Rev. 11-07-13
FIRE DEPARTMENT ● CITY OF NEW YORK
STUDY MATERIAL FOR THE EXAMINATION FOR
THE CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS FOR
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS INSPECTION, TESTING AND SERVICE
TECHNICIAN
S-98
ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS BOOKLET YOU WILL FIND THE FOLLOWING:
NOTICE OF EXAMINATION (NOE)
© 8/2012 New York City Fire Department - All rights reserved ®
1
,Rev. 11-07-13
Table of Contents
NOTICE OF EXAMINATION .......................................................................................... 4
STUDY MATERIAL AND TEST DESCRIPTION................................................................ 6
PART 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 7
PART 3. RECORD KEEPING .................................................................................... 12
PART 4. OUT OF SERVICE PROTOCOLS .................................................................. 12
PART 5. INSPECTION, TESTING AND OTHER MAINTENANCE................................. 15
PART 6. REFERENCE MATERIALS .......................................................................... 17
6.1 Fire Code........................................................................................................... 17
6.1.1 Section FC 901 – General......................................................................................... 17
6.1.2. Section FC 907 – Fire Alarm & Detection systems ................................................... 21
6.2 Fire Rules ......................................................................................................... 24
6.2.1. Section § 105-01 Approval of Fire Alarm System Installations ................................ 24
6.2.2. Section § 907-01 Fire Alarm Recordkeeping, Smoke Detector Maintenance, Testing
and Recordkeeping, and the Prevention of Unnecessary and Unwarranted Fire Alarms ..... 26
6.3 FD Information Bulletin (Fire Alarm Inspection Unit) ..................................... 31
6.4 NFPA 72-2002 National Fire Alarm Code .......................................................... 31
6.5 NYC Electrical Code .......................................................................................... 32
6.5.1 EC SECTION 760.33 .............................................................................................. 32
6.5.2 EC SECTION 760.41 .............................................................................................. 32
6.5.3 EC SECTION 760.49 .............................................................................................. 34
6.5.4 EC SECTION 760.131 ............................................................................................. 35
6.5.5 EC SECTION 760.142............................................................................................. 35
6.5.6 EC SECTION 760.179 ............................................................................................. 36
6.6 NYC Building Code ............................................................................................ 37
6.7 Unit Measurement and Formulas ..................................................................... 37
6.8 Resistor Color Code .......................................................................................... 38
2
,Rev. 11-07-13
NOTICE OF EXAMINATION
Title: Examination for Certificate of Fitness for Fire Alarm Systems
Inspection, Testing and Service Technician (S-98).
Date of Test: Written tests are conducted Monday through Friday (except legal
holidays) 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Applicants must have a reasonable understanding of the English language.
3. Applicant must provide two forms of identification, at least one identification
must be government issued photo identification, such as a State-issued
Drivers’ License or Non Drivers License or a passport.
4. Applicants must be employed by an FDNY S-97 certified employer.
Applicants must present a letter of recommendation from his/her employer.
The letter must be on official letterhead, and must state the applicant’s full
name, experience and the address where the applicant will work.
5. Applicants must provide proof of at least three (3) years of full-time
experience in the programming, testing, inspection or servicing of fire alarm
systems and signed by his/her current S-97 certified employer. The current
employer is responsible for verifying the applicants’ working experience.
6. Applicants are limited to hold one S-97 or S-98 per company. The FDNY may
allow more than one of each certificate (S-97 or S-98). The ONLY exception
may be if the additional company is owned by the same principal(s). The
applicant must submit a notarized, letterhead correspondence stating all
pertinent information regarding the related ownership of the companies. The
FDNY may require further proof of ownership.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Application Fees: $25 for originals and $15 for renewals. The fee may be
paid by cash, money order, credit card, debit card or personal check made
payable to the New York City Fire Department. The $25 fee must be paid by
all applicants prior to taking the Certificate of Fitness test.
Application Forms: Application forms are available at the Public Certification
Unit, 1st floor, 9 Metro Tech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
FDNY will require continuing education or NICET recertification upon renewal.
FDNY also reserves the right to require the applicants to take a re-examination
upon submission of renewal applications.
You will receive a courtesy notice of renewal 90 days before the expiration date.
However, it is your responsibility to renew your certificate. It is very important to
renew your c of f before it expires.
3
, Rev. 11-07-13
For renewal, send the renewal notification or a letter stating the C of F # with a fee
of $15, money order or personal check payable to “Fire Department City of New
York“ to:
FDNY (Cashier’s Unit)
9 MetroTech Center,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Late renewals (90 days after the expiration date, up to 1 year) will incur a $ 25
penalty in addition to the renewal fee. Certificates expired over one year past
expiration date will not be renewed. New tests will be required.
FDNY also reserves the right to require the applicants to take a re-examination
upon submission of renewal applications.
TEST INFORMATION
The test will consist of 80 multiple-choice questions, administered on a “touch
screen” computer monitor. It is a time-limit test. A passing score of at least 70% is
required in order to secure a Certificate of Fitness. It is critical that you read
AND understand the S-98 booklet and NFPA 72 (2002) before taking the test
to help increase your chance of passing this exam. For additional information
and forms please call 718-999-1988/2504 or go to the website ww.nyc.gov/FDNY.
Special material provided during the test: A copy of relevant sections of NFPA 72
(2002) and a calculator will be provided during your test. This study material,
however, will NOT be provided during your test.
WEBSITE
Please always check for the latest revised booklet at FDNY website before you take
the test, the Certificate of Fitness Study Material link, below
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/c_of_f/cof_study_materials.shtml
4
FIRE DEPARTMENT ● CITY OF NEW YORK
STUDY MATERIAL FOR THE EXAMINATION FOR
THE CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS FOR
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS INSPECTION, TESTING AND SERVICE
TECHNICIAN
S-98
ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS BOOKLET YOU WILL FIND THE FOLLOWING:
NOTICE OF EXAMINATION (NOE)
© 8/2012 New York City Fire Department - All rights reserved ®
1
,Rev. 11-07-13
Table of Contents
NOTICE OF EXAMINATION .......................................................................................... 4
STUDY MATERIAL AND TEST DESCRIPTION................................................................ 6
PART 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 7
PART 3. RECORD KEEPING .................................................................................... 12
PART 4. OUT OF SERVICE PROTOCOLS .................................................................. 12
PART 5. INSPECTION, TESTING AND OTHER MAINTENANCE................................. 15
PART 6. REFERENCE MATERIALS .......................................................................... 17
6.1 Fire Code........................................................................................................... 17
6.1.1 Section FC 901 – General......................................................................................... 17
6.1.2. Section FC 907 – Fire Alarm & Detection systems ................................................... 21
6.2 Fire Rules ......................................................................................................... 24
6.2.1. Section § 105-01 Approval of Fire Alarm System Installations ................................ 24
6.2.2. Section § 907-01 Fire Alarm Recordkeeping, Smoke Detector Maintenance, Testing
and Recordkeeping, and the Prevention of Unnecessary and Unwarranted Fire Alarms ..... 26
6.3 FD Information Bulletin (Fire Alarm Inspection Unit) ..................................... 31
6.4 NFPA 72-2002 National Fire Alarm Code .......................................................... 31
6.5 NYC Electrical Code .......................................................................................... 32
6.5.1 EC SECTION 760.33 .............................................................................................. 32
6.5.2 EC SECTION 760.41 .............................................................................................. 32
6.5.3 EC SECTION 760.49 .............................................................................................. 34
6.5.4 EC SECTION 760.131 ............................................................................................. 35
6.5.5 EC SECTION 760.142............................................................................................. 35
6.5.6 EC SECTION 760.179 ............................................................................................. 36
6.6 NYC Building Code ............................................................................................ 37
6.7 Unit Measurement and Formulas ..................................................................... 37
6.8 Resistor Color Code .......................................................................................... 38
2
,Rev. 11-07-13
NOTICE OF EXAMINATION
Title: Examination for Certificate of Fitness for Fire Alarm Systems
Inspection, Testing and Service Technician (S-98).
Date of Test: Written tests are conducted Monday through Friday (except legal
holidays) 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Applicants must have a reasonable understanding of the English language.
3. Applicant must provide two forms of identification, at least one identification
must be government issued photo identification, such as a State-issued
Drivers’ License or Non Drivers License or a passport.
4. Applicants must be employed by an FDNY S-97 certified employer.
Applicants must present a letter of recommendation from his/her employer.
The letter must be on official letterhead, and must state the applicant’s full
name, experience and the address where the applicant will work.
5. Applicants must provide proof of at least three (3) years of full-time
experience in the programming, testing, inspection or servicing of fire alarm
systems and signed by his/her current S-97 certified employer. The current
employer is responsible for verifying the applicants’ working experience.
6. Applicants are limited to hold one S-97 or S-98 per company. The FDNY may
allow more than one of each certificate (S-97 or S-98). The ONLY exception
may be if the additional company is owned by the same principal(s). The
applicant must submit a notarized, letterhead correspondence stating all
pertinent information regarding the related ownership of the companies. The
FDNY may require further proof of ownership.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Application Fees: $25 for originals and $15 for renewals. The fee may be
paid by cash, money order, credit card, debit card or personal check made
payable to the New York City Fire Department. The $25 fee must be paid by
all applicants prior to taking the Certificate of Fitness test.
Application Forms: Application forms are available at the Public Certification
Unit, 1st floor, 9 Metro Tech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
FDNY will require continuing education or NICET recertification upon renewal.
FDNY also reserves the right to require the applicants to take a re-examination
upon submission of renewal applications.
You will receive a courtesy notice of renewal 90 days before the expiration date.
However, it is your responsibility to renew your certificate. It is very important to
renew your c of f before it expires.
3
, Rev. 11-07-13
For renewal, send the renewal notification or a letter stating the C of F # with a fee
of $15, money order or personal check payable to “Fire Department City of New
York“ to:
FDNY (Cashier’s Unit)
9 MetroTech Center,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Late renewals (90 days after the expiration date, up to 1 year) will incur a $ 25
penalty in addition to the renewal fee. Certificates expired over one year past
expiration date will not be renewed. New tests will be required.
FDNY also reserves the right to require the applicants to take a re-examination
upon submission of renewal applications.
TEST INFORMATION
The test will consist of 80 multiple-choice questions, administered on a “touch
screen” computer monitor. It is a time-limit test. A passing score of at least 70% is
required in order to secure a Certificate of Fitness. It is critical that you read
AND understand the S-98 booklet and NFPA 72 (2002) before taking the test
to help increase your chance of passing this exam. For additional information
and forms please call 718-999-1988/2504 or go to the website ww.nyc.gov/FDNY.
Special material provided during the test: A copy of relevant sections of NFPA 72
(2002) and a calculator will be provided during your test. This study material,
however, will NOT be provided during your test.
WEBSITE
Please always check for the latest revised booklet at FDNY website before you take
the test, the Certificate of Fitness Study Material link, below
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/c_of_f/cof_study_materials.shtml
4
