TFM 12 FIRE ALARM TECHNICAL STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Which sensor is best at detecting invisible smoke particles? - ✔✔Ionization
✔✔Which sensor is best at detecting thick, visible smoke particles? - ✔✔Photoelectric
✔✔What is a Spot Type Detector? - ✔✔A device in which the detecting element is
concentrated at particular location.
✔✔What is a Digital Alarm Communicator Receiver? (DACR) - ✔✔a system component
that accepts and displays signals sent over the public phone network from a DACT. (Le.
ADT Monitoring center)
✔✔What is a Digital Alarm Transmitter? (DACT) - ✔✔A system component at the
protected premises is connected to the detection devices. It has line seizure and can
connect to a DACR. (le. DSC Impassa)
✔✔What is an Alarm Signal? - ✔✔A signal indicating an emergency that requires
immediate action.
✔✔What is a supervisory signal? - ✔✔A signal that indicates the need for action in
connection with the SUPERVISION of the fire equipment.
✔✔What is a trouble signal? - ✔✔A signal that indicates a FAULT with the fire
equipment. It must have an audible signal, distinctive form alarm signals.
✔✔Does an exterior horn for a sprinkler system need to be supervised? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔Does a fire hood sprinkler system in a kitchen need to be monitored by the fire alarm
system? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔What is a cloud chamber smoke detection? - ✔✔A detector that draws an air sample
into high-humidity, low pressure chamber. The condition in the chamber cause the
moisture in the air to condense on the smoke particles, forming a cloud. The density of
this cloud is measured by a photoelectric principle, if it meets a certain criteria, an alarm
is generated.
✔✔What is a ionization smoke detector? - ✔✔A detector that uses a small amount of
radioactive material to ionize the air between two differently charge electrodes. When
smoke is present between these electrodes, it causes the conductance of the air to
decrease, and this causes the alarm to trip.
, ✔✔What is a photoelectric light scattering smoke detection? - ✔✔A detector that uses
light source and a photosensitive sensor, arranged so that light will only fall on the
sensor when smoke particles are present. The particles reflect and retract light towards
the sensor tripping the alarm.
✔✔What is important about the way trouble signals sound? - ✔✔They must be
distinctive from alarm signals.
✔✔What three procedures must be in place before it is permitted to install a means to
silence trouble/supervisory/alarm signals? - ✔✔1. The means shall be key operated and
contained within the locked enclosure.
2. The means shall transfer its audible warning visual warning.
3. The audible trouble signal shall sound when the system is set to this silent mode and
no trouble or supervisory exists.
✔✔Fire/Supervisory signals shall be __ in sound from other signals and shall not be
used for any other purpose. - ✔✔Distinctive
✔✔What code shall all wiring, cable and equipment be in accordance with? - ✔✔NFPA
70 and the national electrical code. Specifically articles 760, 770 and 800
✔✔All systems shall test free of ___, except for applications which ___ are approved -
✔✔Grounds, Grounds
✔✔So long as single open, ground or short circuit conditions do not affect the operation
of equipment, what is not needed? - ✔✔Monitoring for integrity. Such conditions must
not prevent alarm, trouble or supervisory signals being sent.
✔✔If speakers are used to generate audible fire signals, what rule must apply? -
✔✔The speaker must be monitored for integrity. Any failure should result in a trouble
signal.
✔✔In one or two family dwelling, where must smoke detectors be located? - ✔✔All
sleeping rooms, outside of each sleeping area and on all levels of the dwelling,
(including basements)
✔✔Where must spot type heat and smoke sensors be located on walls and ceilings? -
✔✔On the ceiling - not less than 4 in from the sidewalls and ceilings
On the wall- between 4in and 12in from the ceiling.
✔✔When more that one detector is used on a ceiling, what spacing measurement shall
be used? - ✔✔All points shall have a detector equal to 0.7 (70%) times listed spacing
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Which sensor is best at detecting invisible smoke particles? - ✔✔Ionization
✔✔Which sensor is best at detecting thick, visible smoke particles? - ✔✔Photoelectric
✔✔What is a Spot Type Detector? - ✔✔A device in which the detecting element is
concentrated at particular location.
✔✔What is a Digital Alarm Communicator Receiver? (DACR) - ✔✔a system component
that accepts and displays signals sent over the public phone network from a DACT. (Le.
ADT Monitoring center)
✔✔What is a Digital Alarm Transmitter? (DACT) - ✔✔A system component at the
protected premises is connected to the detection devices. It has line seizure and can
connect to a DACR. (le. DSC Impassa)
✔✔What is an Alarm Signal? - ✔✔A signal indicating an emergency that requires
immediate action.
✔✔What is a supervisory signal? - ✔✔A signal that indicates the need for action in
connection with the SUPERVISION of the fire equipment.
✔✔What is a trouble signal? - ✔✔A signal that indicates a FAULT with the fire
equipment. It must have an audible signal, distinctive form alarm signals.
✔✔Does an exterior horn for a sprinkler system need to be supervised? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔Does a fire hood sprinkler system in a kitchen need to be monitored by the fire alarm
system? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔What is a cloud chamber smoke detection? - ✔✔A detector that draws an air sample
into high-humidity, low pressure chamber. The condition in the chamber cause the
moisture in the air to condense on the smoke particles, forming a cloud. The density of
this cloud is measured by a photoelectric principle, if it meets a certain criteria, an alarm
is generated.
✔✔What is a ionization smoke detector? - ✔✔A detector that uses a small amount of
radioactive material to ionize the air between two differently charge electrodes. When
smoke is present between these electrodes, it causes the conductance of the air to
decrease, and this causes the alarm to trip.
, ✔✔What is a photoelectric light scattering smoke detection? - ✔✔A detector that uses
light source and a photosensitive sensor, arranged so that light will only fall on the
sensor when smoke particles are present. The particles reflect and retract light towards
the sensor tripping the alarm.
✔✔What is important about the way trouble signals sound? - ✔✔They must be
distinctive from alarm signals.
✔✔What three procedures must be in place before it is permitted to install a means to
silence trouble/supervisory/alarm signals? - ✔✔1. The means shall be key operated and
contained within the locked enclosure.
2. The means shall transfer its audible warning visual warning.
3. The audible trouble signal shall sound when the system is set to this silent mode and
no trouble or supervisory exists.
✔✔Fire/Supervisory signals shall be __ in sound from other signals and shall not be
used for any other purpose. - ✔✔Distinctive
✔✔What code shall all wiring, cable and equipment be in accordance with? - ✔✔NFPA
70 and the national electrical code. Specifically articles 760, 770 and 800
✔✔All systems shall test free of ___, except for applications which ___ are approved -
✔✔Grounds, Grounds
✔✔So long as single open, ground or short circuit conditions do not affect the operation
of equipment, what is not needed? - ✔✔Monitoring for integrity. Such conditions must
not prevent alarm, trouble or supervisory signals being sent.
✔✔If speakers are used to generate audible fire signals, what rule must apply? -
✔✔The speaker must be monitored for integrity. Any failure should result in a trouble
signal.
✔✔In one or two family dwelling, where must smoke detectors be located? - ✔✔All
sleeping rooms, outside of each sleeping area and on all levels of the dwelling,
(including basements)
✔✔Where must spot type heat and smoke sensors be located on walls and ceilings? -
✔✔On the ceiling - not less than 4 in from the sidewalls and ceilings
On the wall- between 4in and 12in from the ceiling.
✔✔When more that one detector is used on a ceiling, what spacing measurement shall
be used? - ✔✔All points shall have a detector equal to 0.7 (70%) times listed spacing
