NFPA CFI-I flashcards

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

Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)

The organization, office, or individual responsible for approving equipment, installations, or procedures under the adopted code; the inspector acts as or on behalf of the AHJ.

Adopted code edition

The specific edition of a code formally adopted into law by the jurisdiction; inspections are judged against that edition, and later editions do not apply retroactively.

Notice of violation

A written document stating the code section violated, the condition observed, the required corrective action, and a compliance deadline; it also states appeal rights and procedures.

Imminent hazard

A condition presenting an immediate threat to life or property that permits the AHJ to order immediate correction or restrict occupancy without waiting for the normal appeal period.

Right of entry

The inspector's legal authority to enter and examine premises, derived from statute or ordinance; entry without consent generally requires an administrative warrant or statutory authority.

Occupancy classification

The category assigned to a building or space under NFPA 101 based on its use and occupant characteristics; it determines egress, sprinkler, and alarm requirements.

Occupant load

The total number of persons a space is designed to hold, computed by dividing floor area by the occupant load factor for the use; it drives egress width and exit requirements.

Egress width per occupant

The code allowance used to size egress components, commonly 0.2 inches per occupant on level surfaces and 0.15 inches per occupant on stairs and ramps.

Exit access, exit, exit discharge

The three components of a means of egress: the path to the exit, the protected exit itself, and the route from the exit to the public way.

Travel distance

The measured length of the natural path of travel from the most remote point in a space to the nearest exit, limited by occupancy and sprinkler protection.

Exit remoteness

The required separation between two exits, measured diagonally so that exits are separated by at least one-half the diagonal of the room or area served.

Single-motion egress door

Egress door hardware that releases with one operation without a key, special knowledge, or effort; required where the occupant load or hazard triggers panic hardware.

Emergency lighting duration

The required period that emergency illumination must be maintained, commonly 90 minutes, verified by monthly 30-second tests and an annual full-duration test.

Illuminated exit sign

A sign marked EXIT that is illuminated and visible from any point in the path of travel, with power-source and testing requirements set by the adopted code.

NFPA 25

The standard for inspecting, testing, and maintaining water-based fire protection systems; it sets frequencies for gauges, alarms, main drains, and valve exercises.

Supervised control valve

A sprinkler control valve that is electronically supervised or locked open so that closure is detected; an unsupervised closed valve is a critical violation.

Fire department connection

The exterior connection used by firefighters to supplement the water supply; it must be accessible, unobstructed, capped, and marked with signage identifying the system served.

Fire pump churn test

A weekly no-flow run of a fire pump to verify automatic starting and operation; annual flow testing verifies performance against the pump curve.

Hydrant flow test

A test measuring static and residual pressure at a known flow to estimate the water supply available for fire protection at the required residual pressure.

NFPA 72

The National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, which sets inspection and testing requirements for initiating devices, notification appliances, and monitoring of fire alarm systems.

NFPA 10

The standard for portable fire extinguishers; it requires monthly inspections, annual maintenance, proper mounting, and selection of extinguishers rated for the hazard present.

Flammable liquid classification

Classification of liquids by flash point and boiling point under NFPA 30; the class sets allowable container sizes, cabinet limits, and storage requirements.

Flammable storage cabinet limit

The maximum quantity a single cabinet may hold, commonly 60 gallons of Category 1-3 flammable liquids or 120 gallons of Category 4 combustible liquids.

Hot work permit

A written authorization for welding, cutting, or grinding that specifies a fire watch, clearance of combustibles, and post-work monitoring before the area is released.

Compressed gas cylinder storage

Requirements that cylinders be secured upright, separated from oxidizers, kept away from heat and exits, and stored within permitted quantities with proper signage.

Combustible dust hazard

A deflagration risk from accumulated combustible particulate solids; inspection focuses on housekeeping, ignition control, and dust collection under NFPA 652.

Fire resistance rating

The period in hours that a structural element or assembly resists fire; it depends on construction type and occupancy and is verified against approved plans.

Construction Type I

A construction type with noncombustible structural elements and high fire resistance, defined by combustibility and rating in NFPA 220.

Fire wall versus fire barrier

A fire wall divides a building into separate buildings and must be structurally independent; a fire barrier subdivides one building and must be continuous floor to deck.

Opening protectives

Rated fire doors and windows installed in rated walls; they must be self-closing or automatic-closing and unobstructed, and propping them open is a violation.

Through-penetration protection

A listed system used to seal a pipe or cable passing through a rated assembly so the assembly retains its fire resistance rating; unsealed penetrations are serious deficiencies.

Flashover

The transition from a growing fire to full compartment involvement, driven by heat release rate and ventilation, marking the shift to the fully developed stage.

Inspection report documentation

A contemporaneous, factual record of observed conditions including location, date, measurements, photographs, and the code basis, which serves as evidence in enforcement actions.