NICET FAS-IV flashcards
NICET FAS-IV · Build recall with a focused review session.
33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Class A initiating circuit
- An initiating device circuit with a return path to the control unit so a single open conductor does not disable any device. It is the survivability baseline for many high-rise and healthcare designs.
- Class B initiating circuit
- An initiating device circuit with no return path; a single open disables all devices beyond the break. T-taps are not permitted, and fault location must be found during troubleshooting.
- Class X pathway
- A pathway designation that supervises the communication path for integrity in addition to connectivity, so failure of the path itself is annunciated. It is used for critical network links between panels.
- Proprietary supervising station
- A receiving location owned and operated by the protected property, staffed and receiving signals from fire alarm systems on that property only. It cannot serve other properties or customers.
- Central station
- A listed, privately owned supervising station that monitors systems for many customers under contract, with listed operator staffing, redundancy, and retransmission to the fire department.
- Auxiliary supervising station
- A facility that receives alarm signals over a public fire alarm box or municipal circuit and forwards them to the fire department, without the full service scope of a central station.
- Remote supervising station
- A listed location, other than proprietary or central station, that receives and retransmits signals from protected premises. Staffing and retransmission requirements are specified by NFPA 72.
- Smoke detector spacing 30 ft
- Listed spot-type smoke detectors with a 30 ft (9.1 m) listed spacing are installed on a grid of 30 ft, with the nearest detector within 21 ft (6.4 m) of any wall per the spacing rule.
- Public mode audibility
- Notification must produce 15 dBA above the average ambient sound level, or 75 dBA at 10 ft, whichever is greater, measured in the occupied area during normal conditions.
- Sleeping area audibility
- Alarm signaling in sleeping areas must reach 75 dBA at the pillow with the door closed, and low-frequency 520 Hz signaling is required in many occupancies to reliably awaken occupants.
- Visible notification spacing
- Strobes are spaced per the manufacturer's listed candela rating and the room size and mounting height, with reduced spacing in corridors and higher candela where required by the listing.
- Duct smoke detector
- A detector installed in an air duct to detect smoke in the airstream and initiate fan shutdown or smoke control. Placement follows listed airflow and straight-duct requirements.
- Supervising station retransmission
- The time limit for a supervising station to retransmit an alarm to the fire department after receipt. The limit is specified in NFPA 72 and varies by station category.
- Positive alarm sequence
- A feature that delays notification for a set investigation period after an alarm, provided the signal is acknowledged and investigated within the allowed time; otherwise the alarm is processed normally.
- Presignal
- A feature that routes alarm signals to a constantly attended location for acknowledgement before general notification. It requires staffing and AHJ acceptance and is limited in some occupancies.
- Annunciator
- A remote display that shows device status, alarm, and trouble by zone or point. It supplements the control unit and does not replace required annunciation at the main panel.
- NFPA 72 Chapter 14
- The inspection, testing, and maintenance chapter. Its tables set the frequency and method for each device and system function, from monthly to 5-year and 10-year reacceptance tests.
- Acceptance test record
- Documentation of the initial acceptance test, including devices tested, results, and signatures of the installing contractor and witness. It is required before the system is placed in service.
- Record of completion
- A form documenting the installed system, its configuration, and the owner's responsibilities. It is required at acceptance and updated when the system is modified.
- Impedance of a circuit
- The total opposition to current flow, including resistance and reactance. It determines voltage drop on notification circuits and whether devices at the end operate within their listed range.
- Voltage drop calculation
- Voltage drop equals current times conductor resistance over the run. Notification appliance circuits must keep the voltage at the farthest appliance within its listed operating range at worst-case battery voltage.
- Battery capacity calculation
- Standby current times standby hours plus alarm current times alarm minutes, divided by the derating factor. The result sets battery size and must be documented in the submittal.
- Secondary power supply
- The battery or other backup source that powers the system when normal power fails. It must support standby and alarm loads for the durations required by code and listing.
- Addressable device
- A device with a unique address on the signaling line circuit, allowing point identification of alarms and troubles. Addressable does not by itself mean the circuit is Class A.
- Signaling line circuit
- The circuit connecting addressable devices to the control unit. It is supervised for opens, shorts, and ground faults, and its class determines survivability under fault conditions.
- Ground fault
- An unintended connection between a conductor and ground. It is supervised and annunciated as a trouble, and must be located and corrected before it causes false alarms or failures.
- Supervisory signal
- A signal indicating a change in a monitored condition, such as a closed valve or low air pressure, that could impair system performance. It is annunciated as a supervisory, not an alarm.
- Trouble signal
- A signal indicating a fault in the system, such as an open circuit, ground fault, or loss of power, that could impair operation. It must be annunciated audibly and visibly.
- Alarm signal
- A signal initiated by a manual pull station or automatic detector indicating fire. It takes priority over supervisory and trouble signals in the system's annunciation hierarchy.
- Smoke control interface
- The connection between the fire alarm system and smoke control equipment, such as fans and dampers. It must be supervised and tested to verify the intended sequence of operation.
- Elevator recall
- A sequence that, on alarm, returns elevators to a designated landing and prevents use. It requires supervised interfaces and testing of the recall sequence per code and AHJ requirements.
- Documentation of sequence
- The written cause-and-effect matrix describing what each input does to each output. It is the basis for programming, acceptance testing, and later modifications.
- AHJ acceptance
- The authority having jurisdiction's approval of the installed system against the adopted code and approved plans. It follows successful acceptance testing and complete documentation.