NFPA Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE)

Per NFPA 1030 Chapter 8, a Fire Plan Examiner shall prepare plan review reports that are clear, concise, and reflect the findings of the review. What is the primary purpose of these reports?

• ATo bill the applicant for review hours
• BTo document code deficiencies and communicate findings to the AHJ and applicant
• CTo serve as the building permit application
• DTo provide marketing content for the fire department

According to NFPA 1 (2024), Fire Code, what governs the precedence when a general code requirement conflicts with a more specific requirement in the same document?

• AThe general requirement always governs
• BThe most specific requirement governs
• CThe most recently published requirement governs
• DThe AHJ chooses which requirement to enforce

Per NFPA 1030 section 8.2.2, when developing a plan review checklist, the checklist shall be based on which of the following?

• AManufacturer product data sheets only
• BApplicable codes, standards, and departmental policies and procedures
• CPrior plan reviews from another jurisdiction
• DThe examiner's personal judgment

Under NFPA 1 section 1.12, who has the authority to render interpretations of the code and to adopt policies and procedures to clarify its application?

• AThe building owner
• BThe design professional of record
• CThe authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)
• DThe International Code Council

A plan reviewer discovers that a submittal does not comply with a prescriptive requirement but the designer proposes an alternative. Under NFPA 1 section 1.4, how should the examiner proceed?

• AReject the plan immediately — no alternatives are permitted
• BAccept any alternative the designer proposes
• CEvaluate the alternative for equivalency and document the AHJ's approval or denial
• DForward the alternative to the code-making committee for approval

Per NFPA 1030 section 8.2.4, when processing plan review documents given a set of plans and specifications, the plan examiner shall ensure which of the following?

• AThat required permits are issued in accordance with the policies of the AHJ
• BThat documents are destroyed after approval to save storage space
• CThat documents are held by the reviewer personally outside AHJ systems
• DThat documents are returned to the designer before any review occurs

According to NFPA 1030 section 8.3.9, when developing policies and procedures for the administration of plan review functions, the examiner must ensure they are consistent with which of the following?

• AThe preferences of the largest design firm in the jurisdiction
• BApplicable laws, codes, standards, and AHJ requirements
• CThe lowest-cost approach available
• DFire department operational tactics only

Per NFPA 1030 section 8.3.10, a plan examiner who is asked to participate in legal proceedings must do which of the following?

• ARefuse to testify to protect the AHJ
• BProvide technical testimony based on plan review findings and applicable codes
• CAct as a legal advocate for the building owner
• DChange findings to support the AHJ's position

Under NFPA 1030 section 8.3.20, a performance-based design submittal shall be evaluated against which of the following?

• AThe prescriptive requirements only
• BThe design goals, objectives, performance criteria, and stated assumptions in the design…
• CThe reviewer's personal experience
• DThe building owner's operating budget

When a plan review comment letter is issued, NFPA 1030 section 8.2.1 requires that findings be reported in a manner that is both clear and what?

• AConcise and reflective of plan review findings tied to applicable codes
• BLengthy and exhaustive
• CInformal and verbal only
• DPrinted in color with photographs

Per NFPA 1030 section 8.2.4, when the plans examiner receives a permit application and submittal package, the initial completeness review shall verify which of the following?

• AThat required drawings, specifications, and supporting documents are present
• BThat the owner has paid property taxes
• CThat the contractor is bonded
• DThat the designer carries errors and omissions insurance

Under NFPA 1030, which document establishes the legal authority for a fire plans examiner to perform plan reviews within a jurisdiction?

• ANFPA 1030 itself
• BThe locally adopted ordinance or statute that authorizes the AHJ
• CThe examiner's professional certification
• DThe IFSTA Plans Examiner manual

Per NFPA 1030 section 8.2.3, when facilitating resolution of deficiencies identified during plan review, the examiner shall document and report deficiencies to the plan submitter with which of the following?

• APersonal opinions without code references
• BApplicable references to codes and standards
• COnly verbal comments with no written record
• DA requirement to withdraw the permit application

Per NFPA 1 section 1.11 and NFPA 101 section 1.4, who is ultimately responsible for compliance of the completed work with the approved plans?

• AThe plans examiner
• BThe owner
• CThe fire department
• DThe testing laboratory

Under NFPA 1030 section 8.3.9, when developing policies and procedures for administration of plan review functions, the examiner shall ensure the policies are defined and consistent with which of the following?

• AThe examiner's personal preferences only
• BLegal obligations of the AHJ and applicable requirements
• CFederal tax law exclusively
• DManufacturer installation manuals alone

When evaluating a proposed modification of a prescriptive code requirement, NFPA 1 section 1.4.2 requires the AHJ to document what?

• AThe rationale for the decision and any conditions of approval
• BOnly a verbal acknowledgment
• CAn email to the design team only
• DNo documentation is required

Per NFPA 1030, what is the minimum level of qualification that authorizes an individual to perform fire plans examination independently under the standard?

• AFire Inspector I
• BFirst Responder Inspector
• CFire Plans Examiner (Chapter 8)
• DFire and Life Safety Educator I

According to NFPA 1 Chapter 10, when a plan review identifies a deficiency that affects immediate life safety in an existing building, the examiner should first do which of the following?

• AIgnore it — new plan reviews do not affect existing buildings
• BNotify the AHJ so that appropriate enforcement action can be taken
• CWait until the next scheduled inspection
• DOnly tell the applicant verbally

A plans examiner must review submittals produced by a registered design professional. Under NFPA 1 and most state licensing laws, what is required on construction documents that depict structural, fire protection, or life safety systems?

• ANo stamp or seal is required
• BThe seal and signature of a licensed design professional responsible for the work
• COnly the contractor's signature
• DOnly the building owner's signature

Per NFPA 1030 section 8.2.1, the plan review report shall be written in accordance with the policies and procedures of the AHJ and applicable codes. Who is the intended audience of the report?

• AOnly the design professional
• BOnly the AHJ
• CThe design professional, the AHJ, and the permit applicant
• DOnly the general public

Under NFPA 1 Table 18.4.5.1, what is the minimum fire flow for a single-family dwelling up to 3,600 square feet of total floor area?

• A500 gpm for 30 minutes
• B1,000 gpm for 1 hour
• C1,500 gpm for 2 hours
• D2,000 gpm for 2 hours

Per NFPA 1 section 18.2.3.4, what is the maximum distance from any point on a building exterior to the nearest fire hydrant measured along an approved route for a non-sprinklered commercial building?

• A200 feet (61 m)
• B400 feet (122 m)
• C600 feet (183 m)
• D800 feet (244 m)

Under NFPA 1 section 18.2.3.1, what is the minimum unobstructed width of a fire department access road serving a building required to have fire department access?

• A12 feet (3.7 m)
• B16 feet (4.9 m)
• C20 feet (6.1 m)
• D26 feet (7.9 m)

Per NFPA 1 section 18.2.3.4, the minimum unobstructed vertical clearance for a fire department access road shall be which of the following?

• A12 feet (3.7 m)
• B13 feet 6 inches (4.1 m)
• C14 feet (4.3 m)
• D15 feet (4.6 m)

Under NFPA 1 section 18.2.3.4, what is the maximum grade permitted on a fire department access road?

• A6 percent
• B8 percent
• C10 percent
• D12 percent

Per NFPA 1 section 18.2.3.4, dead-end fire department access roads in excess of what length shall be provided with an approved turnaround?

• A75 feet (23 m)
• B100 feet (30 m)
• C150 feet (46 m)
• D200 feet (61 m)

Under NFPA 1 section 18.5, what is the purpose of reviewing the location of fire hydrants on a site plan relative to the fire department connection (FDC)?

• ATo ensure landscaping does not block hydrants
• BTo verify that a hydrant is within 100 feet of the FDC per NFPA 14 section 6.4.5.4
• CTo calculate property taxes
• DTo locate utility meters

Per NFPA 1 section 18.2.3.4, the weight-bearing capacity of a fire department access road shall support an apparatus weighing at least how much?

• A40,000 lbs (18,144 kg)
• B60,000 lbs (27,216 kg)
• C75,000 lbs (34,020 kg)
• D100,000 lbs (45,359 kg)

Under NFPA 1 section 18.2.3.4.1.1, a building with a total area of 62,000 square feet that is not sprinklered requires the fire department access road to be arranged how?

• AA single access point is always acceptable
• BTwo separate and approved fire apparatus access roads are required
• CNo fire apparatus access is required
• DOnly an easement is required

Per NFPA 1 Annex H fire flow methodology, a building of 5,000 square feet Type II(000) construction (no fire-resistance rating) would have a fire flow calculation area equal to what?

• AOnly the largest floor area
• BThe total combined area of all floors
• COne-half of the total area
• DThe exterior wall area only

Under NFPA 1 section 18.5.4, when a site contains a private fire service main supplying fire hydrants and sprinkler systems, what NFPA standard governs its installation?

• ANFPA 13
• BNFPA 14
• CNFPA 20
• DNFPA 24

When reviewing a site plan, the plans examiner must verify hydrant spacing around a commercial building. Per NFPA 1, what is the maximum spacing between fire hydrants for buildings other than detached one- and two-family dwellings?

• A250 feet (76 m)
• B300 feet (91 m)
• C400 feet (122 m)
• D500 feet (152 m)

Per NFPA 1 section 10.10.1, what is required for fire lane markings on private property where fire department access is required?

• AMarkings are optional
• BSigns or striping, or both, as required by the AHJ
• COnly verbal notification to the owner
• DPainted curbs only

Under NFPA 1 section 18.2.3.5 and NFPA 101 section 7.2.1.2.3.2, when reviewing fire department access, what feature must be verified on exterior stairways that serve as means of egress discharge?

• AThat they discharge to a public way or an open space leading to a public way
• BThat they lead to the parking lot only
• CThat they have a slide
• DThat they are carpeted

Per NFPA 1 Chapter 34, when aboveground storage tanks for flammable liquids are shown on a site plan, the examiner must verify the minimum separation distances per which table?

• ATable 34.4.2
• BTable 66.25.3
• CNFPA 30 Chapter 22 tables for aboveground storage tanks
• DNFPA 13 Table 8.6.2

Per NFPA 1 section 18.2.1, a one- and two-family dwelling shall be located within how many feet of a fire apparatus access road measured from the closest point of the road to the closest point on the exterior wall of the dwelling?

• A50 feet (15 m)
• B100 feet (30 m)
• C150 feet (46 m)
• D200 feet (61 m)

When reviewing a site plan for a LP-Gas installation, NFPA 58 requires a minimum separation between a 1,000-gallon LP-Gas container and an important building. Per NFPA 58 Table 6.4.1.1, what is that minimum distance?

• A10 feet (3.0 m)
• B25 feet (7.6 m)
• C50 feet (15.2 m)
• D100 feet (30.5 m)

Per NFPA 101 section 6.1, what is the first step a plans examiner should take when reviewing building plans for life safety compliance?

• ACount the windows
• BIdentify the occupancy classification
• CMeasure the parking lot
• DCalculate the construction cost