F-78 Inspecting, Cleaning & Testing of
Smoke Detectors
Standard provided by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) - ANS-Addresses system smoke detector is
UL268
Central station - ANS-A facility that receives alarm signals then retransmits it to the FDNY.
Nuisance alarm - ANS-An alarm caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper
installations or lack of maintenance, or alarm activated by a cause that cannot be determined.
Unnecessary alarm - ANS-An alarm signal by a fire alarm system which functioned as
designed, but for which a department response proved unnecessary.
Example: a lit cigarette in a non smoking area triggers the alarm.
Unwarranted alarm - ANS-An alarm signal triggered failed to functions as a result to improper
installation, improper maintenance, malfunctions, or other factors.
ARCS (auxiliary radio communications system) - ANS-Arcs is a wireless two way building
communication system for fire department to use only.
Can you perform a visual inspection of smoke detectors? - ANS-Yes as an F-78
Can you perform smoke detector inspection, testing and cleaning as an F-78? - ANS-Yes you
can
Fire are measured by their heat release rate, in? - ANS-KW or BTU/sec.
What type of smoke detectors are approved? - ANS-Photo electric, ionization and anything else
thats approved.
Name two reasons why smoke detectors are important? - ANS-They detect the earliest
possible stages of a fire.
Occupants can evacuate and reduce the need of people that need to be rescued.
, Ionization detectors - ANS-Use an ionization chamber and a source of ionizing radiation to
detect smoke.
Greater amount of smoke, the higher the electrical imbalance.
When current gets to low, it'll trigger the alarm.
Photoelectric detector - ANS-Are better at sensing smoky fires
What causes a nuisance alarm with a photoelectric detector? - ANS-Insects
dirt
drywall dust
And other contaminations can accumulate
Projected beam type detector - ANS-Shall be kept clear of opaque obstacles
its design stability even when normal light obscuration is present.
Photoelectric light obscuration smoke detector - ANS-light obscuration takes place because of
smoke. Reduces light and triggers alarm.
Photoelectric light scattering smoke detectors - ANS-smoke pases through the light sources
which reflect and refract onto the sensor
Multi-criteria detector - ANS-Is capable of generating one alarm signal from the detector based
on the activation of two or more sensing technologies.
Multi sensor detector - ANS-Has multiple sensors and it's a device capable of generating
multiple alarm signals from any one of the sensors employed in the design, independently or in
combination
Combination detector - ANS-A device that either responds to more than one of the fire
conditions or employs more than one operating principle to sense one of these conditions.
Example: combination of heat detector with a smoke detector; rate of ride and fixed temperature
heat detector.
Addressable system smoke detector - ANS-Provides an alarm indication to a control unit and
also signals the location of the alarm.
Intelligent system smoke detector - ANS-They send information about Smoke conditions To
control unit
Indicated location of the alarm
Smoke Detectors
Standard provided by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) - ANS-Addresses system smoke detector is
UL268
Central station - ANS-A facility that receives alarm signals then retransmits it to the FDNY.
Nuisance alarm - ANS-An alarm caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper
installations or lack of maintenance, or alarm activated by a cause that cannot be determined.
Unnecessary alarm - ANS-An alarm signal by a fire alarm system which functioned as
designed, but for which a department response proved unnecessary.
Example: a lit cigarette in a non smoking area triggers the alarm.
Unwarranted alarm - ANS-An alarm signal triggered failed to functions as a result to improper
installation, improper maintenance, malfunctions, or other factors.
ARCS (auxiliary radio communications system) - ANS-Arcs is a wireless two way building
communication system for fire department to use only.
Can you perform a visual inspection of smoke detectors? - ANS-Yes as an F-78
Can you perform smoke detector inspection, testing and cleaning as an F-78? - ANS-Yes you
can
Fire are measured by their heat release rate, in? - ANS-KW or BTU/sec.
What type of smoke detectors are approved? - ANS-Photo electric, ionization and anything else
thats approved.
Name two reasons why smoke detectors are important? - ANS-They detect the earliest
possible stages of a fire.
Occupants can evacuate and reduce the need of people that need to be rescued.
, Ionization detectors - ANS-Use an ionization chamber and a source of ionizing radiation to
detect smoke.
Greater amount of smoke, the higher the electrical imbalance.
When current gets to low, it'll trigger the alarm.
Photoelectric detector - ANS-Are better at sensing smoky fires
What causes a nuisance alarm with a photoelectric detector? - ANS-Insects
dirt
drywall dust
And other contaminations can accumulate
Projected beam type detector - ANS-Shall be kept clear of opaque obstacles
its design stability even when normal light obscuration is present.
Photoelectric light obscuration smoke detector - ANS-light obscuration takes place because of
smoke. Reduces light and triggers alarm.
Photoelectric light scattering smoke detectors - ANS-smoke pases through the light sources
which reflect and refract onto the sensor
Multi-criteria detector - ANS-Is capable of generating one alarm signal from the detector based
on the activation of two or more sensing technologies.
Multi sensor detector - ANS-Has multiple sensors and it's a device capable of generating
multiple alarm signals from any one of the sensors employed in the design, independently or in
combination
Combination detector - ANS-A device that either responds to more than one of the fire
conditions or employs more than one operating principle to sense one of these conditions.
Example: combination of heat detector with a smoke detector; rate of ride and fixed temperature
heat detector.
Addressable system smoke detector - ANS-Provides an alarm indication to a control unit and
also signals the location of the alarm.
Intelligent system smoke detector - ANS-They send information about Smoke conditions To
control unit
Indicated location of the alarm
