F89 Fire Code Compliance Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An FLSD notices that the Fire Department Connection (FDC) for the building's standpipe system is not visible from the street. According to NYC Fire Code, what is required in this situation?
- A sign with red letters on a white background must be posted on the FDC itself.
- An approved sign with letters 'FDC' at least 10 inches high must be mounted on the street front, with an arrow indicating the location. (Correct answer)
- A continuous green light must be installed above the FDC to increase visibility at night.
- The FLSD must file for a variance with the FDNY, as relocating the FDC is the only acceptable solution.
Correct answer: An approved sign with letters 'FDC' at least 10 inches high must be mounted on the street front, with an arrow indicating the location.
When a Fire Department Connection is not visible from the street, the NYC Fire Code and related standards require an approved sign to be placed on the street-facing side of the building to direct the arriving fire department. This sign must have letters 'FDC' that are a minimum of 10 inches high and include an arrow to point towards the connection's location.
Question 2: During a routine tour, an FLSD discovers that hot work (welding) is being performed on the roof without proper authorization. What is a critical immediate action the FLSD must take?
- Tell the workers to be more careful and to post a fire guard.
- Issue a verbal warning and document the infraction in the FLS Log Book.
- Immediately stop the work and verify that a valid FDNY permit and a pre-hot work check have been completed. (Correct answer)
- Wait until the workers are finished and then report the incident to the building manager.
Correct answer: Immediately stop the work and verify that a valid FDNY permit and a pre-hot work check have been completed.
Hot work, such as welding, presents a significant fire hazard and is strictly regulated. The FLSD's primary responsibility upon discovering unauthorized hot work is to stop the operation immediately to prevent a potential fire. They must then confirm that all safety protocols, including obtaining a valid permit and conducting a pre-hot work check by a responsible person, have been followed before work can safely resume.
Question 3: What is the function of Phase I Emergency Recall Operation for an elevator during a fire alarm activation?
- It allows building occupants to use the elevator for evacuation for a period of 5 minutes.
- It sends the elevator car to the roof for firefighter access.
- It allows firefighters to manually control the elevator from inside the car.
- It automatically returns the elevator car to a designated recall level, typically the lobby, and removes it from normal service. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: It automatically returns the elevator car to a designated recall level, typically the lobby, and removes it from normal service.
Phase I Emergency Recall is a critical life safety feature that, upon activation by a fire alarm initiating device (like a smoke detector in an elevator lobby), automatically recalls the elevator car to a designated level, usually the ground floor lobby. This action prevents occupants from using a potentially unsafe elevator and makes it available for FDNY use. Phase II is the in-car operation used by firefighters.
Question 4: Which of the following alarm signals at the Fire Command Center indicates a condition that could prevent a fire protection system from operating correctly, such as a closed sprinkler control valve?
- A Fire Alarm signal
- A Trouble signal
- A Supervisory signal (Correct answer)
- A Phase II signal
Correct answer: A Supervisory signal
A Supervisory signal indicates that a system or device is in an off-normal state that could adversely affect its performance, but it is not an active fire or system fault. A common example is a tamper switch on a sprinkler control valve, which sends a supervisory signal if the valve is not in the fully open position. A trouble signal typically indicates a fault in the wiring or components of the alarm system itself.
Question 5: In a high-rise office building, a fire alarm system that includes both automatic fire detection and a two-way voice communication system for issuing instructions to occupants is classified as which type of system?
- Class A System
- Class B System
- Class J System
- Class E System (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Class E System
A Class E fire alarm system is the designation used in the NYC Fire Code for systems found in high-rise office buildings. These systems are required to feature, among other things, automatic smoke detection, manual pull stations, alarm signals, and a two-way voice communication capability to allow the FLSD and FDNY to provide instructions to occupants during an emergency.
Question 6: An FLSD is reviewing the required signage for the elevator cars in their building. A sign located in or near every elevator car must state which of the following?
- "In case of fire, use elevator to evacuate."
- "Elevator capacity: 15 persons."
- "In fire emergency, do not use elevator. Use the exit stairs." (Correct answer)
- "This elevator is for freight use only during emergencies."
Correct answer: "In fire emergency, do not use elevator. Use the exit stairs."
The NYC Building Code requires specific emergency signage in elevators to ensure occupant safety. A key requirement is a sign that clearly instructs occupants NOT to use the elevator during a fire emergency and to use the exit stairs instead. This is because elevators can malfunction, open on a fire floor, or become a trap during a fire.
F89 Fire Code Compliance Questions and Answers 1
An FLSD notices that the Fire Department Connection (FDC) for the building's standpipe system is not visible from the street.
According to NYC Fire Code, what is required in this situation?