Mississippi Alarm Systems and Equipment Examination

A 24-volt DC power-limited alarm circuit draws 80 milliamperes. What is the circuit resistance?

• A0.30 ohms
• B3.0 ohms
• C30 ohms
• D300 ohms

Two notification appliances are wired in series on a supervised low-voltage circuit. Which statement is correct?

• AEach appliance receives the full source voltage.
• BThe same current flows through both appliances.
• CAn open in one appliance leaves the other operating normally.
• DTotal resistance is less than the smaller appliance resistance.

Under NEC Article 725, what is the primary safety reason Class 2 circuits are treated differently from power circuits?

• AClass 2 wiring is exempt from all listing requirements.
• BThe power source is limited so the circuit presents a reduced fire-initiation and electri…
• CClass 2 circuits may be run in the same cable as 480-volt feeders.
• DClass 2 circuits must operate only on alternating current.

NEC Article 760 divides fire alarm circuits into which two categories?

• AClass 1 and Class 2
• BPrimary and secondary
• CPower-limited fire alarm (PLFA) and non-power-limited fire alarm (NPLFA)
• DInitiating and indicating

Which power-limited fire alarm cable type is listed for use in ducts and plenums used for environmental air?

• AFPL
• BFPLR
• CFPLP
• DCM

A 24-volt DC notification circuit uses 18 AWG copper with a resistance of 6.5 ohms per 1,000 feet. The one-way run is 150 feet and the load is 0.40 A. What is the round-trip voltage drop?

• A0.39 volts
• B0.78 volts
• C1.56 volts
• D3.90 volts

A dedicated 120-volt branch circuit supplies only the fire alarm control unit. How must the disconnecting means be identified under NEC Article 760?

• AAny unmarked breaker in the nearest lighting panel is acceptable.
• BThe disconnect must be accessible only to qualified personnel, identified in red, and mar…
• CThe disconnect must be a GFCI breaker so ground faults silence the system.
• DThe disconnect must be locked in the OFF position during occupancy.

Compared with a Class 2 circuit, a Class 3 circuit under NEC Article 725 is best described as which of the following?

• AA non-power-limited 600-volt power circuit
• BA power-limited circuit that permits higher voltage and therefore requires additional sho…
• CA circuit that may never use listed cable
• DA circuit limited to battery power only

What is the primary purpose of the equipment grounding conductor on a 120-volt fire alarm or security power supply?

• ATo carry normal operating current back to the source
• BTo provide a low-impedance path for fault current so the overcurrent device can clear a g…
• CTo reduce voltage drop on the notification appliance circuit
• DTo serve as the signaling return for initiating devices

Alarm cables pass through a fire-resistance-rated corridor wall. What does the NEC require at that penetration?

• ALeave the opening oversized so future cables can be added.
• BFirestop the opening with an approved method that restores the wall rating.
• CSleeve the cables with ordinary PVC and leave the annulus open.
• DNo sealing is required if the cables are power-limited.

A 120-volt fire alarm control unit is installed with exposed live parts on the panel front and no live or grounded parts on the opposite wall. What is the minimum working-space depth in front of the equipment under NEC 110.26 Condition 1?

• A18 inches
• B24 inches
• C3 feet
• D6 feet

Power-limited fire alarm conductors and 120-volt lighting conductors must share a pull box. Which installation complies with the NEC separation rules?

• AMix both systems loosely in the same box with no barrier.
• BMaintain a barrier or other permitted separation so the power-limited conductors are not…
• CSplice the 24-volt pair onto the lighting neutral to save conductors.
• DUse the lighting equipment grounding conductor as the fire alarm return.

A fire alarm control unit draws 150 mA in standby and 1.20 A in alarm. Secondary power must support 24 hours of standby plus 5 minutes of alarm. Applying a 20 percent aging factor, what minimum battery capacity is required?

• A3.70 ampere-hours
• B4.00 ampere-hours
• C4.44 ampere-hours
• D7.20 ampere-hours

A 24.0-volt notification appliance circuit uses 18 AWG copper at 6.5 ohms per 1,000 feet. The one-way length is 200 feet and the alarm current is 0.75 A. What voltage remains at the last appliance?

• A16.00 volts
• B20.05 volts
• C22.05 volts
• D23.22 volts

A 24-volt DC circuit carries 1.00 A over a 250-foot one-way run. Using VD = 2 × I × R × L / 1,000 and the resistances below, which conductor is the smallest that keeps voltage drop at or below 1.20 volts? 18 AWG = 6.50 Ω/1,000 ft; 16 AWG = 4.10 Ω/1,000 ft; 14 AWG = 2.58 Ω/1,000 ft; 12 AWG = 1.62 Ω/1,000 ft.

• A18 AWG
• B16 AWG
• C14 AWG
• D12 AWG

In a 120-volt branch circuit serving alarm equipment, which conductor identification is correct under the NEC?

• AGreen or green-with-yellow is used for the grounded (neutral) conductor.
• BWhite or gray is used for the ungrounded (hot) conductor.
• CGreen, green-with-yellow, or bare copper identifies the equipment grounding conductor.
• DAny color including green may be used for the ungrounded conductor if taped at the ends.

Before opening a 120-volt fire alarm power-supply enclosure to replace a transformer, what is the correct electrical-safety action?

• ALeave the circuit energized so the control unit does not show trouble.
• BDe-energize the dedicated branch circuit, verify absence of voltage, and apply lockout/ta…
• CRemove only the battery leads and treat the AC input as safe.
• DOpen the enclosure and use a plastic screwdriver so lockout is unnecessary.

On a smooth, flat, horizontal ceiling, what is the generally applied maximum spacing between spot-type smoke detectors under NFPA 72?

• A15 feet
• B21 feet
• C30 feet
• D50 feet

A sprinkler-system control-valve tamper switch changes from its normal position. What signal should the fire alarm system produce?

• AAlarm signal
• BSupervisory signal
• CTrouble signal
• DPre-alarm signal only

Actuation of a waterflow switch on a wet-pipe sprinkler system should produce which fire alarm system signal?

• ATrouble signal
• BSupervisory signal
• CAlarm signal
• DGuard's tour signal

Where must the operable part of a manual fire alarm box be mounted under NFPA 72?

• A24 to 30 inches above the finished floor
• B36 to 42 inches above the finished floor
• C42 to 48 inches above the finished floor
• D54 to 60 inches above the finished floor

Unless a performance-based alternative applies, wall-mounted visible notification appliances in non-sleeping areas must be installed so the entire lens is in which height range?

• A40 to 48 inches above the finished floor
• B60 to 72 inches above the finished floor
• C80 to 96 inches above the finished floor
• D12 to 18 inches below the ceiling regardless of floor height

What distinctive audible pattern does NFPA 72 specify for a fire alarm evacuation signal?

• AA continuous steady tone
• BThe three-pulse Temporal-3 pattern
• CThe four-pulse Temporal-4 pattern
• DA two-tone chime repeated once

For a standard (non-voice) protected-premises fire alarm system, what secondary-power duration does NFPA 72 require?

• A4 hours standby and 5 minutes of alarm
• B24 hours standby and 5 minutes of alarm
• C24 hours standby and 15 minutes of alarm
• D60 hours standby and 5 minutes of alarm

Compared with an ionization smoke detector, a photoelectric spot-type smoke detector is generally more responsive to which kind of fire?

• AA fast-flaming fire that produces very small, almost invisible particles
• BA smoldering fire that produces larger, visible smoke particles
• CA flammable-liquid spill with no smoke
• DAn overheated clean-burning gas flame with no particulate

On a conventional Class B initiating-device circuit, where is the end-of-line device installed?

• AAt the control-unit terminals only
• BAcross the last device, so the entire circuit is supervised
• CAcross the first device nearest the panel
• DIn parallel with the notification appliances

For public-mode audible notification, NFPA 72 requires the alarm sound level to be at least which of the following, measured 5 feet above the floor?

• A5 dB above the average ambient sound level
• B10 dB above the average ambient sound level
• C15 dB above the average ambient sound level, or 5 dB above a maximum sound lasting 60 sec…
• D30 dB above the average ambient sound level in every case

Private-mode audible fire alarm signaling is intended for trained personnel. What is the NFPA 72 sound-level rule relative to average ambient?

• A5 dB above average ambient
• B10 dB above average ambient, or 5 dB above a 60-second maximum, whichever is greater
• C15 dB above average ambient in every case
• D75 dBA at the pillow in every private-mode space

Where should a protected-premises fire alarm control unit be located?

• AIn a locked attic with no responder access
• BIn a location that is accessible for response, inspection, and maintenance, as accepted b…
• COutdoors on an unprotected exterior wall
• DInside a dwelling-unit bedroom closet

Why are notification appliances on a notification appliance circuit typically polarized?

• ASo they will operate on either AC or DC without a rectifier
• BSo supervisory current in the standby polarity will not sound the devices, while reverse…
• CSo they can share a pair with 120-volt lighting
• DSo an end-of-line resistor is never required

After a new fire alarm system is installed, what documentation does NFPA 72 require the installer to complete for the owner and the authority having jurisdiction?

• AOnly a verbal walkthrough with no written record
• BA record of completion describing the system, its circuits, and its features
• CA sprinkler contractor's material and test certificate only
• DAn insurance binder listing the monitoring account

Why are spot-type smoke detectors normally installed on the ceiling rather than low on a wall?

• ASmoke from a typical fire rises and forms a ceiling layer first.
• BCeilings always have more electrical boxes available.
• CWall mounting is prohibited in every occupancy.
• DCeiling detectors are immune to dust and insects.

Spot-type smoke detectors are laid out on a 30-foot nominal spacing. What is the maximum distance from any point on the ceiling to the nearest detector under the 0.7 rule?

• A15 feet
• B21 feet
• C30 feet
• D42 feet

Spot-type smoke detectors with 30-foot nominal spacing are installed on a smooth ceiling using the square-spacing method. What is the maximum right-angle distance from a wall to a detector?

• A7.5 feet
• B15 feet
• C21 feet
• D30 feet

A ceiling-mounted spot-type smoke detector is being located next to a sidewall. What is the minimum horizontal clearance from that sidewall?

• A1 inch
• B4 inches
• C12 inches
• D36 inches

When a spot-type smoke detector is mounted on a wall, where must the top of the detector be located?

• AFlush with the ceiling
• B4 to 12 inches down from the ceiling
• C24 to 36 inches down from the ceiling
• DAt 48 inches above the finished floor

A 20-foot smooth ceiling is being protected. Which statement about detector spacing is correct under NFPA 72 (2019)?

• ABoth smoke and heat detectors use the same ceiling-height reduction table.
• BHeat-detector listed spacing must be reduced for this ceiling height; smoke-detector nomi…
• CSmoke detectors must be spaced at half the 10-foot-ceiling distance, and heat detectors n…
• DNeither smoke nor heat detectors may be used above 10 feet.

A 20-foot by 20-foot room with a 10-foot ceiling will be covered by one wall-mounted visible notification appliance using the NFPA 72 room-spacing tables. What is the minimum candela rating typically required?

• A15 candela
• B30 candela
• C75 candela
• D110 candela

A corridor is not more than 20 feet wide and will use the NFPA 72 corridor method for wall-mounted strobes. Which spacing rule applies?

• AOne 15-candela appliance may be 50 feet from a dead-end and 200 feet from the next applia…
• BAppliances shall be not more than 15 feet from each end of the corridor and not more than…
• CAppliances must be 15 candela and spaced on 30-foot smoke-detector centers.
• DCorridor spacing is identical to the 70-foot by 70-foot room table.

Audible notification intended to awaken occupants in a sleeping area must produce at least what sound level at the pillow?

• A45 dBA
• B60 dBA
• C75 dBA, or 15 dB above average ambient, or 5 dB above a 60-second maximum, whichever is g…
• D110 dBA in every sleeping room

Where audible appliances are provided to awaken sleeping occupants, what tone does NFPA 72 require?

• AAny high-frequency piezo horn
• BA 520 Hz square-wave low-frequency signal
• CA 3 kHz warble only
• DA recorded voice message without a tone

What flash rate does NFPA 72 require for visible fire alarm notification appliances?

• ANot more than 0.5 Hz
• BNot less than 1 Hz and not more than 2 Hz
• C3 to 4 Hz
• DA continuous steady light

Two or more visible notification appliances are in the same field of view. What additional requirement applies?

• AThey must flash at different rates so occupants can tell them apart.
• BTheir flashes must be synchronized.
• COne appliance must be disabled to avoid over-lighting.
• DThey must be mounted below 60 inches.

What is the principal operational advantage of a Class A initiating-device or notification pathway compared with Class B?

• AClass A circuits never require supervision.
• BA single open on a Class A pathway does not disable the devices because a return path rem…
• CClass A circuits may be wired with doorbell wire and no listing.
• DClass A circuits operate only on 120 volts.

Unless the building code or the design specifically requires occupant notification, what is the primary fire-alarm function of a duct smoke detector?

• ATo serve as the building's only means of occupant evacuation signaling
• BTo initiate HVAC shutdown or damper control to limit smoke spread in the air-handling sys…
• CTo replace area smoke detection in every room the duct serves
• DTo supervise sprinkler-valve position

Smoke detection in an elevator lobby, hoistway, or machine room typically initiates which elevator function?

• APhase I emergency recall to a designated landing
• BImmediate shutting off of elevator main-line power in every case
• CA burglar-alarm silent holdup signal
• DSprinkler waterflow retard reset

A wet-pipe sprinkler waterflow switch includes an adjustable retard. What is the purpose of that retard?

• ATo prevent an alarm signal from brief pressure surges that are not true waterflow
• BTo delay occupant notification for 10 minutes in every occupancy
• CTo convert the waterflow into a supervisory signal
• DTo disable the switch during weekly inspections