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Detection and Alarm Systems Flashcards

7 cards from real CFPS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Detection and Alarm Systems flashcards as text

  1. Cross-zoning in a fire detection system means that an alarm is only generated when:

    Answer: At least one detector on each of two separate zones activates

    Cross-zoning requires activation of detectors from two independent zones in the same vicinity, reducing false alarms while confirming a real fire condition.

  2. A video smoke detection (VSD) system identifies smoke by analyzing:

    Answer: Pixel-by-pixel changes in visual contrast and motion patterns

    VSD algorithms process camera images in real time, detecting the optical effects of smoke—such as reduced contrast, blurring, and characteristic motion—on video frames.

  3. According to NFPA 72, a fire alarm control unit (FACU) must be capable of receiving an alarm signal and transmitting it to the monitoring station within:

    Answer: 90 seconds

    NFPA 72 requires that the signal be received at the supervising station within 90 seconds of the alarm condition being detected.

  4. A linear heat detector installed along a cable continuously measures:

    Answer: Temperature or rate-of-rise along the entire cable length

    Linear heat detectors use thermocouples, thermistors, or optical fiber to sense temperature changes along their entire length, providing detection coverage over large areas.

  5. The term 'alarm verification' in NFPA 72 refers to a feature that:

    Answer: Introduces a time delay before transmitting an alarm to reduce nuisance activations

    Alarm verification introduces a brief user-defined delay (typically 10–60 seconds) during which the panel waits to see if the detector resets before transmitting the alarm signal.

  6. A carbon monoxide (CO) detector listed under NFPA 720 and used in a fire alarm system is classified as which type of initiating device?

    Answer: Gas detector

    CO detectors sense a toxic gas (carbon monoxide) and are classified as gas detectors under the initiating device category in NFPA 72.

  7. When testing a fixed-temperature heat detector, the preferred method per NFPA 72 is:

    Answer: Using a listed heat source or calibrated heat gun

    NFPA 72 recommends using a listed heat source to test heat detectors without damaging them or creating a fire hazard, as open flames can char or destroy the device.