Fire Detection, Protection, and Suppression Systems Flashcards
(132 cards)
1
Q
What NFPA and building codes do we use?
A
IFC chapter 903
IBC chapter 903
NFPA 13
NFPA 72
2
Q
Fire sprinkler systems are effective in controlling fires ___% of the time
A
96%
3
Q
Fire protection systems have fairly standardized design requirements across ____ ___
A
North America
4
Q
Local fire prevention and building codes may require…
A
Different types of systems for different buildings
5
Q
What is a fire detection system?
A
A system that recognizes when a fire is occurring and activates the fire alarm system
6
Q
A fire detection system does what 3 things? What is it’s secondary purpose?
A
Alerts occupants (primary purpose) May alert the fire dept May automatically activate fire suppression systems
Secondary purpose is to conserve property
7
Q
Fire alarm/detection systems can be very simple or complex. These systems generally have the same…
A
Basic components
8
Q
What is the most common type of residential fire alarm system?
A
Single station smoke alarm
9
Q
A single station smoke alarm includes both a…
A
Smoke detection device and and audible alarm
10
Q
____ (#) of single station smoke detectors are installed in private dwellings and apartments
A
Millions
11
Q
What are the 2 ways a smoke alarm can be powered?
A
Battery
Hard wired to 110 volt electrical system
12
Q
Up to date codes require new homes to have a smoke alarm…
A
In every bedroom and on every floor level
13
Q
Many home fire alarm systems are part of ____ ____
A
Security systems
14
Q
What are the 2 types of smoke detectors?
A
Ionization
Photoelectric
15
Q
Ionization detectors are triggered by the ____ products of combustion
A
Invisible
16
Q
Photoelectric detectors are triggered by the ____ products of combustion
A
Visible
17
Q
What are the 3 basic components in a fire alarm system?
A
Alarm initiation device
Alarm notification device
Control Panel
18
Q
What is the “brain” of a fire alarm system?
A
The control panel
19
Q
What does the control panel do?
A
Manages and monitors the proper operation of the system
20
Q
A control panel may/can indicate…
A
The source of the alarm
21
Q
A control panel also manages the primary ___ ___ and provides…
A
Power supply
Backup power supply for the system
22
Q
Control panels vary greatly depending on ___ and ____
A
Age of system
Manufacturer
23
Q
The FACP is also used to ____ the alarm and ___ the system
A
Silence
Reset
24
Q
Many buildings have an additional display panel. What is it called?
A
A remote annunciator
25
Where is a good place to look for a remote annunciator?
Near the main entry way or lobby
26
A battery in the FACP will automatically activate when...
The external power is interrupted
27
What are alarm initiating devices?
Components that activate a fire alarm system
28
What are the 2 types of alarm initiating devices?
Manual
| Automatic
29
What is the primary manual initiation device?
Manual fire alarm box/manual pull station
30
Manual initiation devices will stay in the activated position until...
It's reset
31
What are double action pull stations?
Designed to prevent malicious false alarms. They are covered with a piece of clear plastic
32
Automatic initiating devices can use several types of detectors. What are some examples?
```
Smoke
Invisible products of combustion
Heat
Light from an open flame
Specific gases
```
33
What is the most common type of smoke detector?
Ionization?
34
Heat detectors can provide ____ protection, but cannot provide reliable ____ ____ protection
Property
| Life safety
35
When are heat detectors generally used?
In situations where smoke detectors cannot be used
36
Heat detectors are generally installed in ______ areas
Unheated
37
True or false...
Heat detectors are not as reliable as smoke detectors
FALSE
They are very reliable and less prone to false alarms
38
How do fixed temperature heat detectors work?
Usually a metal alloy that will melt at a preset temperature
39
When will rate of rise detectors activate?
When the temperature of the surrounding air rises more than a set amount in a given period of time
40
Most rate of rise detectors are self _____
Restoring
41
# Choose one...
Generally rate of rise detectors will respond FASTER or SLOWER than fixed temp heat detectors.
Faster
42
How to line heat detectors work?
They use wires or a sealed tube to sense heat
43
What are the 2 types of wire type line heat detectors?
One has 2 wires separated by an insulating material
| Another type measures changes in electrical resistance in a single wire as it heats up
44
What is the tube type line heat detector?
It has a sealed metal tube filled with air or a nonflammable gas
45
How do flame detectors work?
They detect the electromagnetic light waves produced by a flame
46
Where are flame detectors typically found?
Where early detection and rapid reaction to a fire is critical
47
What is the power point example of something that can accidentally trigger a flame detector?
Arc welding
48
Flame detectors are complicated and ____
Expensive
49
Gas detectors are calibrated to....
Detect the presence of a specific gas
50
Gas detectors need regular _____
Calibration
51
Gas detectors are usually found only in...
Specific commercial or industrial applications
52
What are the 6 gases listed that a gas detector may detect?
```
CO
CO2
Hydrogen chloride
Hydrogen cyanide
Hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen sulfide
```
53
What do air sampling detectors do?
Continuously capture air samples and measure concentrations of specific gases or products of combustion
54
What is a water flow alarm?
Ensures that someone is aware water is flowing from a sprinkler head or when standpipe valve is opened
55
What are the 2 things that a fire alarm system does?
Alerts building occupants
| Alerts fire dept
56
What are the 3 types of false alarms?
Malicious
Unwanted
Nuisance
57
What is a malicious alarm?
Caused by someone who deliberately activates the alarm when there is no fire
58
What is an unwanted alarm?
When an alarm is activated by a condition that is not really an emergency
59
What is a nuisance alarm?
Alarm caused by improper functioning of an alarm sysem or one of it's components
60
What is an alarm notification appliance?
Produces an audible signal when fire alarm is activated
61
Many new alarm notification appliances incorporate...
Visual notification devices
62
Fire alarms may also control what 3 other things?
Air handling systems
Fire doors
Elevators
63
Almost all fire alarm systems are now ____ to some extent
Zoned
64
In a coded system, zone is IDd not only at the FACP, but also through an ____ ____ ____
Audio notification device
65
Fire alarm systems can be broken down into what 4 categories?
Non coded alarm
Zoned non coded alarm
Zoned coded alarm
Master coded alarm
66
What is a non coded alarm system?
Where the control panel has no info indicating where the fire alarm was activated
It typically sounds a bell or a horn
Fire dept must search entire building to find which initiation device was activated
67
What is a zoned non coded alarm system?
Where the alarm control panel indicates in which zone the activated device is located
68
What is the most common type of alarm system?
Zoned non coded alarm system
69
With a zoned non coded alarm system, the building it divided into....
Multiple zones, often by floor or wing
70
What is a zoned coded alarm system?
All the same things of a non coded alarm system but it also indicates which zone has been activated over the announcement system
71
What type of alarm system do hospitals have?
Zoned coded alarm system
72
What is a master coded alarm sytem?
When the same audible notification device is used for other purposes throughout the building
73
What 4 classifications can fire alarms be broken down into based on how the fire dept is notified?
Local alarm system
Remote station system
Proprietary or Auxiliary system
Central station
74
What is a local alarm system?
A system that does not alert the fire dept. It only alerts the occupants to the building
75
What is a remote station system?
A system that sends a signal directly to the fire dept or to another monitoring location via a telephone line or a radio signal
76
What is an auxiliary system?
When a building's fire alarm system is tied into a master alarm box located outside
77
What is a proprietary system?
When a building's alarm is connected directly to monitoring site owned and operated by the building owner
78
What is central station system?
When a system notifies a third party off site from the building and the personnel at the central station are the ones who notify the appropriate fire dept
79
What 3 things might a fire suppression system include?
Automatic sprinkler system
Standpipe system
Specialized extinguishing systems
80
Why is it important to understand how fire suppression systems work?
Because they can affect fire behavior
81
What is a major advantage of a sprinkler system?
It can function as both a fire detection system and a fire suppression system
82
What are 6 reasons why a sprinkler system might fail?
```
Closed valves
Inadequate water supply
Blocked heads
Fire load changes
Partial protection
Poor Maintenance
```
83
What is the definition of a sprinkler system?
A system of pipes, valves, water, and heads, which operate automatically to control or extinguish fire, initiate an alarm, and save lives/property
84
What are the 4 major components of an automatic sprinkler system?
Automatic sprinkler heads
Piping
Control valves
Water supply
85
Sprinkler heads are composed of what 4 things?
Body
Release mechanism
Orifice
Deflector
86
What is a fusible link sprinkler head?
Uses a metal alloy such as solder that melts at a specific temperature
87
What is a frangible bulb sprinkler head?
A head that uses a glass bulb that is filled with glycerin or alcohol to hold the cap in place
As the bulb is heated, liquid absorbs the air bubble and expands until it breaks the glass which releases the cap
88
What is a chemical pellet sprinkler head?
Uses a plunger mechanism and a small chemical pellet that will liquefy at a specific temperature
89
With sprinklers, what does ESFR mean?
Early Suppression Fast Response
90
Why are deluge heads easily identifiable?
They have no cap or release mechanism
91
Deluge systems are designed to protect...
Extra hazardous occupancies
92
What is the typical rating for a sprinkler head in a light hazard occupancy?
165 degrees
93
Where is the rating found on a sprinkler head?
Stamped on the body
94
The sprinkler head temp rating must match...
The anticipated ambient air temperatures
95
Uncolored or black sprinkler heads have an operating temp of ___ to ___ degrees F
135 to 170
96
Sprinkler piping is usually made of _____
Steel
Sometimes plastic is used in residential systems
97
Sprinkler piping includes what 4 things?
Main water supply lines
Risers
Feeder lines
Branch lines
98
What are the 3 types of valves used on a sprinkler system?
Main water supply control valve
Alarm valve
Other smaller valves used for testing and service
99
Where are the 3 places that a water supply for a sprinkler system can come from?
Municipal water system
On site storage tanks
Static water sources
100
What is the preferred water source of a sprinkler system?
A municipal water system
101
What can be added to fire sprinkler systems to prevent false alarms due to water surges?
Retard Chambers
102
When are fire pumps used in a sprinkler system?
When the water comes from a static source or to boost pressure for tall buildings
103
What does FDC stand for?
Fire Department Connection
104
What is the FDC for?
Allows the fire dept's engine to pump water into the sprinkler system
105
What is a water flow alarm?
A water powered gong to signal that the sprinkler system has been activated
106
What are the 5 categories of automatic sprinkler systems?
```
Wet
Dry
Pre action
Deluge
Residential
```
107
What is the most common type of sprinkler system?
Wet sprinkler system
| It is also the least expensive
108
Wet sprinkler system means that the piping is always...
Filled with water
109
What is the major drawback of a wet sprinkler system?
it cannot be used in areas where the temperature drops below freezing
110
What is a dry sprinkler system?
Same as a wet sprinkler system except that the pipes are filled with pressurized air instead of water
111
What keeps the water from entering the pipes in a dry sprinkler system?
A dry pipe valve
112
What is a preaction sprinkler system?
Same as a dry sprinkler system except the key difference is that a secondary device must be activated before water is released into the sprinkler piping
113
What is a deluge sprinkler system?
Water flows from all of the sprinkler heads as soon as the system is activated
All of the heads are always open
114
Who can order the shut down of a sprinkler system?
The IC only
115
In most cases, the system can be shutdown by...
Closing the main control valve
116
What can stop the flow from a sprinkler head quickly?
A wooden wedge or commercial sprinkler stop
117
What are 3 characteristics of residential sprinkler systems vs other sprinkler systems?
Smaller piping
Smaller heads with smaller orifices
Less water discharge
118
What is a standpipe system?
A network of pipes and outlets for fire hoses built into a structure to provide water for firefighting purposes
119
What is a class I standpipe?
Designed for fire dept personnel only
| Has a 2 1/2 male coupling and a valve to open the water supply
120
What is a class II standpipe?
Outlet with a length of 1 1/2" hose preconnected to the system
Intended for the occupants to attack the fire before the fire dept arrives
Safety and effectiveness is questionable
121
What is a class III standpipe?
Has the features of both the class I and class II standpipe
122
Water flow in the standpipe systems depends on what 2 things?
Water supply and the condition of the piping
123
What 2 things are often installed on standpipes to limit pressure and flow?
Flow restriction devices
| Pressure reducing valves
124
We standpipe systems in modern buildings are connected to a public water supply with an ___ or ____ fire pump to provide additional pressure
Electric or diesel
125
When are specialized extinguishing systems used?
When water would not be an acceptable extinguishing agent
126
How are dry chemical extinguishing systems kept?
In self pressurized tanks or in tanks with an external cartridge of CO2 or N2 that provides pressure when the system is activated
127
What kind of extinguishing system is now used in most new commercial kitchens?
Wet chemical systems
128
What are the 2 initiation devices for wet chemical extinguishing systems?
Fusible links above the target hazard
| Manual discharge pull station
129
Where are clean agent extinguishing systems often installed?
Areas where computers or sensitive equipment are used
130
Clean agents are non ____ and leave no _____
Non conductive
| Residue
131
What are the 2 clean agents that are generally used?
Halogenated
| CO2
132
Clean agent extinguishing systems are tied into building's fire alarm system and should alert firefighters that...
They are responding to a situation where a clean agent has been discharged
