Fire and Smoke Alarms

Question 1

Which needs to be reset first- A manual Pull Station, or the Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)?

Answer 1

The manual Pull Station

Question 2

When can the FACP be reset?

Answer 2

Only at the direction of a Fire Department representative.

Question 3

Ionization Smoke Detector

Answer 3

Uses a very small amount of a radioactive material to ionize air between two charged plates, causing a current flow. When smoke enters the ionization chamber, the smoke is attracted to the ionized particles, which reduces the current flow and sounds the alarm.

Question 4

What can cause false alarms with an ionization smoke detector?

Answer 4

• Excessive Air velocity
• Gusts of wind
• cooking fumes
• engine exhaust
• chemical fumes

Question 5

What are the two types of Photoelectric Smoke Detectors?

Answer 5

1. Spot type
2. Projected Beam

Question 6

Spot Type Detector

Answer 6

Also referred to as light-scattering because there is a light source in the chamber that shines into the detection chamber. If there is smoke in the chamber, the light will reflect onto a photosensitive sensor, causing an alarm.

Question 7

Projected Beam Type Detector

Answer 7

Used in application where it is not practical to use spot type detectors. Common applications include use in high ceiling areas such as atriums, warehouses, stadiums, and gymnasiums.

Question 8

Air sampling smoke detector

Answer 8

Early warning detectors used in data processing centers or similar environments. These operate by having a piping network with sampling ports installed in the area to be protected. Air is drawn through this piping network back into the detection chamber where a laser is used to measure the presence of smoke in a given amount of time.

Question 9

Multi Criteria Detector

Answer 9

An initiating device that contains multiple sensors that separately respond to physical stimulus such as heat, smoke, or fire gases. This sensor is capable of generating only on alarm signal from the sensors employed in the design either independently or in combination.

Question 10

Name two reasons why it’s important to understand how smoke detecors work

Answer 10

1. installing and maintaining smoke detectors allows the detector to activate in the earliest amount of time which gives occupants more time to safely exit a building
2. Using the correct type of alarm helps reduce nuisance alarms caused by environmental conditions or occupant activities

Question 11

Which type of smoke detector uses a small amount of radioactive material to ionize the air between two charged plates?

Answer 11

Ionization Type Smoke Detector

Question 12

This type of Smoke Detector is also called a Light-Scattering Detector

Answer 12

Photoelectric Smoke Detector

Question 13

An ionization type detector can be falsely triggered by what?

Answer 13

1. High velocity wind
2. Cooking fumes
3. Engine exhaust
4. Chemical fumes

Question 14

Which type of smoke detector is best at detecting high flame fires?

Answer 14

Ionization Type Detector

Question 15

Which type of smoke detector is better at detecting high smoke fires?

Answer 15

Photoelectric Detectors

Question 16

When would you use a Projected Beam-Type Detector?

Answer 16

When it is not practical to use a spot-type detector, or high ceiling areas like atriums, warehouses, stadiums, and gymnasiums.

Question 17

This type of smoke detector prevents smoke from spreading to other parts of the building by shutting down the HVAC system.

Answer 17

Duct Smoke Detector

Question 18

What type of smoke detector is most commonly used to protect data processing centers?

Answer 18

Air Sampling Detector

Question 19

This type of detector contains multiple sensors that work together to generate one alarm signal

Answer 19

Multi-Criteria Detector

Question 20

How does a Combination Smoke Detector work?

Answer 20

It has multiple sensors that work independt from each other and can generate multiple different alarms depending on which sensor is triggered.

Question 21

This type of heat detector activates when the temperature of the room increases rapidly

Answer 21

Rate of Rise Detector

Question 22

This type of heat detector activates when the detector components melt at a prest temperature level

Answer 22

Fixed Temperature Detector