Installation
30-40%of exam
Work plansInfrastructureEquipmentCommissioningField conditions
Maintenance
25-35%of exam
Periodic testingImpairmentsDeficienciesDocumentationTroubleshooting
Submittal Preparation and System Layout
20-30%of exam
Shop drawingsSite surveyTechnical drawingsPower suppliesLoading requirements
Management and Supervision
5-15%of exam
CoordinationSchedulingResponsibilitiesSafetyCloseout
Quick Facts
- Exam questions
- 110
- Exam time
- 155 minutes
- Delivery
- Pearson VUE test center only
- Application fee
- $325
- Certification exams
- Pass Levels I and II
- Certification experience
- 2 years; 12+ months FAS
- Performance verification
- All Level I and II measures
- Passing score
- 500 on 0-700 scale
- Retest after failure
- 30 days; three per 12 months
- After third failed attempt
- Wait six months
- Testing window
- Six months
- Primary code
- NFPA 72 (2022)
- Electrical code
- NFPA 70 (2020)
- Building code
- IBC (2021)
- Physical references
- NFPA 72, NFPA 70, IBC
- On-screen references
- NFPA 72 and NFPA 70
- Calculator
- Basic/scientific built-in; no personal
System Signal Flow
Input Process Output Communicate
Input — initiateProcess — decideOutput — actCommunicate — report
IDC vs SLC
IDC
- Conventional initiating circuit
- Supervises connected initiating devices
SLC
- Addressable data pathway
- Communicates device identity and status
Follow circuit function and communication
Commission the System
- Approved scope changes→Confirm current project documents(Avoid obsolete revisions)
- Testing will begin→Notify affected parties(Coordinate alarms and outages)
- Programming is loaded→Verify points and labels(Match approved documentation)
- Initiating input operates→Verify intended outputs(Follow sequence matrix)
- Building interface operates→Coordinate the responsible trade(Observe complete response)
- Deficiency is discovered→Correct and retest(Document corrective result)
- Testing is complete→Restore normal system condition(Confirm remaining impairments)
- Owner accepts system→Deliver records and training(Complete project closeout)
Circuits and Pathways
- IDC
- Initiating device circuitInput
- SLC
- Addressable signaling line circuitData
- NAC
- Notification appliance circuitOutput
- Pathway class
- Defines permitted pathway fault behavior
- Circuit integrity
- Supports required circuit operation
- Power-limited wiring
- Follows listed limited-power circuit rules
- Non-power-limited wiring
- Follows applicable circuit wiring rules
- Raceway
- Protects and routes conductors
- Cable support
- Supports cable independently and securely
- Circuit separation
- Reduces unwanted circuit interaction
- Ground fault
- Unintended conductor-to-ground path
- End-of-line device
- Supervises designated circuit termination
SLC vs NAC
SLC
- Carries addressable communications
- Connects intelligent field equipment
NAC
- Powers notification appliances
- Supervises notification circuit integrity
Data pathway differs from notification power
System Equipment
- Control unit
- Processes inputs and controls outputs
- Remote annunciator
- Displays system status remotely
- Manual alarm box
- Manual alarm initiating device
- Smoke detector
- Detects combustion aerosols
- Heat detector
- Responds to thermal conditions
- Duct smoke detector
- Samples air within ductwork
- Waterflow switch
- Initiates alarm from sprinkler flow
- Valve supervisory switch
- Reports off-normal valve position
- Notification appliance
- Produces occupant notification signals
- Monitor module
- Supervises external initiating contact
- Control module
- Controls external output or circuit
- Short-circuit isolator
- Limits fault impact along SLC
Commissioning and Handoff
- Pretest
- Checks installation before formal testing
- Acceptance test
- Demonstrates required system operation
- Sequence of operations
- Defines input-to-output response
- Programming matrix
- Maps programmed system actions
- Point list
- Lists address, label, and location
- Device label
- Identifies installed field device
- Record of completion
- Documents completed system acceptance
- Record drawing
- Shows final installed configuration
- O&M manual
- Supports operation and maintenance
- Punch list
- Documents unresolved corrective work
- Owner training
- Explains system operation to users
- Final restoration
- Confirms normal system status
System Interfaces
- Elevator recall
- Commands designated elevator response
- Elevator shutdown
- Coordinates protected elevator power removal
- HVAC shutdown
- Commands air-system response
- Smoke control
- Coordinates engineered smoke movement
- Door release
- Releases held-open protected doors
- Suppression releasing
- Coordinates agent discharge sequence
- Sprinkler waterflow
- Reports sprinkler water movement
- Valve supervision
- Reports protected valve position
- Supervising station
- Receives off-premises system signals
- Emergency control function
- Controls interfaced building equipment
- Voice evacuation
- Delivers emergency voice instructions
- Mass notification
- Communicates broader emergency information
PNTRR Test Sequence
Plan Notify Test Restore Record
P — Plan scopeN — Notify partiesT — Test functionsR — Restore systemR — Record results
Alarm vs Supervisory
Alarm
- Fire or emergency input
- Drives programmed alarm outputs
- Requires emergency response process
Supervisory
- Monitored system off-normal
- Signals service attention
- Not automatically fire alarm
Classify the initiating condition first
Diagnose the System Status
- Alarm condition appears→Verify initiating event and location(Follow site emergency procedure)
- Supervisory condition appears→Inspect monitored off-normal condition(Restore supervised equipment)
- Trouble condition appears→Identify affected circuit or equipment(Correct cause before clearing)
- Ground fault persists→Divide circuits systematically(Inspect damaged insulation)
- Open pathway indicated→Check continuity and terminations(Verify end-of-line supervision)
- Short pathway indicated→Use isolation and sectional testing(Protect remaining operational segments)
- Addressable device missing→Verify address, power, and wiring(Check compatible programming)
- Fault appears intermittently→Review history and environmental patterns(Inspect loose connections)
Inspection Testing and Maintenance
- Inspection
- Visual equipment condition review
- Functional test
- Operates equipment to verify function
- Maintenance
- Preserves intended system performance
- Periodic testing
- Follows applicable scheduled intervals
- Detector sensitivity
- Verifies detector response remains acceptable
- Initiating-device test
- Confirms initiating signal operation
- Notification test
- Confirms audible and visible operation
- Interface test
- Confirms interfaced equipment response
- Transmission test
- Confirms off-premises signal receipt
- Secondary-power test
- Verifies standby source performance
- Charger test
- Confirms charger restores battery
- Reacceptance test
- Retests affected functions after change
- System restoration
- Returns equipment to normal service
- Test record
- Records methods, results, and deficiencies
Three System Statuses
Alarm Supervisory Trouble
Alarm — emergencySupervisory — off-normalTrouble — fault
Supervisory vs Trouble
Supervisory
- Protected equipment changed state
- Example: valve position change
Trouble
- System integrity is impaired
- Example: pathway fault
Equipment state differs from system fault
Signals and Troubleshooting
- Alarm signal
- Reports fire or emergency conditionAlarm
- Supervisory signal
- Reports off-normal monitored conditionSupervisory
- Trouble signal
- Reports system or pathway faultTrouble
- Ground fault
- Indicates unintended ground connection
- Circuit open
- Break interrupts supervised electrical path
- Circuit short
- Unintended low-resistance conductor connection
- Missing device
- Expected address stops communicating
- Duplicate address
- Multiple devices share one address
- Communication failure
- Networked equipment stops exchanging data
- Primary-power loss
- Normal power source becomes unavailable
- Low battery
- Stored energy falls below requirement
- History log
- Preserves chronological system events
- First event
- Identifies earliest recorded system event
- Intermittent fault
- Fault appears and clears unpredictably
Acceptance vs Reacceptance
Acceptance
- Evaluates completed system
- Confirms required system operation
Reacceptance
- Follows qualifying system modification
- Targets affected system functions
Changed functions require renewed verification
Inspection vs Functional Test
Inspection
- Examines visible condition
- Finds damage or obstruction
Functional test
- Operates equipment
- Verifies intended response
Looking differs from operating
Drawing Set Check
Floor Riser Schedule Sequence Calculations
Floor — locationsRiser — relationshipsSchedule — equipmentSequence — actionsCalculations — capacity
Shop Drawing vs Record Drawing
Shop drawing
- Shows proposed installation
- Supports review before installation
Record drawing
- Shows final installation
- Captures approved field changes
Proposed becomes installed
Select the Project Document
- Device placement is needed→Open the floor plan(Check symbols and locations)
- Vertical relationships are needed→Open the riser diagram(Trace floors and equipment)
- Input-output action is questioned→Open the sequence matrix(Trace cause and effect)
- Equipment suitability is questioned→Open approved product data(Verify listing and compatibility)
- Stored power is questioned→Review battery calculation(Check documented load inputs)
- Delivered voltage is questioned→Review voltage-drop calculation(Check conductor assumptions)
- Field conflict changes scope→Issue an RFI(Obtain documented direction)
- Final installation differs→Update record drawings(Capture installed conditions)
Submittal Documents
- Shop drawing
- Shows proposed installation details
- Floor plan
- Shows horizontal device placement
- Riser diagram
- Shows vertical system relationships
- Symbol legend
- Defines drawing symbols
- Device schedule
- Lists device types and attributes
- Sequence matrix
- Maps inputs to required outputs
- Battery calculation
- Documents required stored capacity
- Voltage-drop calculation
- Checks end-of-circuit operating voltage
- Circuit schedule
- Lists circuit loads and assignments
- Product data
- Documents listed equipment characteristics
- Specifications
- Define project performance requirements
- Record drawing
- Shows installed field conditions
- Revision cloud
- Highlights changed drawing area
Site Survey and Layout
- Occupancy use
- Shapes applicable system requirements
- Ceiling type
- Affects device placement planning
- Obstruction
- May alter device coverage
- Ambient sound
- Influences audible notification planning
- Ambient light
- Influences visible notification planning
- Device access
- Supports inspection and service
- Mounting surface
- Must support selected equipment
- Route feasibility
- Confirms practical pathway installation
- Existing interface
- Requires coordinated system response
- Power availability
- Confirms suitable source location
- Environmental rating
- Matches equipment to conditions
- Future phase
- Preserves planned expansion coordination
Power and Loading
- Nameplate current
- Manufacturer-specified equipment current
- Standby load
- Current during normal standby
- Alarm load
- Current during alarm operation
- Battery capacity
- Stored charge available to loads
- Voltage drop
- Conductor loss reduces delivered voltage
- Source voltage
- Voltage available before conductor loss
- End voltage
- Voltage reaching connected equipment
- Conductor resistance
- Opposes current and creates loss
- NAC loading
- Totals connected notification current
- Supply loading
- Totals connected system demand
- Listed compatibility
- Confirms equipment combination approval
- Battery base capacity
- Standby Ah plus alarm Ah
- Voltage-drop formula
- Current times round-trip resistance
- Required battery margin
- Apply listed code-required adjustment
Field Change Control
Identify Clarify Approve Document Coordinate
Identify conflictClarify requirementApprove directionDocument revisionCoordinate trades
Work Coordination
- Scope statement
- Defines included project work
- Responsibility matrix
- Assigns work among participants
- RFI
- Requests clarification of project information
- Change order
- Authorizes documented scope change
- Submittal disposition
- Records review of project information
- Outage notice
- Alerts affected parties before shutdown
- Impairment plan
- Controls risk during reduced protection
- Trade coordination
- Aligns interfaces and work sequence
- Permit inspection
- Coordinates authority review
- Safety briefing
- Communicates job hazards and controls
- Closeout package
- Collects final project records
- Schedule update
- Communicates timing and dependencies
Exam Day Rules
- Level II delivery
- Pearson VUE test center only
- Testing window
- Six months selected during application
- NDA
- Acceptance required before testing
- Personal calculators
- Prohibited in testing room
- Built-in calculators
- Basic and scientific provided
- Physical references
- Only listed titles permitted
- Reference binding
- Bound or three-ring binder
- Reference title page
- Required for permitted references
- Highlighting
- Permitted in reference text
- Attached index tabs
- Permitted when permanently attached
- Handwritten notes
- Not permitted
- Loose pages
- Not permitted
- Sticky tabs
- Not permitted
- Test-center IDs
- Two original valid IDs
- Late arrival
- Over 15 minutes risks refusal
- Unofficial result
- Provided after test session
- Official score report
- Portal within 14 days
- In-window reschedule
- Free over 24 hours early
- Late reschedule
- Half original fee may apply
- Retest
- Wait 30 days after failure
- Attempt cap
- Three attempts per 12-month span
- After third failure
- Wait six months before retesting
Common Traps
Wrong NICET Program
FAS includes installation and layout ≠ ITFAS centers on periodic inspection
Reference Edition Drift
Questions use published editions ≠ Newer editions may differ
Online Level II Assumption
Remote delivery applies only Level I ≠ Level II uses Pearson centers
Testing Without Notifications
Coordinate affected parties first ≠ Prevent unintended emergency response
Silencing Is Not Repair
Acknowledge system status ≠ Find the underlying cause
Drawings Override Field Conditions
Survey actual site conditions ≠ Resolve documented conflicts
Mixed Calculation Inputs
Separate standby and alarm loads ≠ Use manufacturer current data
Skipping Reacceptance
Identify changed functions ≠ Retest affected operations
Uncoordinated Interfaces
Assign responsible trades ≠ Test complete cause-and-effect
Exam Pass Is Not Certification
Pass both Levels I and II ≠ Verify all required performance measures
Permitted References Are Restricted
Use only listed reference titles ≠ Bind and add title pages
Last Minute
- 1.Memorize all four domain ranges
- 2.Distinguish FAS from ITFAS
- 3.Bring only permitted references
- 4.Match the published code editions
- 5.Bind references and add title pages
- 6.Remove handwritten notes and loose pages
- 7.Use only permanently attached tabs
- 8.Bring two original valid IDs
- 9.Accept the required NDA
- 10.Use only built-in calculators
- 11.Level II requires a test center
- 12.Reschedule early within testing window
- 13.Trace inputs through programmed outputs
- 14.Separate alarm supervisory trouble
- 15.Know IDC SLC and NAC
- 16.Compare shop and record drawings
- 17.Check battery calculation inputs
- 18.Check voltage-drop assumptions
- 19.Coordinate every building interface
- 20.Notify before testing or shutdown
- 21.Restore systems after work
- 22.Document deficiencies and corrections
- 23.Use approved current revisions
- 24.Verify final normal status
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