Administration
25%of exam
Fire Protection Systems & Equipment
30%of exam
Hazardous Substances & Materials
15%of exam
Occupancy Requirements
30%of exam
Quick Facts
- Exam
- NFPA CFI-I (retiring)
- Items
- 100 multiple-choice
- Time
- 4 hours maximum
- Format
- Open book, Prometric center
- Pass
- Not published by NFPA
- Fee
- $499 application; $249 retest
- Recert
- 60 points / 3 years
- Blueprint
- NFPA 1031 (2014) Ch. 4
- Practicum
- 17 activities plus exam
- Prerequisite
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Replacement
- CFI: 72 items, 3 hours
- Last exam day
- June 30, 2027
Fire Inspector I vs II
Inspector I
- Routine field inspections
- Recognizes permit need
- Recognizes plan review need
- NFPA 1031 Chapter 4
Inspector II
- Complex facility inspections
- Processes permits
- Performs plans review
- NFPA 1031 Chapter 5
Recognize versus process
Violation Response Picker
- Minor housekeeping issue→Notice with deadline(Re-inspect later)
- Exit locked or blocked→Immediate abatement(Imminent hazard)
- Assembly overcrowded→Reduce occupant count(Posted load governs)
- System out of service→Require fire watch(Impairment program)
- Owner refuses entry→Administrative warrant(Camara rule)
- Owner disputes interpretation→Refer to appeals(Board decides)
- Alternative method offered→Equivalency request(Applicant proves it)
- Work exceeds maintenance→Refer to plan review(Inspector II task)
NFPA Inspector Credentials
- CFI-I
- Inspector I, retiring 2027
- CFI-II
- Inspector II, retiring 2027
- CFI
- New single inspector level
- CFRI
- First responder inspector level
- Pro Board
- Accredits agencies, not people
- IFSAC
- Accredits agencies and programs
- NFPA 1031
- 2014 standard, Chapters 4-5
- NFPA 1030
- 2024 consolidated standard
Pro Board vs IFSAC
Pro Board
- Accredits certifying agencies
- Founded 1972
- National certification registry
IFSAC
- Certificate and degree assemblies
- Accredits agencies and programs
- International reciprocity
Neither tests individuals
Violation Notice Elements
- Code cited
- Edition and section number
- Condition
- What was actually observed
- Location
- Exact room or area
- Correction
- Required action to comply
- Deadline
- Specific compliance date
- Re-inspection
- Verify and document closure
- Signature
- Inspector and receiving party
- Weak finding
- "Housekeeping poor" is unenforceable
NFPA 1031 vs NFPA 1030
NFPA 1031
- 2014 edition
- Inspector I, II, III
- Plan examiner I, II
NFPA 1030
- 2024 edition
- First responder inspector added
- Inspector III removed
Existing certifications stay valid
Legal Authority Terms
- AHJ
- Approves, interprets, enforces code
- Adoption by reference
- Ordinance adopts code text
- Police power
- State delegates to municipality
- Camara v. Municipal Court
- Warrant needed without consent
- See v. City of Seattle
- Same rule, commercial premises
- Administrative warrant
- Neutral inspection plan justifies
- Due process
- Notice, hearing, appeal rights
- Board of appeals
- Hears interpretation and equivalency
- Equivalency
- Applicant proves equal safety
- Variance
- Relief for one property
Common Permit Triggers
- Hot work
- Welding, cutting, grinding
- Assembly use
- More than 50 persons
- Flammable liquids
- Over 5 gallons indoors
- Spray finishing
- Booths and spray rooms
- Hazmat above MAQ
- Exceeds control area limit
- Construction permit
- Install or modify systems
- Operational permit
- Conduct a hazardous process
- Permit status
- Revocable, non-transferable privilege
Extinguisher Use: PASS
Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
Pull the pinAim at baseSqueeze the leverSweep side to side
Fire Detection vs Notification
Detection
- Initiating devices
- Smoke, heat, pull station
- Sends the signal in
Notification
- Horns, strobes, speakers
- Warns the occupants
- Sends the signal out
Input versus output
Extinguisher Class Picker
- Wood, paper, cloth→Class A(75 feet travel)
- Gasoline, oil, solvent→Class B(30 or 50 feet)
- Energized electrical→Class C(Non-conductive agent)
- Power disconnected→Reclassify A or B(Fuel decides)
- Magnesium, titanium, sodium→Class D(Dry powder only)
- Cooking oil, fat→Class K(30 feet travel)
- Commercial fryer present→Class K plus hood(Wet chemical)
Sprinkler System Types
- Wet pipe
- Water always in pipe
- Dry pipe
- Air holds water back
- Preaction, single interlock
- Detection admits water first
- Preaction, double interlock
- Detection plus sprinkler needed
- Deluge
- Open heads, all discharge
- Antifreeze loop
- Wet system, freezing areas
- Dry water delivery
- 60 seconds where required
- Quick-opening device
- Accelerator or exhauster
- OS&Y, PIV
- Control valves, locked open
- Deflector clearance
- 18 inches below, storage
Gauge Check Rhythm
Dry weekly, wet monthly, drain annually
Dry, preaction, deluge: weeklyWet system gauge: monthlyMain drain: annualInternal pipe: 5 years
Standpipe Class I vs II
Class I
- 2½ in. outlets
- Fire department use
- 100 psi most remote
Class II
- 1½ in. hose stations
- Occupant or trained use
- 65 psi most remote
Class III has both
ITM Interval Picker
- Dry system gauge→Weekly(Air pressure)
- Wet system gauge→Monthly(Water pressure)
- Supervised control valve→Quarterly(Inspect only)
- Vane waterflow switch→Semiannual(Test it)
- Main drain→Annual(Each riser)
- Dry valve full trip→Every 3 years(Partial annually)
- Internal pipe check→Every 5 years(Obstruction, corrosion)
- Electric pump churn→Monthly(10 minutes)
- Diesel pump churn→Weekly(30 minutes)
Sprinkler Temperature Colors
- Ordinary
- 135-170°F, uncolored or black
- Intermediate
- 175-225°F, white frame
- High
- 250-300°F, blue frame
- Extra high
- 325-375°F, red frame
- Orange bulb
- 135°F rating
- Red bulb
- 155°F rating
- Yellow bulb
- 175°F rating
- Green bulb
- 200°F rating
- Blue bulb
- 286°F rating
Inspection vs Testing
Inspection
- Visual, nothing operated
- Confirms nothing changed
- Often owner performed
Testing
- Component is operated
- Confirms it functions
- Qualified person required
Maintenance repairs or replaces
NFPA 25 ITM Intervals
- Dry, preaction gauges
- Weekly inspection
- Wet system gauges
- Monthly inspection
- Sealed control valves
- Weekly inspection
- Locked control valves
- Monthly inspection
- Supervised control valves
- Quarterly inspection
- Fire department connection
- Quarterly inspection
- Main drain test
- Annually at each riser
- Waterflow switch test
- Semiannual, vane or pressure
- Dry valve trip test
- Annual partial, 3-year full
- Internal pipe assessment
- Every 5 years
- Antifreeze concentration
- Tested annually
- Electric pump churn
- Monthly no-flow test
- Diesel pump churn
- Weekly no-flow test
- Fire pump flow test
- Annual, three curve points
- Pump at 150%
- 65% of rated pressure
- ITM responsibility
- Building owner, always
NFPA 72 Alarm Facts
- Secondary power
- 24 hours standby, 5 alarm
- Voice system power
- 24 hours standby, 15 alarm
- Pull station height
- 42-48 inches above floor
- Pull station location
- Within 5 feet of exit
- Pull station spacing
- Travel under 200 feet
- Public mode audible
- 15 dBA above average ambient
- Sleeping area audible
- 75 dBA at pillow
- Low-frequency signal
- 520 Hz, sleeping rooms
- Strobe flash rate
- 1 to 2 Hz
- Rate-of-rise detector
- 12-15°F per minute
- Photoelectric detector
- Better for smoldering fires
- Ionization detector
- Better for flaming fires
- Duct smoke detector
- Required above 2,000 CFM
- Annual test
- All devices, 100 percent
Extinguisher Placement Rules
- Class A travel
- 75 feet maximum
- Class B travel
- 30 or 50 feet
- Class C travel
- Follows A or B
- Class D travel
- 75 feet maximum
- Class K travel
- 30 feet from appliance
- 40 lb or less
- Top within 5 feet
- Over 40 lb
- Top within 3.5 feet
- Floor clearance
- At least 4 inches
- Monthly inspection
- Quick visual check
- Annual maintenance
- Technician thorough exam
- 6-year internal exam
- Stored-pressure dry chemical
- Hydrostatic test
- 5 or 12 years
- 1-A rating
- About 1.25 gallons water
- 20-B rating
- Square feet, liquid fire
Standpipes and FDCs
- Class I
- 2½ in., fire department
- Class II
- 1½ in., occupant use
- Class III
- Both hose connection sizes
- Class I pressure
- 100 psi, most remote
- Class II pressure
- 65 psi, most remote
- Class I flow
- 500 gpm, first standpipe
- Each added standpipe
- 250 gpm more
- Manual dry standpipe
- Fire department supplies water
- FDC clear space
- 3 feet all around
- FDC inlet height
- 18 to 48 inches
- FDC signage
- States systems it serves
- Dry standpipe hydrostatic
- Every 5 years
NFPA 704 Positions
Blue left, red top, yellow right, white bottom
Blue: healthRed: flammabilityYellow: instabilityWhite: special hazard
Flammable vs Combustible Liquid
Flammable
- Class I only
- Flash below 100°F
- Gasoline, acetone, ether
Combustible
- Class II and III
- Flash 100°F or above
- Diesel, heating oil
100°F flash point splits
Hazmat Compliance Picker
- Flash below 100°F→Flammable, Class I(NFPA 30)
- Flash 100-140°F→Combustible, Class II(Diesel fuel)
- Storage exceeds MAQ→Require permit(Or add control area)
- Liquids in cabinet→60 gallons maximum(Class I and II)
- Reading 704 diamond→Blue, red, yellow, white(Left, top, right, bottom)
- Cylinder lying loose→Cite securement violation(Upright and capped)
Flammable Liquid Classes
- Class IA
- Flash under 73°F, boil under 100°F
- Class IB
- Flash under 73°F, boil 100°F up
- Class IC
- Flash 73-100°F
- Class II
- Flash 100-140°F
- Class IIIA
- Flash 140-200°F
- Class IIIB
- Flash 200°F and above
- Flammable liquid
- Class I only
- Combustible liquid
- Class II and III
- Gasoline
- Class IB example
- Diesel fuel
- Class II example
- Motor oil
- Class IIIB example
- Vapor density
- Above 1.0 sinks, travels
Flash Point Split
Under 100°F flammable, at or above combustible
Class IA, IB, ICClass II: 100-140°FClass IIIA: 140-200°FClass IIIB: 200°F up
NFPA 704 Diamond
- Blue, left
- Health hazard
- Red, top
- Flammability hazard
- Yellow, right
- Instability hazard
- White, bottom
- Special hazard symbol
- Rating 0
- Minimal hazard
- Rating 4
- Severe hazard
- OX
- Oxidizer
- W with slash
- Reacts with water
- SA
- Simple asphyxiant gas
- GHS scale
- Category 1 is worst
- Safety data sheet
- 16 standard sections
Hazmat Storage Limits
- Storage cabinet
- 60 gallons, Class I-II
- Cabinet, Class III
- 120 gallons maximum
- Control area
- Rated space holding MAQ
- Cabinet increase
- MAQ doubled
- Sprinkler increase
- MAQ doubled again
- Both increases
- Four times baseline MAQ
- Secondary containment
- 110% of largest container
- LP-gas relief valve
- Opens near 250 psi
- Compressed cylinders
- Upright, secured, capped
- Cryogenic expansion
- Roughly 700 to 800 times
Hot Work and Dust
- Hot work clearance
- 35 feet of combustibles
- IFC fire watch
- 30 minutes after work
- NFPA 51B fire watch
- 60 minutes after work
- Post-watch monitoring
- Up to 3 more hours
- Dust accumulation
- 1/32 inch over 5%
- Dust pentagon
- Adds dispersion and confinement
- Dust hazard analysis
- Required by NFPA 652
- Spray booth airflow
- 100 feet per minute
- Spray booth wiring
- Class I, Division 1
Means of Egress Parts
Access, exit, discharge, then public way
Exit access: to the doorExit: rated enclosureExit discharge: to outsidePublic way: 10 feet
Exit Access vs Exit
Exit access
- Room to the exit door
- Usually not rated
- Travel distance applies
Exit
- Rated enclosure
- 1 hour under 4 stories
- 2 hours at 4 stories
Discharge ends at public way
Egress Requirement Picker
- Need occupant load→Area divided by factor(Net or gross)
- Need stair width→Load times 0.3 inch(NFPA 101)
- Need door width→Load times 0.2 inch(Level component)
- Load over 500→Three exits(Minimum count)
- Load over 1,000→Four exits(Minimum count)
- Checking exit spacing→Half the diagonal(One third sprinklered)
- Corridor serves 50→44 inches clear(36 under fifty)
- Door serves 50→Swing with travel(Panic hardware likely)
Construction Types
- Type I
- Noncombustible, fire-resistive frame
- Type II
- Noncombustible, lower ratings
- Type III
- Masonry walls, wood interior
- Type IV
- Heavy timber, no concealed
- Type V
- Wood frame throughout
- Subtype A
- Protected, higher ratings
- Subtype B
- Unprotected, lower ratings
- Type IV columns
- 8x8 inch nominal minimum
- Rating test
- ASTM E119 or UL 263
- Unexposed side limit
- 250°F average rise
- Firestop F-rating
- Resists flame passage
- Firestop T-rating
- Limits temperature rise
Egress Width Factors
Stairs 0.3, level 0.2, per occupant
Stairs: 0.3 inchLevel: 0.2 inchMultiply by occupant loadThen check minimum widths
Fire Wall vs Fire Barrier
Fire wall
- Foundation through roof
- Structurally independent
- Creates separate buildings
Fire barrier
- Floor slab to slab
- Not structurally independent
- Shafts, exits, separations
One side may collapse
Occupant Load Factors
- Assembly, concentrated
- 7 net square feet
- Assembly, less concentrated
- 15 net square feet
- Classroom
- 20 net square feet
- Shops, laboratories
- 50 net square feet
- Day care
- 35 net square feet
- Business
- 150 gross square feet
- Mercantile, street floor
- 30 gross square feet
- Mercantile, above street
- 60 gross square feet
- Health care sleeping
- 120 gross square feet
- Residential
- 200 gross square feet
- Industrial
- 100 gross square feet
- Storage in mercantile
- 300 gross square feet
- Storage, other occupancies
- 500 gross square feet
- Net versus gross
- Net excludes walls, fixtures
NFPA 101 vs IBC Width
NFPA 101
- 0.3 inch stairs
- 0.2 inch level components
- Table 7.3.3.1
IBC
- 0.3 inch stairways
- 0.2 inch other components
- Reduced with sprinkler, voice
Check the adopted code
Egress Dimensions
- Stair capacity factor
- 0.3 inch per occupant
- Level capacity factor
- 0.2 inch per occupant
- Corridor, 50 or more
- 44 inches clear
- Corridor, under 50
- 36 inches clear
- Door clear width
- 32 inches minimum
- Door leaf maximum
- 48 inches wide
- Two exits
- Required for most spaces
- Three exits
- Over 500 occupants
- Four exits
- Over 1,000 occupants
- Exit remoteness
- Half the overall diagonal
- Sprinklered remoteness
- One third the diagonal
- Door swing
- With travel at 50
- Unlatch force
- 15 pounds maximum
- Panic hardware
- IBC 50; NFPA 101 100
Travel and Dead Ends
- Business travel
- 200 feet, 300 sprinklered
- Assembly travel
- 200 feet, 250 sprinklered
- High hazard travel
- 75 feet, 100 sprinklered
- Common path
- 75 feet typical limit
- Common path, sprinklered
- 100 feet, business
- Dead-end corridor
- 20 feet typical limit
- Dead end, sprinklered
- 50 feet allowed
- Public way
- 10 feet clear minimum
Walls and Barriers
- Fire wall
- Foundation through roof, independent
- Fire wall parapet
- 30 inches above roof
- Fire barrier
- Floor slab to slab
- Fire partition
- Corridors and tenant separations
- Smoke barrier
- Continuous, limits smoke movement
- Smoke partition
- Resists smoke, usually unrated
- Exit enclosure, under 4
- 1-hour rating
- Exit enclosure, 4 up
- 2-hour rating
- Fire damper
- 165°F fusible link typical
- Smoke damper
- Closed by smoke detector
Exit Signs and Lighting
- Exit sign letters
- 6 inches high minimum
- Letter stroke
- 3/4 inch minimum
- Viewing distance
- 100 feet maximum
- Emergency light duration
- 90 minutes minimum
- Initial illumination
- 1 foot-candle average
- End illumination
- 0.6 foot-candle average
- Transfer time
- 10 seconds maximum
- Class A finish
- Flame spread 0-25
- Class B finish
- Flame spread 26-75
- Class C finish
- Flame spread 76-200
- Smoke developed limit
- 450 for all classes
- Decorative materials
- NFPA 701 flame propagation
Occupancy Classifications
- Assembly
- 50 or more gathering
- Educational
- 6 or more, through 12th
- Day care
- Clients receiving supervised care
- Health care
- Occupants incapable of self-preservation
- Detention, correctional
- Occupants under restraint
- Residential
- Sleeping, not health care
- Mercantile
- Display and sale
- Business
- Offices and services
- Industrial
- Manufacturing and processing
- Storage
- Goods, not manufacturing
Common Traps
Adopted edition, not newest
Cite the adopted edition ≠ A newer edition is unenforceable
Business factor changed
NFPA 101 2018: 150 gross ≠ Older editions used 100
Instability, not reactivity
Yellow means instability ≠ 704 dropped reactivity wording
Recognize versus perform
Inspector I recognizes the need ≠ Inspector II performs review
Fire watch duration differs
IFC says 30 minutes ≠ NFPA 51B says 60 minutes
Inspection is not testing
Inspection is visual only ≠ Testing operates the device
Pro Board sets no score
Pro Board accredits agencies ≠ Agencies set their cut scores
Class III is combined
Class III has both sizes ≠ Not a third pressure
GHS scale is inverted
NFPA 704: 4 is worst ≠ GHS: Category 1 worst
Clearance is below deflector
18 inches below deflector ≠ Not measured from ceiling
CFI-I is being retired
No new applications after 2026 ≠ Testing ends June 30, 2027
Last Minute
- 1.Systems 30%, Occupancy 30%, Administration 25%
- 2.Hazardous materials is smallest, 15%
- 3.Exam is open book, 4 hours
- 4.Stairs 0.3 inch, level 0.2
- 5.Business occupant factor is 150 gross
- 6.Three exits above 500 occupants
- 7.Four exits above 1,000 occupants
- 8.Class A extinguisher within 75 feet
- 9.Class K within 30 feet
- 10.Flammable liquid flashes below 100°F
- 11.704: blue, red, yellow, white
- 12.Main drain test is annual
- 13.Dead end 20 feet, 50 sprinklered
- 14.Notice needs edition, section, deadline
- 15.Inspector II does plans review
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