TX Fire Alarm Installer flashcards
TX Fire Alarm Installer · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- NFPA 72
- National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code; it establishes design, installation, testing, and maintenance requirements for fire alarm and emergency signaling systems in buildings.
- NEC Article 760
- National Electrical Code article covering fire alarm systems; it governs wiring methods, conductors, and circuit requirements for fire alarm and signaling circuits.
- Texas fire alarm license
- Credential issued through the Texas Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal's Office that authorizes regulated fire alarm installation work; local permits may still be required.
- Authority having jurisdiction
- Official or agency responsible for enforcing code and approving fire alarm plans, installations, and acceptance tests; may adopt local amendments to model codes.
- Alarm signal
- Fire alarm signal indicating a detected fire emergency; it activates notification appliances and is distinct from supervisory and trouble signals.
- Supervisory signal
- Signal indicating an off-normal condition in a system or suppression component, such as a closed valve, that could impair fire protection but is not an alarm.
- Addressable system
- Fire alarm system in which each initiating or notification device has a unique address, allowing the panel to identify the specific device in alarm or trouble.
- Spot smoke detector spacing
- For smooth ceilings, NFPA 72 permits maximum 30-foot spacing and 900 square feet per detector, with reduced spacing near beams and walls.
- Manual fire alarm box
- Pull station mounted within 5 feet of an exit doorway at 42 to 48 inches above finished floor, providing manual initiation of the fire alarm signal.
- Duct smoke detector
- Detector installed in air-handling ductwork to sense smoke and shut down or control the air handler; it does not replace area smoke detection.
- Heat detector ratings
- Common fixed-temperature ratings are 135°F ordinary, 194°F intermediate, and 286°F high; selection depends on ambient conditions and listing.
- Smoke detector sensitivity test
- Functional check of detector response within one year of installation and every two years thereafter, using listed test methods or manufacturer instructions.
- Temporal-three pattern
- Standard evacuation tone with three half-second pulses separated by half-second pauses, followed by a one-and-a-half-second pause before repeating.
- Public mode audibility
- Notification sound must be 15 dBA above ambient or 5 dBA above maximum ambient, with a minimum of 65 dBA at the measuring point.
- Sleeping area audibility
- Alarm sound must reach 75 dBA at the pillow or 15 dBA above ambient, whichever is greater; low-frequency 520 Hz tone may be required.
- Visible appliance synchronization
- Flashing visible notification appliances in the same field of view must flash in synchronization to avoid seizure risk and meet code.
- Class A circuit
- Fire alarm circuit that continues to operate after a single open or ground fault because it has a redundant return path to the control panel.
- Class B circuit
- Fire alarm circuit that uses an end-of-line resistor and annunciates a trouble but cannot continue operating after an open circuit.
- FPL fire alarm cable
- Listed fire alarm cable rated for general use; FPLR is riser-rated and FPLP is plenum-rated for installation in those spaces.
- Ground fault detection
- Control panel function that monitors fire alarm circuits for unintended connection to ground and annunciates a trouble condition.
- Secondary power requirement
- Fire alarm systems must have automatically connected standby power, typically batteries or generator, sized for 24 hours standby plus 5 minutes alarm.
- Battery capacity formula
- Required amp-hours equal standby current times 24 hours plus alarm current times alarm hours, multiplied by an aging factor such as 1.2.
- Dedicated fire alarm circuit
- Primary 120-volt branch circuit supplying the fire alarm control panel; it must be dedicated, marked, and protected against accidental disconnection.
- NAC voltage drop
- Calculation verifying that voltage at the farthest notification appliance remains within its listed operating range under alarm load.
- Annual fire alarm test
- Periodic verification that initiating devices, notification appliances, control functions, and annunciation operate as designed; records are kept for the authority.
- Waterflow switch testing
- Quarterly test of waterflow alarms to confirm activation and signal transmission, commonly required by NFPA 72 inspection tables.
- Fire watch during impairment
- Temporary human patrol or other approved measure required when a fire alarm system is impaired, with notification to the authority having jurisdiction.
- Test record retention
- Inspection and testing records must be documented, retained, and made available to the authority having jurisdiction for code compliance.
- Record of Completion
- NFPA 72 document signed by installer and owner listing system features, device inventory, and verification that installation complies with approved plans.
- As-built drawings
- Final drawings showing actual fire alarm device locations, circuit routing, panel schedules, and changes made during installation.
- Sequence of Operations
- Written description of how the fire alarm system responds to alarm, supervisory, and trouble conditions, including cause-and-effect actions.
- Battery calculation submittal
- Design document showing standby and alarm loads, battery amp-hour capacity, voltage drop, and recharge capability for the fire alarm system.