Denver, Colorado Exams - Updated DENFA
Effective January 1, 2023, The Denver Fire Department utilizes CSA to develop and administer several local exams while also recognizing several of our standard exams used by other state and local jurisdictions. The following provides information on these exams. Contractors are responsible to verify specifically what qualifications they need from the Denver Fire Department.
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Exams Recognized by Denver, Colorado:
DENFA / FA2 - Combined Denver Fire Alarm and On-Site Competent Person [See Info below]. Updated exam is based on the 2025 NFPA 72 and 2025 Denver Amendments.
ASCR2 - Sprinkler Commercial Residential On-Site Competent Person [See "Sprinklers" page]
FEX - Fire Extinguishers [See "Extinguishers & Kitchen Hoods" page]
CKH2 - Commercial Hood Install and Service [See "Extinguisher & Kitchen Hoods" page]
KHFE2 - Kitchen Hood & Fire Extinguisher (combined FEX & CKH2 exam) [See "Extinguisher & Kitchen Hoods" page]
FPU2 - Fire Pump Installation and Service [See "Sprinklers" page]
DCONV - Elevator and Escalator Conveyance Exam {Denver Conveyance System Inspector} On Hold
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DENFA / FA2- Combined Denver Fire Alarm and On-Site Competent Person - NEW EXAM TO BE READY IN JANUARY 2026.
Review important information on the "Test Info" page common to all exams and about marking / tagging your study material.
This assessment is a combination exam incorporating Denver amendments with the FA2 - Fire Alarm On-Site Competent Person assessment. When Requesting Assessments make sure to select the option for combined assessment. If you have recently passed the FA2 exam (such as for another jurisdiction) than you will be able to register with Denver and your Denver license will expire with your FA2 expiration date. This is a grace period to be determined by Denver Fire Department. If there is any chance you will be working in Denver, you should take the combination exam.
Upon passing the combination DENFA / FA2 exam you will have satisfied the criteria for FA2 recognized by other jurisdictions. If another jurisdiction has questions about this let us know and we can reach out to them.
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Denver used to allow NICET II individuals to take only the Denver Amendments exam. This is no longer an option as the DENFA exam is required.
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Exam Fee:
Application Fee: None
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DENFA / FA2 - Denver Fire Alarm & FA2 $230 / each attempt
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Important Concepts:
The following lists some but not all materials covered on exams.
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Fire alarm related requirements of the International Building and International Fire Code
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Denver fire alarm amendments and related material identified in study guide
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Fire alarm initiation
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Notification including visual and audibility
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Detection types and spacing
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Circuit types, support, sizing
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Voltage drop with some calculations
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OSHA
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Panel clearance
Books Required:
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2024 International Fire Code
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2025 Amendments to the Building and Fire Code for the City and County of Denver (see below)
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NFPA 72 - 2025 (Handbooks are recommended)
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NFPA 70 - NEC 2020-2026 (see notes in study guide)
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Documents Required from Our Site:
Download and print these pdf documents. (click link)
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2025 Denver Amendments to IFC (condensed version for CSA exams)
FOR OLD EXAMS ONLY:​
OSHA Resources:
These are NOT allowed in exams but there will be general questions on these items. (click link)
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Recommended Study Material:
This material is not allowed in the test but may be used to better understand and/or study. CSA is not liable for the content of this material and user is responsible to verify accuracy of material to current code requirements. Taking this material into an exam may forfeit your exam and constitutes cheating.
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Audible Visible Appliance Reference Guide Published by System Sensor to help explain notification requirements between NFPA 72 and ADA.
- Differential Pressure Testing A white paper published by System Sensor to evaluate velocity of duct detectors.
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Meeting NFPA 72 Intelligibility Requirements A white paper by System Sensor about intelligibility. Has a few comments from CSA for clarification.
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Direct Visual Signaling as a Means of Occupant Notification in Large Spaces
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CSA Strobe Handout (this is included in Study Guide for exam)
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V=IR Report Voltage drop report on a research project to evaluate voltage drop and circuits. Explains what voltage drop is and how it impacts systems.
NFPA documents can be purchased from the National Fire Protection Association at www.NFPA.org. You can purchase hard copies and have them mailed to you. We recommend using NFPA handbooks when available as they contain the full standard along with additional useful images, commentary, and explanations. Before ordering, make sure you know what edition (Year) that you need. International Building and Fire Code Handbooks do not contain code content and are not recommended for CSA exams.