Fire Alarm Assessments
FA2 - Fire Alarm On-Site Competent Person
Review important information on the "Test Info" page common to all exams and about marking / tagging your study material.
This assessment is generally intended for installers of fire alarm systems. Questions focus heavily on notification, detection, obstructions, spacing, circuits, survivability, acoustic levels /loss, wire resistance / size, and voltage drop. The focus on voltage drop is not to design systems, but to understand the impact that voltage drop has on a system and how to avoid it. Questions will also address NFPA 70 criteria for panel clearance, circuit types, support of circuits, raceways, and more. OSHA criteria on Lock-Out-Tag-Out is also touched on.
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If you will be working in Denver, Colorado you need the Combination DENFA / FA2 exam.
Exam Fee:
Application Fee: None
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FA2 - Fire Alarm Competent On-site Person $180 / each attempt
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Important Concepts:
The following lists some but not all materials covered on exams.
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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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NFPA 72, 2019 Edition (Handbook Recommended)
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NFPA 70, (any edition between 2008 and 2020 will have applicable information)
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For Denver, see DENFA/FA2
Documents Required from Our Site:
Download and print these pdf documents. (click link)
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FA4 - Fire Alarm Business Representative
Review important information on the "Test Info" page common to all exams and about marking / tagging your study material.
This assessment is generally intended for business representatives of fire alarm systems as required by some jurisdictions for business owners / partners. Questions focus heavily on notification, detection, obstructions, spacing, circuits, survivability, acoustic levels /loss, wire resistance / size, and voltage drop. The focus on voltage drop is not to design systems, but to understand the impact that voltage drop has on a system and how to avoid it. Questions will also address NFPA 70 criteria for panel clearance, circuit types, support of circuits, raceways, and more. OSHA criteria on Lock-Out-Tag-Out is also touched on.
This exam also includes material from the International Building Code (IBC). Including material on access control and fire alarm interface, where fire alarms are required, and other specific fire alarm requirements of the IBC that are often overlooked by fire alarm companies.
Exam Fee:
Application Fee: None
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FA4 - Fire Alarm Business Representative $210 / each attempt
​
Important Concepts:
The following lists some but not all materials covered on exams.
​
-
Notification including visual and audibility
-
Detection types and spacing
-
Circuit types, support, sizing
-
Voltage drop with some calculations
-
OSHA
-
Panel clearance
-
IBC
Books Required:
-
NFPA 72, 2019 Edition (Handbook Recommended)
-
NFPA 70, (any edition between 2008 and 2020 will have applicable information)
-
International Building Code (IBC) either 2015 or 2018 edition [not IBC handbook]
Documents Required from Our Site:
Download and print these pdf documents. (click on link)
OSHA Resources:
These are NOT allowed in exams. (click link)
Other Optional Study Material:
This material is not allowed in the test, but may be used to better understand and/or study.
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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.
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Audible Visible Appliance Reference Guide Published by System Sensor to help explain notification requirements between NFPA 72 and ADA.
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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.
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.