Fire Inspector
Class B rating test
every 1sq ft of fuel corresponds to every 1-B rating. Based on the principal that an expert can extinguish 2.5 times more fire than a novice
fire drills in educational facilities at what interval
every month while school is in session
what is a continuous beam?
one supported by 3 or more points
testing the wet system
open the main drain valve allowing the alarm to activate. take measurements of the water system before testing, during testing, after testing, and compare readings
ordinary frangible bulb color?
orange or red
An exhauster releases air to where?
outside atmosphere
bond
pattern in which masonry units are laid
what type of sprinker head hangs down?
pendant
wet system testing
performed monthly by in-plant inspector
most realistic view?
pictorial drawing
renderings
pictorial drawings
what are the two common types of extinguishing agents in hood systems?
potassium carbonate, potassium acetate
exhauster (dry pipe)
rapidly dumps air into the atmosphere
class 1 air filter
releases little or no gas when subjected to fire
what is ashlar masonry?
stone cut in rectangular units
Butterfly valve
the gate rotates 90 degrees IN the waterway. 1/4 turn and will have a pointer arrow that shows the position of the valve
when evaluating storage of flammable liquids, what is the least important factor?
the size of the container
mushroom cap
the tapered extensions at the top of columns which transfers loads from the floor to the column
What is boiling point?
the temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to the external pressure applied to it
interior vs exterior plywood
the type of adhesive used
Counter balanced doors
the type of doors on a freight elevator
What is the pressure in a dry pipe sprinkler system
15-20 psi above the trip point
How tall is the typical platform-frame construction building?
3 stories
what is the average gpm of horizontal shaft pumps
500-1500 gpm
what is the activation temp of an orange head sprinkler?
500-575 F (ultra-high class)
orange hydrants
500-999 gpm
What is the upper part of a truss
Chord
What is the symbol for class C fire extinguishers?
Blue circle
Hidden lines
Medium weight and composed of short dashes, they define edges and surfaces that are not visible in a particular view
What fire rating must exposed supports for above ground tanks have?
2 hours or more
apparatus extinguishers
2 rated for class BC -one dry chem w/ an 80 B:C rating -one CO2 must have a rating of at least 10 B:C 1 rated for Class A -2.5 gallon or larger water
how wide is the main drain on a 4" sprinkler riser
2"
1" = ___cm, ___mm?
2.54cm 25.4mm
air to liquid proportion in a pressurized tank
2/3 liquid to 1/3 air at 75psi
what is the rating for doors in a smoke proof enclosure
20 minutes
sq feet for sprinkler coverage (low hazard)
225 sq ft
What is the practical limit distance for a simple wood beam floor?
25 feet
what height does rack storage require sprinklers within the racks?
25 feet
what size basements require sprinklers
2500 sq ft or more
concrete takes __ days to set to its designed strength
28
what is the usual height limit for garden apartments
3 stores
what is the length of time a temporary platform may be erected for in a new assembly
30 days
occupant load for fire alarm system is required if it is
300 or greater
when a sprinkler head is supplied by a water tank, what is the required height
35' above the highest sprinkler head
who has the ultimate authority to make changes in fire codes?
AHJ
What NFPA standard covers sprinkler systems
NFPA 13
what is a common type of indicating valve?
OS and Y
what are the steps for performing the main drain test
Observe, open, Observe, close
NFPA placards
P-auto polymerization Blue- health hazards 0-4- rates hazard
Channel beam
a beam with the shape of a U or C
what is a plot plan (site plan)
a drawing showing the location of a building on its plot of land and various details of the land
what is a beam?
a horizontal structure member used between posts, columns, or walls
benchmark
a known elevation of a plot plan
chase
a passageway, usually vertical, cut into a masonry wall for a pipe or conduit
what is a gusset plate?
a piece of metal or plywood used to reinforce a joint of a truss
what is a hip rafter
a rafter that extends from an outside corner of a building to the ridge board, usually at 45degrees to the ridge
pier
a short squat column
potassium carbonate solution
a wet chem extinguishing agent
What is the simple beam
a wood joist spanning wall to wall
What temp does steel begin to fail
above 1000F
electricity measurements
amps- quantity volts- pressure ohm-resistance
what is an atrium
an opening through a series of floors for the purpose other than an enclosed stairway
a live load
any loads to a building other than a dead load
pressure relieving valves
any outlet that may have an outlet pressure greater than 100psi. NFPA 14 requires PRV limit outlet pressure to 100psi
most electrical fires are caused how?
arcs and overheating
girder
beam that supports other beams
mounting requirements for fire alarm pull boxes
bottom no less then 3.5' from the floor and no more than 5'. no more than 200' travel distance, at least one per floor in a multi story
Wythe
bricks laid so the long side is visible
Electrical arcs
caused explosions in many phases of industry. Static is a common cause
convection
causes heat and smoke to spread upward and outward within a building
What is the date used for using the in effect code when building a new occupancy?
date of plan approval
most spot welds are specified by
diameter
NFPA 70
electric code
3 types of pump drivers
electric motor diesel motor steam turbine
what is a hip jack
extends from the top plate of the building to the hip rafter
Ordinary construction
exterior weight bearing walls; has a 1 hour fire resistance rating
solid piling storage
fewer paths for fire development: contains no horizontal voids simply stacks merch cartons or cases directly on top of each other
passive fire defense
fire walls and doors (active is a sprinkler)
axial load
force that passes through the centroid of the section under consideration. It is perpendicular to the plane of the section. A structure will sustain its greatest load when the load is axial
first step in burning process
fuel and o2 mixed properly
three activating devices on sprinkler heads
fusible link glass bulb chem pellet
what should an inspector do before an inspection
gain permission to inspect the building
F rating
given to a fire stops ability to maintain integrity ounder firefighting conditions
blue hydrants
greater than 1500
standpipes are required in which buildings
greater than 75' to the highest occupied floor large one story buildings (horizontal system)
Discharge range of extinguishers
h2o-minimum effective range of 30' for 40 seconds dry chem- minimum horizontal range of 10'
bimetallic detector
heat detector with two types of metal at different heat expansion ratios (causes an arch that opens an alarm circuit) auto-resetting, but should be checked for damage
the run (stairs)
horizontal measurement
where is the annunciator panel located in a building
in an area approved by the AHJ
3 objectives of an inspectors report
inform, analyze, recommend
to water flow test sprinkler system, what is used?
inspectors test valve
booster pump
intakes from a low pressure municipal main and boosts the pressure to levels required for the fire suppression system
5 principles of inspecting
interaction with people preparing for the inspection the inspection follow up inspection maintaining paperwork
2 common smoke detectors
ionization and photo electric
what is a flitch plate girder
is made by sandwiching a piece or steel between two wooden beams
what does veneer do?
it improves the appearance of the building, non load bearing
What is the floor plan?
it is a sectional view taken on a horizontal plane 42-48" above the floor
What is used to test a wet pipe system to prevent unseating the alarm valve
it is tested with the alarm bypass valve
what temp flash point is a flammable rating
less than 100F greater than 100 F is combustible
red hydrants
less than 500gpm
Impact load
loads applied to a building for a short period of time
standpipe locations
located so any pary of the floor is within 130' reach (100 of hose and 30 stream)
how are sprinkler valves kept in the open position
locked chain, another locking mechanism, electronic detection device
Legend
me. jk. its where symbols are located on the plan. seriously though...legend...wait for it...DAIRY
HVAC is shown on?
mechanical plans
residential sprinkler systems require what size piping and what supply requirements?
min 3/4" piping, domestic water is ok if residential
clearance for sprinkler heads
minimum 18" required under the head measured from the deflector
A fire alarm must be in apartment buildings that are
more than 3 stories, more than 11 units
water supplies for systems
municipal, gravity tank, reservoir tank and pump, pressure tank
is a painting plan a common type of plan?
no
is a partition wall load bearing?
no
fire resistance rating of an exit door in buildings 3 stories or less
no less than 1 hour
Veneer wall
one made of a single vertical thickness of masonry designed to improve the exterior appearance of the building
Accelerator (dry pipe)
rapidly dumps air into the water within the system
who tests dry chem extinguisher systems?
reputable contractor
NFPA 13D
requires 18 GPM for residential sprinklers
dry chem ext disadvantage
residue is a clean up problem
what is fine aggregate usually made of?
sand
type of door required for flammable storage room?
self-closing
What type of material is halon ineffective on?
self-oxidizing
Halon system testing
semi annually
access openings to fire escapes
shall not be higher than the floor by 12 inches
what is the covering over studs?
sheathing
parallel perspective drawings
similar to oblique drawings true shape and size are shown in the front view
heat detectors
slowest type of system, very reliable due to sensitivity
jockey pump
small capacity pump with a slightly higher pressure than the main pump. used to maintain pressure in the system
common dry chem agents
sodium bicarb potassium bicarb monoammonium phosphate
chipboard
sometimes used for floors in mobile homes. Wood chips glued together to make flat sheets
stack effect
strong air flow patterns in vertical shafts of high rise structures
Halon systems
suited for delicate electrical equip not suited for deep seated class a the system should be tested semi-annually
steel has strength in ____ and _____
tension and compression
setback
term used to describe the area a building is off the property line as required by code
rebar
the # is the result of it being divided by 8. So, number 4 rebar is 4/8" if spliced by overlapping, divide overall length by size rebar Ex: #4 were specified, length x 4/8"
cold flow
the creeping or sliding apart of the fusible link of a sprinkler head. It is caused by the repeated heating of a sprinkler head to near its operating temperature
what is the chief characteristic of ordinary construction?
the exterior walls are made of masonry
truss failure
the failure of any part of a truss will cause failure of the complete truss
what is a ridge
the horizontal member at the peak of the roof. The upper ends of the rafters are connected to it
Stress and strain
the internal forces in a building which resist the load
what is diameter
the length of a line running between two points on the circle passing through the center
steiner tunnel test
the name of the test used to rate flame spread
Siding
the outer weather surface placed over sheathing
bottom chord
the part of a truss is under tension similar to a rope
dust explosions
the primary is followed by a larger secondary
what is needed to stabilize a pre-cast tilt slab wall
the roof
what is a dead load?
the weight of the building itself and any equipment permanently attached or built in
dimension lines
they extend for the length of the distance being measured. Drawn perpendicular to the extension lines
What is the purpose of the life safety code
to provide minimum requirements for life and safety from fire and similar emergencies
what are the components of a truss
top and bottom are chords, struts are compressive connecting members, connections are called panel points. struts, ties, and panel points as a group are called the web
proper order to inspect a building
top to bottom bottom to top specific plant process from beginning to end ALL THE ABOVE
Vellum
transparent paper thats used for original drawings
marble when heated
turns to chalk
what is a circuit
two ore more conductors carrying electricity from the source to the electrical device and returning
what denies educational occupancies
used for educational purposes through 12 grade by more than 5 people for more than 4 hours per day or 12 hours per week
Type M mortar
used for underground masonry
what is a sectional line
used in a sectional view to show that the material has been "cut" by the cutting planes. also called cross-hatch lines
what is a clapper valve
used to limit the flow of water to one direction, to prevent the reverse flow of water in the system.
draft curtain
used to limit the mushrooming effect of heat and smoke
pre action system
used when its important that the water damage be prevented, even if the sprinkler pipes break accidentally
NFPA 1031
Standard for professional qualifications for FIRE INSPECTOR
what are the four basic components of a dry chem extinguishing system?
Storage Nozzles Actuating Piping (SNAP_)
flammability percentage range for CO
12.5-74. ignites at 1128
aluminum melting point
1200 F
steel is ___times stronger than concrete
15 times
pressure at the highest sprinkler head in the system
15psi and 7 residual
plastic and liquid btus
16000
ordinary sprinkler head activation temp
165F
rate of rise for a class B ramp
1:8 (feet)
how many days prior to using a tar kettle must a permit be obtained
2
minimum fire resistance rating for enclosures connecting four or more stories
2 hours
What is the common scale used for floor plan s?
1/4" = 1 foot
in regards to the ordinary household lamp, what are the percentages of light and heat?
10% light 90% heat
what is the minimum clearance from combustible materials for cooking equipment?
18 inches
how many inches per person for bleacher and grandstand seating?
18inches per person
minimum distance between lpg and other flammable liquid storage tanks?
20 feet
what is the minimum rating of a door into an exit access corridor?
20 minutes
What is the max travel distance to an exit in a sprinkler protected education building?
200 feet
If sprinklers are omitted from a closet, it may not be over what size
24 sq ft
what is the minimum distance between above ground or combustible storage tanks?
3 feet
In an isometric drawing, what angles are the horizontal planes drawn above the horizon
30 degrees
What type of ID is required for bulk haz mat storage?
4 digit ID
What is the max travel distance on a landing to reach the stairs?
4 feet
A live fire watch is needed if the fire alarm system is OOS for what length of time?
4 hours or more
what is the egress minimum width from sleeping areas in health care occupancies
48 inches
how many people should be on a board of appeals
5-7
what is the distance required between explosives and the unpacking area?
50 ft
what type of electrical outlet should be installed in bathrooms?
GFCI
What is a birds mouth cut?
a cut in a rafter to make it fit flush on the top plate. It consists of the plumb cut and the seat cut
on a plan, what is a schedule
a list of details, or sizes, for building components such as doors, windows or beams. Done by the architect
What is fire resistance?
ability of a structural assembly to maintain its load-bearing ability under fire conditions
which landings have standpipe connections in scissor stairs?
alternating floors
if a straight line is not running, horizontal, or vertical, which was is it running?
an in clined line
what two materials is flame spread rating based on
asbestos cement board (0) and red oak wood (100)
Spacing distance between tanks storing class 1, 2, 3a
at least 1/6 the sum of their diameters
balconies and mezzanines with a load greater than 100 must have how any means of egress?
at least 2, same as a floor
NFPA 1 definition of highly volatile liquid
boiling point less than 68 F
Fire dampers are activated how?
by fusible links
NFPA 30
combustible and flammable liquids codes
what is means of egress
continuous and unobstructed way of travel from any point in a building or structure to a public way consisting of 3 SEPARATE AND DISTINCT PARTS.
what is the discharge size of the inspectors test connections?
equal in size to the smallest sprinkler in the system
3 parts of means of egress
exit access, exit, and exit discharge
Rate of rise detectors depend on what?
expansion characteristics of heat. They activate if temp rises 12-15 degrees per minute
Hazards of dip tank ops
fire involving vapor and air mixtures
2 types of auto roof vent designs
fusible link, drop-out type
what is a concentrated load?
loads located at one point
What is a border line?
located near edge of the sheet of drawing paper, used to separate various portions of the drawing.
How often are fire service elevators tested?
monthly
Is plate glass safety glass?
no
do fire escape stairs count as a means of egress
no
is carbon steel used for cryogenic tanks?
no
Thickness of wood used for fire stopping?
no less than 2 inches
Max travel distance for class D or class A extinguisher?
no more than 75 feet
what is the hour rating of the roof in a dry cleaning facility
not less than 1 hour
what are two methods of pre-stressing concrete
pre-tensioning (at the plant) post tensioning (at the site)
what is the most critical thing for an inspector to check in a warehouse?
sprinkler system
bricks laid lengthwise are called what course?
stretcher course
what is a lintel
support for a masonry opening, usually made of steel or special form, such as precast concrete
where in a woodworking shop is a fire most likely?
the dust hogger
what is fire load?
the max amount of heat that can be produced if all the combustible materials in a given area burn
what is an exploded pictorial drawing?
used to show the relative position of pars or construction detail, to clarify assembly
how often are pumps tested and run for standpipes?
weekly
fire-cut
when the end of a joist is cut off at an angle to permit the joist to fall out of the masonry wall without damaging the wall
where are notes placed for a welding symbol?
within the tail
What is chipboard?
wood chips glued together to make flat sheets
Is exit access permitted through dining rooms and sitting rooms
yes, not through kitchens or storage rooms
orthographic projections
are 3d
owner displays hostility the inspector should
avoid arguing,
what type of valve limits flow in one direction?
check valves
5 categories of heat energy
chem electric mechanical nuclear solar
internal pressure of extinguishers
vary from 100-850psi
standard fire test temp rises?
1000 F in 5 minutes, then 1700 F in one hour
green hydrants
1000-1499 gpm
operating psi of h2o extinguisher
100psi
occupant load factor for figuring a library reading room
50 net feet squared
CO2 generates in concealed spaces ___ times more than in the open
50 times
max height of an ordinary brick bearing wall?
6
What is the minimum height something may project from the ceiling
6'8" from the floor
a fixed storage tank
60 gallons or larger
Maximum area of theproperty a tent can cover
75%
The smallest diameter heavy timber can be is?
8 inches
cold drawn steel cables fail at?
800 f
wood and paper btus
8000
When heated to 1000F steel will expand ___ per 100 feet
9.5" fails at 1000-1100F
classes of standpipes
I- FD only II- occupants only III- FD and Occupants
what distance can a rigid beam span
100'
in a lodging or rooming house where a sleeping room is above the level of exit discharge, the primary means of escape shall be what
-enclosed stairway -horizontal exit -fire escape -exterior stair
basic PSI elevation figure
0.434 of pressure required to raise water on foot. FD rule of thumb- 5psi per floor
what is the orifice opening of a sprinkler
0.5 inch
spare head requirements
1-300 heads: 6 spares 301-1000: 12 1001+: 24
mezzanines can take up no more than ___ of the total room
1/3
thickness of a stage's trap door
1/5"
a minute
1/60 of a degree
a second
1/60 of a minute
how many days notice is required when there is a change of address on a cert of fitness?
10
public way
10' height and width required
turnstiles are treated as revolving doors if they exceed ___
39 inches
what increments does modular drawings use
4
extinguisher mounting
40lbs or less: no more than 5' above the floor from the top more than 40lbs- no higher than 3.5' the bottom may be no closer than 4" to the floor
rough cut timber will last____
5 minutes per inch in a fire
Hydrostatic testing of extinguishers
5 years for most dry chem less than 150lbs steel should be tested every 12 years
fire load in psi
5-slight 10-moderate 11-15- moderately severe 16-20- severe 20+ very severe
percent of fire doors that work?
50
structural steel W12x16 means?
Wide flange TYPE 12" NOMINAL DEPTH 16 LBS per linear foot
what is a draw back of sand-lime mortar?
water soluble
when should fire pumps be tested
weekly, done by in-plant managers
