IFSTA Inspector Flashcards
What is a discretionary act
Actions fire inspectors consider necessary to fulfill their responsibility
What is the single most important non emergency activity
Fire prevention inspections
Are federally owe need buildings required to comply with local codes
No
What three categories do fire safety regulations fall into
Regulations for construction, regulations for activities in the building after it is constructed, regulations for maintenance of building components
Here does the permit process begin
Occupant or property owner recognizing the need to get a permit.
What is the publics main contact with the fire service
Inspections and pr
What is the most important part of the inspection process
Preparation
What are the three common methods of performing an inspection
Roof to floor, basement to ceiling, follow flow of manufacturing
During a reinspect, what is inspected
Only the problem areas
How long does IFSTA recommend keeping inspection documentation
For the entire life of the building
How does heat travel
From warm to cold
What is fire resistance defined
The ability of a structural assembly to maintain its load bearing ability under fire conditions
What are doors and windows tested for?
Fire endurance and hose stream test
How do interior finishes get tested and for what
They use the Steiner tunnel test and it tests flame spread ratings
What is the smoke developed rating
It’s not the toxicity of smoke but the the visual obstruction
What is fire load
The maximum heat that cen be produced if all the combustible materials in an area burn
What is a slight fire load
Typical fire load, 5 PSF
What is a moderate fire load
Typical fire load, 10 PSF
What is moderately severe fire load
Typical fire load, 10 to 15 PSF
What is severe fire load
Typical fire load, 15 to 20 PSF
What is very severe fire load
Typical fire load, greater than 20 PSF
What are the classes of roof coverings
Class A through C, class A being the best fire retardant and class C being the least
What does a fire wall do and how is it constructed
Prevents the spread of fire within a structure. It goes from the foundation through the roof covering and extends above the roof.
What is a fire partition
A wall that has a lesser fire rating than a fire wall and only extends from one floor to the underside of the floor above or the ceiling
Which is supported by structural members, fire walls or fire partitions
Fire partitions are supported by structural members
What makes up the fire door
Fire door, door frame, closing and latching hardware, and other accessories
Fire doors that lead to exit enclosures must be
Hinged
Fire doors that are installed for life safety purposes must
Be electronically activated by the suppression or detection system to close
What type of glass is in a fire door
Wire glass
How tall must draft curtains be
At least 20 percent of the ceiling height but not extend below 10 feet from the floor
What is the maximum distance between draft curtains
Should nay exceed 8 times the ceiling height and no closer than twice the ceiling height
How are fire dampers typically activated
Fusible link
How are smoke dampers typically activated
Through the detection system
Where are smoke dampers required
Any duct that passes through smoke barrier partitions
What are the four methods of making a material fire retardant
Chemical changes, impregnation, pressure impregnation, coating
What is intumescent paint
Used on wood or wood products, swells to a puffy form and excludes oxygen, produces diligent gases, reduces production of flammable gases
What is a mastic
Thick substance sprayed or applied to wood for fire retardant reasons
What do gas forming paints do
Produce gases that displace oxygen and prevents ignition when exposed to heat
What is an amp
Quantity of electrical flow
What is voltage
Electrical pressure
What is ohms
Electrical resistance
What are common generators of static electricity
Nonconductive fluids flowing through pipes, liquids breaking into droplets and hitting solid surfaces, air gas or steam flowing from an opening, pulverized material flowing, belts in motion, moving vehicles
What four questions should an inspector ask regarding static electricity
Is there a source do static electricity, is there a conductor, will there be a spark discharge of sufficient energy, is there an ignitable mixture present
How can static electricity be prevented
Rh of 60-70, bonding and grounding, ionizing the air
What is one of the largest fire hazards in small and medium sized communities
Lumberyard
How far should stacked materials be below sprinkler heads
At least 18 inches
What is the most critical item of inspection in a warehouse
Sprinkler system
When is a fire watch required when welding
If combustible materials with 35 feet cannot be moved, or window and door openings cannot be covered within 35 feet
How long should a fire watch stay during welding
At least 30 minutes after welding has stopped
Here should portable heaters nor be placed
In the means of egress
In a hood system. How often should fusible links be replaced
Annually
What is the major cause of fires in powder coating processes
Static electricity
In a dry cleaning room how must exits be arranged
Must have at least two exits on opposite sides and one must lead directly outside
What is the best way to prevent fires in woodworking areas
Control dust and ignition sources
Ow many extinguishers must be present in a tar kettle operation
At least two within 25 feet
What are some requirements of a constructed tent
Everything must be tagged as fire retardant, minimum ten feet spacing to tent poles, straw and wood shavings must be treated, grasses must be mowed within ten feet of the tent.
Type I construction
Known as fire resistive, structural members are made of noncombustible materials
Type II construction
Referred to as non combustible, similar to type 1 but not as fire resistance
Type III construction
Ordinary construction, exterior and structural walls made of non combustible materials, all others are made of wood
Type IV construction
Heavy timber, interior structural members are made of solid or laminated wood with no concealed spaces
Type V construction
Wood frame construction
What are the nine occupancy classifications in NFPA 101
Assembly, educational, health care, detention and correction, residential, mercantile, business, industrial, storage
What defines a place of assembly
50 or more persons
What are the classes of assemblies
A is 1,000 or more, B is 300 to 1,000, C is 50 to 300
What defines an educational facility
Building for educational purposes up through the 12th grade by six or more persons, four hours a day or more than 12 hours per week
What defines a detention or correctional occupancy
Provides sleeping facilities for 4 or more residents
What defines residential occupancy
Sleeping accommodations are provided for normal residential purposes
When a small merchantile is within a larger more predominant occupancy, what does the smaller fall into
The more predominant occupancy, such as a gift shop in a hospital
What are examples of a business occupancy
Dr offices, general offices, city halls, courthouses , college classrooms with under 50 people, instructional laboratories
What defines industrial occupancy
Properties devoted to processing, assembly, mixing, packaging, finishing, decorating, or repairing
What is means of egress
Continuous and Unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in a building to a public way
What three things does means of egress consist of
Exit access, exit, and exit discharge
What is exit access
Portion of a means of egress that leads to the exit, hallway
What is an exit
Means of egress that is separated from other areas of the building, provides protected path necessary to proceed to the exterior of the building
What is the exit discharge
Means of egress that is between the exit and the public way, example is an alley that connects the exit to the street or sidewalk
Which way must the exit door open and under what circumstances
The direction of travel when 50 or people are present or the area is considered hazardous
How wide must the exit door be
At least 32 inches but no more than 48 inches
What are the weight minimums of panic hardware
Actuation of the latch should take less than 30 pounds and setting the door in motion should take less than 15 pounds
Stairway widths
Less than 50 people width is at least 36. More than 50 people width is at least 44 inches
When can horizontal exits substitute for other exits
If they don’t make up more than 50 percent of the total building exits
How wide must exit ramps be
At least 30 inches wide
Where can escalators not be located
As any part of the means of egress
What must exit lighting be
Illuminated at all times during periods of occupancy and at least 1 foot candle at floor level, no more than 100 feet of visibility to the next nearest sign, letters at least 6 inches and stroke of 3/4 of an inch
What are the three key components of an evacuation plan
Evacuation routes, monitor duties, employee duties
How often should fire drills be performed for most occupancies
At least two per year
Both automatic sprinkler systems and standpipe systems are dependent on what
Adequate water supply
Sprinkler control valves must be what
Indicating
What is the minimum residual pressure required in a water system supplying a sprinkler system
15 psi residual at the highest sprinkler
How high must the water source be that is supplying sprinklers by gravity
Bottom of the tank at least 35 feet higher than the highest sprinkler
When does the inspector operate any portion of the protection system
Never
What are the number requirements for spare sprinkler heads
1-300 heads needs 6 spares
301-1,000 heads needs 12 spares
1,001 or more heads needs 24 spares
What is a frequent cause of a sprinkler systems inability to control fires
A change in the buildings occupancy or contents
What does the retard chamber do
Allows surges of water to partially fill the chamber and then drain, eliminating false alarms
What are the inspectors primary concern when inspecting wet sprinkler systems
Valves, sprinklers, piping, water supply
Motors that power fire pumps should be started how often
Diesel engines, every week
Electric motors, every month
Ow often should the air pressure in a dry pipe sprinkler system be checked by plant personnel
Weekly
Do residential or commercial sprinklers operate faster
Residential, this is the main difference between the two
Residential sprinkler spacing
Max of 144 square feet per head, no more than 12 feet between sprinklers and no more than 6 feet from a wall
How does a water mist system suppress fire
In theory raises the humidity in a compartment to 100 percent
What is the minimum water supply in a class I and III standpipe system
500 gpm
What is the minimum riser size for class I and III standpipes
Less than 100 feet is 4 inches, greater than 100 feet is 6 inches
What is the most common fire pump motor
Electric
What are the three types of distribution systems
Gravity, direct pumping, and combination
What are the three main feeders and sizes in a distribution system
Primary feeders, 16 inch
Secondary feeders, 12 inch
Distributors, 8 inch
How often should water main valves be operated
At least once a year
What needs to happen before a flow test is started
Notify the water department official
What is the minimum residual pressure required in a water system
20 psi
What is a warning about carbon dioxide extinguishers
It is an asphyxiant, do not use in small confined spaces such as a closet
What are the two disadvantages of halon agents
Toxicity and effects on the environment
Extinguisher mounting heights
Less than 40 pounds the top of extinguisher should be no more than 5 feet from the floor
More than 40 pounds the top of the extinguisher should be no more than 31/2 feet from the floor
In no case shall the bottom be less than 4 inches from the floor
How often do extinguishers need to be inspected per OSHA
Every month
What three factors determine the value of an extinguisher
Serviceability, accessibility, users ability to operate it.
When is an automatic sprinkler system considered successful
When it controls a fire
When is a specialized extinguishing system considered successful
When it extinguishes a fire
When is a dry chemical extinguishing system used
When a rapid fire knockdown is required
When is a wet chemical extinguishing system best suited
Commercial cooking hoods, ducts, and associated cooking appliances
When is a halon extinguishing system used
Class b and c fires where a “clean” agent is required
Who can inspect halon systems
Only qualified individuals
What is the most serious problem involving carbon dioxide total flooding extinguishing system
Personnel safety
What is necessary to produce high quality fire fighting foam
Foam concentrate, water, air, mechanical agitation
What is the solution ratio of low expansion foam
7:1-20:1
What is the fluid ratio for medium expansion foam
20:1-200:1
What must a fixed foam system have
Adequate water supply, foam concentration supply, piping system, proportioning equipment, foam makers
A secondary power supply for a detection system must turn on within
30 seconds of loss of main power
What is the mounting height for fire alarm pull stations
Bottom of the box is Between 31/2 and 41/2 feet from the floor
WHat type of smoke detector responds best to which fire
Ionization best for flaming fires, slower for smoldering fires
Permenant record of detector tests should be kept on file for how long
Minimum of five years
Per IFSTA how many gallons makes a container
60 gallons or less
How many gallons makes a portable tank
More than 60 gallons
How far should tanks be spaced
At least 3 feet
How far away should LPG containers be away from flammable or combustible liquid storage tanks
At least 20 feet
How far should LPG vents be away from buildings
12 feet
What does a containment dike over 3 feet high need
A two foot wide flat section at the top
What tanks need no special fire protection features
Less than 660 gallons
What is the maximum allowable size for a safety can
5 gallons
Entry ways that lead to rooms storing containers of combustible liquids should be
Raised sill and liquid tight
Should empty and full cylinders be stored together
No
Per NFPA what is the maximum allowable gallons for LPG tanks
120,000 gallons
When storing cylinders, how many points of contact should each tank have
3 points
What does an oxidizer do when exposed to heat
Releases oxygen that accelerates the fire
What do you call a chemical that causes irreversible destruction or harm to skin tissue
Corrosive
