NICET FAS-II cheat sheet

Conventional systems report alarms by zone; addressable systems report each device by its unique address.

A Class A circuit continues to operate after a single open or ground fault; a Class B circuit does not.

Photoelectric spot detectors respond best to smoldering fires; ionization detectors respond best to flaming fires.

Fixed-temperature heat detectors alarm at a set point; rate-of-rise detectors alarm when temperature rises faster than about 15 degrees F per minute.

Duct smoke detectors supervise HVAC air movement but do not replace area smoke detection.

Waterflow switches use a retard of about 10 to 60 seconds to avoid false alarms from pressure surges; valve tamper switches are supervisory.

For commercial protected premises, the default secondary battery supply is 24 hours of standby plus 5 minutes of alarm.

Notification appliance circuits are supervised power circuits; Class B NACs require an end-of-line resistor or equivalent supervision.

Alarm, trouble, and supervisory signals are distinct conditions that must be visually and audibly distinguishable.

NFPA 72 is the fire alarm and signaling code for design, installation, testing, and maintenance; NEC Article 760 governs fire alarm wiring methods.

NFPA 101 addresses life safety and occupancy features; NFPA 13 covers sprinkler systems that interface with the fire alarm system.

UL 864 lists fire alarm control units; UL 268 covers smoke detectors; UL 521 covers heat detectors; UL 1971 covers visible signaling; UL 464 covers audible appliances.

The authority having jurisdiction enforces the adopted code edition; the IBC and IFC reference NFPA 72 for fire alarm requirements.

NFPA 72 permits prescriptive design or performance-based design; performance-based designs require documented engineering analysis and AHJ approval.

Pathway survivability levels 0 through 4 define increasing protection for fire alarm circuits, from no protection to 2-hour rated cable in a 2-hour enclosure.

Required documentation includes shop drawings, record of completion, as-built drawings, and inspection and test records.

Where NFPA 72 and the NEC both address an installation method, the NEC governs the wiring method.

On smooth ceilings, spot smoke detectors are typically spaced at 30 feet, with the first detector within 15 feet of any wall.

Spot heat detectors are typically spaced at 50 feet on smooth ceilings, with reduced spacing as ceiling height increases.

Manual pull stations are mounted 42 to 48 inches above finished floor, within 5 feet of an exit door, and unobstructed.

Visible notification candela is selected from UL 1971 tables based on room size and viewing distance; corridors require at least 15 candela.

Voltage drop equals 2 times length times current times resistance per 1000 feet; verify the last appliance receives its minimum rated voltage.

Battery capacity equals standby current times standby hours plus alarm current times alarm minutes divided by 60, plus derating.

Shop drawings show device locations, wiring, conduit routes, and panel schedules and are submitted for approval before installation.

Duct smoke detectors are located in the return or main duct downstream of filters and before branch connections, with access for service.

A Class B notification circuit uses an end-of-line resistor at the last device; a Class A circuit returns conductors to the panel for supervision.

Addressable signaling line circuits are typically shielded twisted pair with the shield grounded at the panel only.

Fire alarm cable in plenums must be listed FPLP; riser cable must be FPLR; general-purpose cable must be FPL.

NEC Article 760 requires fire alarm conductors to be separated from power conductors or separated by an approved barrier.

Pathway survivability Level 4 requires 2-hour fire-rated cable installed within a 2-hour rated enclosure or an equivalent method.

Devices and junction boxes above suspended ceilings must remain accessible; concealed splices are not permitted.

Detector bases and devices must be installed at the manufacturer's listed spacing and orientation.

A ground fault on a supervised circuit annunciates as a trouble condition; the control unit must be grounded per NEC requirements.

All initiating devices, notification appliances, and control unit functions are tested at least annually unless a different interval is specified.

Smoke detector sensitivity is tested within one year of installation and then at alternating years thereafter.

Smoke detectors are tested with listed aerosol or smoke; heat detectors are tested with a controlled heat source, not an open flame.

A sprinkler waterflow switch must cause an alarm at the control unit within 90 seconds of waterflow.

Secondary batteries receive an annual load test, typically a 30-minute discharge, and are replaced when capacity falls below 80 percent.

A record of completion certifies that the system was installed and tested in accordance with approved plans and code.

Inspection and test records must be retained and made available to the authority having jurisdiction for the required period.