Fire Alarm Exam

Front 1

Fire needs 4 things

Back 1

-Fuel

-Heat
-Oxygen

-Chain Reaction

If we eliminate 1, fire goes out

Front 2

When does combustion occur?

Back 2

At 350C in vapours above fuel

Front 3

What is "Pool Fire"?
What class of Fire Extinguisher?

What would make it worse?

Back 3

Pool fire is liquid that burns

Use class b (symbol is jerry can on fire)

Class A would make it worse by spreading it

Front 4

What is "Flashover"

What are the temperatures involved?

How long does it take?

Back 4

-When heat @ top of the room meets the heat @ bottom of the room, instantly the whole room goes up.

-Top - 1300C

-Bottom - 200C

-Takes 3-5 mins

Front 5

Why is AFCI better than GFCI?

Back 5

-Improved by sensing electrons jump from the wire electronically

Front 6

What are the 5 classes of fire?

List 3 common, 2 specialty and match extinguisher to hazards.

Back 6

A - Ordinary combustibles (paper, wood, cloth)

Water based extinguisher

Pictogram is garbage can on fire or wood burning

B - Flammable liquids (oils, gas)

Pictogram is a jerry can on fire

C - Electrical Fires

High pressure

Pictogram of electrical cord

D - Metal Fires (Titanium, magnesium, sodium)

Pictogram is I-beam on fire

K - Kitchen Fires (Cooking oils, fats)

Picogram is Frying pan on fire

Front 7

What is the ACRONYM used for using a fire extinguisher?

Back 7

P.A.S.S

-Pull the pin

-Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire

-Squeeze the handle (stand 8 feet away)

-Sweep the nozzle back and forth at base of fire

30 seconds - 1 min of spray material

Front 8

What happens if you use "Class A" extinguisher on "Class D" fires?

Back 8

Can cause an exothermic reaction

Front 9

What are the types of extinguishing Agents? Which extinguisher uses those types?

How do they work?

Back 9

Dry Chemical - Prevents chemical reaction between heat and fuel (ABC)

Foams - Takes oxygen away. Prevents flashback (ABCD)

LEF Foam - Low expansion, rolls quickly

HEF Foam - High expansion, 7x volume, must have enough to reach rafters

Water - Absorbs heat, high pressure.

CO2 - Removes heat & dissipates oxygen, no residue

Front 10

What are the stages of fire?

Which stage fall under life protection?

Which stage falls under property protection?

Back 10

Stage 1 - Incipient

Stage 2 - Smouldering

Stage 3 - Flame

Stage 4 - Heat

1-2 = Life protection

3-4 = Property protection

Front 11

Describe the 1st stage of fire.

Back 11

Stage 1 - Incipient:

-No smoke, no flame

-Very little heat

*Significant amount of invisible combustion particles are created

Front 12

Describe the 2nd stage of fire.

Back 12

Stage 2 - Smouldering:

-Smoke

-No flame

-Not much heat, more than before

-Fire can smoulder for hours

Front 13

Describe the 3rd stage of fire.

Back 13

Stage 3 - Flame

-Visible flame appears

-More heat, often no smoke or less

UV/IR detection

Front 14

Describe the 4th stage of fire.

Back 14

Stage 4 - Heat

-Large amounts of heat, flame, smoke, gases

-Transition from 3-4 happens fast

-Flashover occurs in this stage

Heat detector dection

Front 15

Which stage of fire is the deadliest?

Back 15

Stage 2 - Smouldering

-Takes oxygen

-Emits carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide

Front 16

List 3 considerations necessary to design an effective fire alarm system.

Back 16

Construction type

Type and number of occupants

What is stored?

Noise levels

Ceiling height

Air Flow

Ceiling Obstructions

Detector Types

Front 17

What is the purpose of a fire alarm system?

Back 17

To protect lives and indicate need to evacuate.

Front 18

Describe:

BCBC

ULC

BC Fire Marshall Act

BC Fire Code

Fire Marshall

Back 18

BC Building Code - Regulates type of fire alarm to install and enforces minimum standards

U.L.C - Installation and verification

BC Fire Marshall Act - power to inspect FA installation

BC Fire Code - Fire Marshalls use this for requirements regarding occupancy and changes to fire protection systems

Fire Marshall - Authority Having Jurisdiction using BC Fire Code to inspect prior to occupancy

Front 19

What are the 3 basic parts to a F.A.S?

Back 19

IDC - Initiating device ccts (input)

SDC - Signalling device ccts (output)

FACP - Fire Alarm Control Panel (Once receives in, signals out)

Front 20

List 3 examples of IDCs

Back 20

Pull stations, heat detectors (automatic), smoke detectors (automatic), flow switch, UV/IR detectors

Front 21

List 3 examples of SDCs

Back 21

Bells, strobes, horns, chimes, speakers

Front 22

What is the purpose of Ancillary devices? List 3 examples.

Is the ancillary device a part of the FAS?

Back 22

-Serves are life safety.

-Damper controls, fans, magnetic door holders, firehall tie in, CTM (City tie in module)

No, it is controlled by the FAS but not part of it.

Front 23

How do signalling devices work?

Back 23

-Panel sends output to signalling device to evacuate.

-Stimulates eyes and ears

Front 24

What happens after panel goes into alarm?

Back 24

Ancillary devices are activated but cannot be silenced for 5 minutes

Front 25

What are the 3 types of communication systems?

Back 25

Simplex - 1 way communication (Broadcast radio)

Half Duplex - Communication both ways but 1 direction at a time (Walkie Talkie)

Full Duplex - 2 way communication (Like a telephone) EG: Firefighter phones

Front 26

Describe the control panel:

Back 26

FACU or FACP (Fire alarm control unit, fire alarm control panel)

-Accepts low current signals from IDC

-Operates audible & visual appliances (output to SDC)

-Provides "electrical supervision" monitoring wiring in field for faults

-Performs ancillary and auxiliary functions

-MUST have back up power supply for min 24 hours of supervisory duties. Must have enough battery to run signal devices for 5 mins

-120v input from dedicated circuit breaker. 24v output

Front 27

What are the 3 main fire alarm systems?

What 5 types are there total?

What does indicating and coded mean?

Back 27

Single Stage

-Signal input from 1 IDC initiates all SDCs

-SDC operate @ 120ppm, strobes @1-3 P/s

2 Stage

-Signal input form 1 IDC initiates alert mode (first stage)

-Bells & strobes in alert mode (20ppm)

-Firehall notified

-Annunciator activated + some ancillary

-5 mins no change, goes into general alarm

-If 2nd IDC is initiated, panel goes into general alarm mode

-5 mins to investigate

-This FAS can only be installed in buildings with trained 24 hours staff

-Used in places where it could cause undue stress

Zone Coded 2 Stage

-Signal from 1 IDC, the initiating floor + above + below goes into alarm stage. All other floors go into alert

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5 types

Type 1: non-indicating, non zoned G.A

Type 2: indicating, zoned, G.A

Type 3: indicating, coded-zoned G.A

Type 4: 2 stage, indicating, zoned, alert/alarm

Type 5: 2 stage, indicating, coded zoned, alert/alarm

Indicating: Does it have an annunciator at the entrance?

Coded: Will ring 2 different temporal rings for 1 minute indicating direction of evac.