterflow, manual box, and detector activations are alarm signals because they indicate a fire condition.

Question 45Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Spot-type smoke detectors must be located at least what distance from the side wall where the wall intersects the ceiling?

  1. 4 in. Correct answer.
  2. 36 in.
  3. 18 in.
  4. 12 in.

Explanation

A dead air space forms at the intersection of the wall and ceiling where smoke may not readily enter a detector, so NFPA 72 requires detectors to be kept at least 4 in. from the side wall. The half-spacing rule from the wall then governs the maximum distance.

Question 46Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Which article of the NEC contains the requirements for fire alarm systems, including power-limited and non-power-limited fire alarm circuits?

  1. Article 700
  2. Article 770
  3. Article 725
  4. Article 760 Correct answer.

Explanation

NEC Article 760 governs fire alarm systems, covering circuit classification, conductor and cable types, and installation requirements for both power-limited and non-power-limited fire alarm circuits. Article 725 covers remote-control and signaling circuits generally, while Articles 700 and 770 address emergency systems and optical fiber cables respectively.

Question 47Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

Where a manual fire alarm box is mounted on a wall, the operable portion of the box must be installed within which height range above the finished floor?

  1. Not less than 30 in. and not more than 36 in.
  2. Not less than 48 in. and not more than 54 in.
  3. Not less than 42 in. and not more than 48 in. Correct answer.
  4. Not less than 36 in. and not more than 42 in.

Explanation

NFPA 72 requires the operable portion of a manual fire alarm box to be not less than 42 in. and not more than 48 in. above the finished floor, which keeps the box within reasonable reach for occupants. The 48 in. maximum is the value most often measured in the field.

Question 48Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A designer is sizing the secondary power supply for a fire alarm system in an office building. The system does not include voice evacuation or in-building fire emergency voice/alarm communications. The secondary supply must be capable of operating the system for which combination of standby and alarm durations?

  1. 24 hours of standby followed by 5 minutes of alarm Correct answer.
  2. 12 hours of standby followed by 30 minutes of alarm
  3. 24 hours of standby followed by 15 minutes of alarm
  4. 60 hours of standby followed by 5 minutes of alarm

Explanation

For a protected premises system without voice evacuation, NFPA 72 requires the secondary power supply to sustain the system for 24 hours of standby operation followed by 5 minutes of alarm operation. The 15-minute alarm duration applies only where the system provides voice evacuation signaling.

Question 49Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

An air-handling unit serving a corridor has a rated capacity of 2,500 cfm. Duct-mounted smoke detection is required for this unit because its capacity exceeds which value?

  1. 1,000 cfm
  2. 500 cfm
  3. 2,000 cfm Correct answer.
  4. 5,000 cfm

Explanation

NFPA 90A requires smoke detection in air distribution systems, with the threshold commonly applied at air-handling units having a capacity greater than 2,000 cfm. At 2,500 cfm the unit exceeds that threshold, so detection is needed in addition to any area smoke detection.

Question 50Codes and standards (NFPA 72, NEC Article 760, building and fire codes)

A technician opens a Class B initiating device circuit, creating a trouble condition at the fire alarm control unit. Under NFPA 72, the trouble condition must be annunciated at the protected premises within what maximum time after the condition occurs?

  1. 10 seconds
  2. 90 seconds
  3. 200 seconds Correct answer.
  4. 60 seconds

Explanation

NFPA 72 sets different processing limits by signal type: an alarm signal must be processed within 10 seconds, a supervisory signal within 90 seconds, and a trouble signal within 200 seconds. The longer allowance for trouble reflects that an open or ground fault degrades monitoring rather than indicating a fire.