Important NFPA CFPS Exam Questions

Answer: D

Explanation:

The correct answer is D. The greatest number of civilian home fire deaths can be attributed to the common room, living room, or family room area of origin in the home. According to a report by the NFPA, based on data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and NFPA's fire experience survey, 31 percent of the civilian home fire deaths in 2017-2021 occurred in fires that started in the common room, living room, or family room. This was followed by 29 percent of the deaths in fires that started in the bedroom or sleeping area, and 12 percent of the deaths in fires that started in the kitchen or cooking area. The common room, living room, or family room area of origin is also the leading area of origin for home fires and civilian home fire injuries, accounting for 24 percent and 21 percent of those incidents, respectively. Some of the common causes of fires in the common room, living room, or family room include smoking materials, heating equipment, electrical equipment, candles, and fireplaces. To prevent fires and fire deaths in the common room, living room, or family room, the NFPA recommends the following safety tips:

Keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn. Use deep, sturdy ashtrays and wet cigarette butts before discarding them.

Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Have a qualified electrician inspect and repair any faulty wiring or outlets. Avoid overloading circuits or extension cords. Unplug appliances when not in use.

Keep candles in sturdy holders and away from children, pets, and anything that can burn. Blow them out when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Have your chimney and fireplace cleaned and inspected annually by a professional. Use a metal or glass screen to keep sparks from flying out. Dispose of ashes in a metal container with a lid, and keep it outside at least 10 feet away from your home.

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside each bedroom, and outside each sleeping area. Test them monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing a home fire sprinkler system for added protection.

Answer: C

Explanation:

The correct answer is C. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards require solid waste be treated as hazardous if it is a listed waste and/or meets the characteristics prescribed by the standard for toxicity, reactivity, corrosivity, and ignitability. A listed waste is a waste that appears on one of the four lists of hazardous wastes in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 261 subpart D1. A characteristic waste is a waste that exhibits one or more of the following traits: toxicity, reactivity, corrosivity, or ignitability2. Toxicity is the ability of a waste to leach harmful chemicals into the environment. Reactivity is the tendency of a waste to undergo violent chemical reactions or generate toxic gases. Corrosivity is the property of a waste to corrode metals or damage living tissues. Ignitability is the capacity of a waste to catch fire under certain conditions2. These characteristics are defined by specific tests and criteria in the CFR part 261 subpart C3. The EPA standards for hazardous waste are based on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which is the federal law that regulates the management of solid and hazardous waste in the United States4.

Answer: C

Explanation:

According to NFPA 72, the maximum sound pressure level (SPL) for a fire alarm system is 110 dBA at the minimum hearing distance from the audible appliance 1. However, this limit can be exceeded if the sound pressure level measured 2 000 mm above floor level is not more than 100 dBA 2. Sound pressure level is a measure of the intensity of sound at a given point in space, expressed in decibels (dB). The higher the SPL, the louder the sound. For comparison, a normal conversation is about 60 dB, a jet engine is about 140 dB, and a gunshot is about 160 dB 3. Reference: Sound Pressure Levels - NFPA; NFPA fire alarm sound level - EntirelySafe.com; Subsection 907.5 - Occupant notification systems - Casetext; How Loud Is a Fire Alarm In Decibels (dB)? With Noise Comparison Chart; The Ontario Building Code | Audibility of Alarm Systems.

Answer: C

Explanation:

The cone calorimeter is an ignition test method that exposes the specimen to a known heat flux from a tungsten-quartz heater. The cone calorimeter measures the heat release rate, mass loss rate, smoke production, and other parameters of the specimen during the test. The cone calorimeter is widely used to evaluate the flammability and fire behavior of materials and products. Reference:

NFPA 557: Standard for Determination of Fire Loads for Use in Structural Fire Protection Design, 2017 Edition, Section 5.3.2.1 1

NFPA 556: Guide on Methods for Evaluating Fire Hazard to Occupants of Passenger Road Vehicles, 2019 Edition, Section 4.3.2 2

Fire Protection Handbook, 20th Edition, Volume 1, Chapter 3, Section 3.2.2.2 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

The duration of required fire flow in public supply systems depends on the type of occupancy, construction, and exposure of the building, as well as the availability and reliability of the water supply. According to NFPA 1, Fire Code, Table 18.4.5.1.2, the minimum duration of fire flow for most occupancies ranges from 1 to 4 hours, with some exceptions for high-rise buildings, health care facilities, and special hazards. The fire flow duration is intended to provide enough water for fire suppression and exposure protection until the fire is under control or extinguished. Reference: NFPA 1, Fire Code, 2023 Edition, Section 18.4.5.1.2 and Table 18.4.5.1.2; NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, 21st Edition, Chapter 9, Section 9.2.2.