2.2 Physical and On-Screen Reference Rules
Key Takeaways
- Applicable NFPA codes are provided on-screen in read-only PDF during the computer-based FAS exam.
- Candidates may also bring approved physical references; they must be bound or secured in a binder with a title page.
- References may be highlighted and tabbed only with permanently attached self-adhesive tabs or dividers.
- Handwritten notes, loose or torn pages, and freestanding sticky tabs are prohibited additions.
- Personal calculators are barred; the workstation provides built-in basic and scientific calculators.
On-Screen Versus Brought-In References
The FAS exam is computer-based and delivers the applicable NFPA codes on-screen as read-only PDFs. You can scroll, search, and read them, but you cannot mark, copy, or annotate the digital copies. Because on-screen searching can be slow under time pressure, NICET also permits candidates to bring approved physical references where the rules allow, so most serious candidates tab a printed NFPA 72 and use the PDF as a backup. Treat the two as complementary: the printed book is your fast-jump tool via tabs and your highlighting; the PDF is your full-text search safety net for an obscure term.
The compliance rules around brought-in references are strict, and a proctor can disallow a non-conforming book at the door. Knowing the rules protects both your materials and your seat time.
What Is and Isn't Allowed in a Brought-In Book
| Allowed | Not Allowed |
|---|---|
| Bound book or pages secured in a three-ring binder with a title page | Loose, unbound, or torn-out pages |
| Permanently attached self-adhesive index tabs and dividers | Freestanding/removable sticky tabs that fall out |
| Highlighting and underlining of printed text | Handwritten notes, formulas, or marginalia |
| The correct listed edition for your level | An edition not listed on your reference brief |
| Manufacturer cut-sheets only if expressly permitted | Photocopied study guides or cheat sheets |
The governing principle: references may be highlighted and tabbed, but you may not add information. A tab that simply says "Ch. 14 ITM" is a navigation aid and is allowed; a tab or margin note that says "smoke detector = 30 ft spacing" adds content and is prohibited. When in doubt, keep tabs descriptive of location, not of content.
Calculators, Scratch, and Test-Day Logistics
Personal calculators are not permitted. The workstation provides on-screen basic and scientific calculators, so practice battery-load, voltage-drop, and resistance math using a generic on-screen calculator, not your favorite handheld. The proctor issues scratch material (an erasable note board or paper) per Pearson VUE policy; you cannot bring your own scratch paper. Arrive early, bring valid ID matching your registration exactly, and expect a security check of any brought-in book.
Preparing a Compliant Book
- Bind first, mark second. Confirm the binding/title-page requirement, then highlight and tab.
- Use permanent tabs (adhesive index tabs) labeled by chapter/topic location only.
- Highlight rules, not noise. Mark the shall statements, key tables, and the inspection-testing-maintenance table rows you expect to use.
- Do not write anything by hand in the book, including arrows, totals, or formulas.
- Match the listed edition and remove any older copy from your bag to avoid confusion at check-in.
This turns reference compliance from a risk into an advantage: a clean, well-tabbed, edition-correct book lets you reach the right rule in seconds while a non-compliant one gets you slowed down, flagged, or turned away.
The Compliance Logic Behind the Rules
The rules exist to keep the exam fair: an open-reference test must let candidates find rules without letting them import answers. That single principle explains every restriction. Binding and a title page prevent page-swapping and confirm the book is the listed edition. Permanent tabs prevent a hidden cheat tab from being slipped in or out. The ban on handwritten notes prevents a candidate from carrying in pre-worked formulas or answer summaries that would defeat the purpose of testing recall and reasoning. Highlighting is allowed because it only emphasizes what is already printed and authoritative.
When you evaluate whether a planned annotation is allowed, ask one question: does this add information that is not already in the printed code? If yes, it is prohibited; if it merely emphasizes (highlight) or locates (a chapter-name tab), it is permitted.
A Test-Day Materials Checklist
| Item | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Listed-edition NFPA 72, bound, title page | Required if bringing a book | Confirms correct, intact reference |
| Permanent index tabs (location labels) | Allowed | Navigation aid, not added content |
| Highlighter marks on rule text | Allowed | Emphasis of printed text |
| Government photo ID matching registration | Required | Check-in verification |
| Handwritten formula notes / cheat sheet | Prohibited | Adds information |
| Personal calculator or phone | Prohibited | Use on-screen calculator only |
| Older or unlisted code edition | Remove from bag | Prevents check-in confusion |
Run this checklist the night before. The candidates who lose time on exam day are almost always the ones who discover a compliance problem at the security check - a removable tab, a stray pencil note, or the wrong edition - rather than the ones who could not find a rule. Make your materials boring to a proctor and fast to yourself.
Common Compliance Mistakes to Avoid
Even well-prepared candidates lose time or get materials flagged for predictable reasons. Avoid these:
- Removable tabs. Sticky flags that are not permanently attached can fall out and are treated as prohibited; use adhesive index tabs that bond to the page.
- Margin math. Writing a battery formula or a running total in the margin converts an allowed book into a prohibited one - do every calculation on the issued scratch board instead.
- Mixed editions in the bag. Bringing both a 2019 and a 2022 NFPA 72 invites confusion at check-in and risks you opening the wrong one mid-exam.
- Unbound printouts. Loose pages or a stapled photocopy do not meet the binding/title-page requirement and may be refused.
- Relying solely on the PDF. The on-screen PDF is read-only and slower to navigate than a tabbed book; bring an approved book if the rules for your administration allow it.
Treat the brought-in reference as a precision instrument you have prepared and pre-checked. The compliance rules are not obstacles - they are the boundary inside which a fast, well-tabbed, edition-correct book becomes one of your biggest advantages on an open-reference exam where the difference between passing and failing is often minutes spent searching.
Which annotation is permitted on a brought-in NFPA 72 for the FAS exam?
What calculator may a candidate use during the computer-based FAS exam?
In what form are the NFPA codes provided during the computer-based exam itself?