FIRE INSPECTOR PRACTICE EXAM:

1. The maximum spacing between sprinklers in residential

systems is:
6 feet (2 m).
12 feet (3.5 m).
20 feet (6 m).
30 feet (9 m).

2. Which guidebook is primarily a guide to aid emergency

responders in quickly identifying the hazards of materials involved
in an emergency incident?
Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG)
Hazardous Materials Information Resource System (HMIRS)
Hazardous Materials Guide for First Responders from the U.S.
Fire Administration

3. How do toxicity limits in model fire codes compare to the

Department of Transportation (DOT) and Transport Canada (TC)
regulations?
They are lower
They are higher
They are the same
Some differ; some match

4. Which verbal skill requires recognizing that the listener may

have a different point of view?
Engaging in a dual perspective
Being aware of any special needs of the receiver
Taking responsibility for personal feelings and thoughts
Showing respect for the feeling and thoughts of the other person
5. Which type of sprinkler is designed to provide increased life
safety in hotels, motels, and similar residential occupancies?
Open
Residential
Control mode specific application
Quick-response early suppression

6. All components of emergency voice/alarm systems should be

tested at least:
weekly.
monthly.
semiannually.
annually.

7. What standard requires employers to identify hazards in the

workplace and train employees how to recognize those hazards?
Military Hazard Identification Standard
UN's Hazard Communications Standard
OSHA's Hazard Communications Standard (HCS)
Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials

8. When codes require exit illumination, the illumination must be:

continuous during periods of occupancy.
continuous whether the building is occupied or unoccupied.
powered by at least two separate continuous power sources.
powered such that no single lighting unit will fail during
occupancy.

9. Which component can consist of batteries with chargers,

engine-driven generators with a storage battery, or multiple
engine-driven generators?
Initiating device
Notification appliance
Primary power supply
Secondary power supply

10. Which of the following statements about oxidizers is MOST

accurate?
Oxidizers are combustible and highly volatile.
Oxidizers are neutral and do not affect combustion.
Oxidizers are combustible and also support or enhance
combustion.
Oxidizers are not combustible but they will support or enhance
combustion.

11. Why do educational occupancies present significant

challenges for inspectors?
Risk of fire is very high
Architectural design of the building
Facilities are used for a wide variety of activities
Cannot perform inspections during school hours

12. Kitchen grease exhaust ducts require _____ fire-resistive

separation.
no
1-hour
2-hour
30-minute

13. Two main hazards associated with recycling plants include:

high fuel loads and improper storage.
bulk storage and hazardous processes.
bulk storage and limited staff presence.
hazardous processes and high fuel loads.
14. Fire protection engineers have established _____ as the
minimum required residual pressure when computing the
available water for area flow-test results.
10 psi (70 kPa)
20 psi (140 kPa)
40 psi (280 kPa)
80 psi (560 kPa)

15. The actual hose connections of a standpipe hose valve can

be located no more than:
2 feet (.6 m) from floor level.
3 feet (.9 m) from floor level.
5 feet (1.5 m) from floor level.
6 feet (1.8 m) from floor level.

16. Who is usually responsible for detailed electrical inspections?

Fire inspectors
Fire commissioner
Electrical inspectors
Electrical contractors

17. Which problem is the MOST important when it comes to

elevated tanks?
Open valves
Tanks with low levels
Expensive and intensive maintenance
Limitation of pressure available from the tanks

18. Which of the following helps prevent firefighters and

emergency responders from dealing with unknown and potentially
dangerous structural conditions?
Sender
Medium
Message
Interference

19. Which of the following refers to energy released per unit of

time as a fuel burns?
Heat release rate
Heat of reactivity
Heat of combustion
Realized heat energy

20. What is the purpose of fire department connections as part of

automatic sprinkler systems?
Protect firefighters in the structure
Allow for use of any secondary water supply
Boost the pressure of the primary water supply
Serve as a backup protection if sprinkler system fails

21. When inspecting areas that involve noisy operations, it may

be necessary to:
take notes.
use nonverbal cues.
wear hearing protection.
reschedule the inspection.

22. Which of the following is MOST likely to be a factor in means

of egress issues for occupants?
Common areas with multiple exits
Upper level outdoor decks or patios
Improperly designed or marked exits
Buildings that have remained unchanged
23. Fire loss data reveals that in buildings equipped with
automatic sprinklers, about _____ percent of all fires were
controlled or extinguished by the sprinkler system.
fifty-five
sixty-two
ninety-four
ninety-nine

24. What should an inspector do to assist an owner/occupant in

finding a solution to remedy a violation?
Nothing
Design a solution
Provide a copy of the code
Refer to the appropriate professional

25. Which of the following locking hardware should be able to be

operated by occupants setting the door in motion by applying a
force of no more than 30 pounds (15 N)?
Bolt locks
Panic hardware
Access-controlled egress
Electromagnetically locked

26. When it comes to product containment, what is one of the

greater problems inspectors will find?
The improper labeling of products
The lack of security of the products
The training requirements for personnel
The design and construction of storage tanks

27. What is another name for an intermediate bulk container

(IBC)?
Tote
Drum
Safety can
Safety cylinder

28. Which glass is MOST likely to be used in security windows

and to reduce noise transmission?
Laminated
Glass block
Fully tempered
Heat-strengthened

29. Which type of fire detection and alarm system specialty signal
indicates an off-normal condition of the complete fire protection
system?
Alert signal
Alarm signal
Trouble signal
Supervisory signal

30. The special-agent fire extinguishing system most effective on

fires in commercial cooking equipment that produces grease-
laden vapors is a:
dry powder system.
clean agent system.
dry-chemical system.
wet-chemical system.

31. Inspectors following the same sequence for similar types of

occupancies increases the:
efficiency of the paperwork.
preparedness of owner/occupants.
consistency of the inspection process.
number of inspections that can be conducted.
32. A standard is:
usually based on a code.
a developed set of principles, protocols, or procedures.
a collection of rules and regulations enacted by a legislative body.
a legal document that governs activities at various levels of
government.

33. Which type of gypsum board contains vermiculite that

expands as it is exposed to heat and allows the gypsum to
maintain its integrity?
Type A gypsum board
Type C gypsum board
Type F gypsum board
Type X gypsum board

34. Unless they are disposable, compressed gas containers are

subject to periodic testing and:
cleaning.
replacement.
maintenance.
examination.

35. What are the two methods that can be used to compute fire
flow test results?
Historical comparison
Jacobi Method and basic math
Physics and differential equations
Graphical analysis and mathematical method

36. Which type of sprinkler is installed downward from the branch

line so that water flowing from the sprinkler strikes the deflector
and is distributed over the protected area?
Flush
Pendent
Recessed
Concealed

37. What type of dead-end turnaround allows a vehicle to back

into a space and turn around?
"T"
Cul-de-sac
Alley dock
Hammerhead

38. A _____ can be installed in large, vertical overhead doors to

act as a means of egress.
sliding door
folding door
swinging door
revolving door

39. A material that is used in building construction in a nonload-

carrying capacity is:
steel.
wood.
concrete.
gypsum board.

40. Which construction material used for structural members

provides a large amount of fuel for combustion?
Wood
Steel
Masonry
Gypsum board
41. What organization has codes or standards that apply to
hazardous materials and includes Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code, Section VIII, Division 1 and 2?
UL
ICC
ASME
NFPA®

42. Under the UN system, which classification includes poison

(toxic) and poison inhalation hazard?
Class 1
Class 4
Class 6
Class 9

43. Why are wood shingles and shakes treated with fire-retardant
chemicals difficult for inspectors to identify?
Contractors fail to retain documentation.
Fire-retardant chemicals do not have odor.
Paper identification labels are not visible after installation.
Exposure to weather elements destroys identification markers.

44. Generally, exit doors used as a means of egress must be

_____ doors.
sliding
folding
swinging
revolving

45. Which method allows for calculations to be made to protect all

types of hazards, including extra hazards, with any type of piping
and any type of sprinkler discharge device?
Previous usage
Pipe schedule tables
Hydraulic calculations
Correlation of hazards

46. Who is responsible for the inspection, testing, and

maintenance of private water supply systems?
Local government
State government
Private contractor
Facility owners/occupants

47. Why is it important for fire inspectors to maintain access and

inspections of construction and demolition sites?
The conditions at these sites change frequently.
The permitting process requires constant access and inspections.
Building contractors cannot maintain business licenses without
constant inspections.
Inspectors are not expected to maintain access and inspections at
construction and demolition sites.

48. Which of the following categories of inspection MOST likely

involves responding to blocked exits?
Routine
Imminent hazard
Response to a complaint
Owner/occupant request

49. Which of the following is the main function of a stationary fire

pump?
Monitor water flow
Ensure there is an excess of supply of water
Decrease the pressure of the water that flows through it
Increase the pressure of the water that flows through it