Free NFPA CFPS Practice Exam with Questions & Answers

The data of a pre-incident plan should be evaluated after an incident, as part of the post incident critique or analysis. This is to assess the accuracy, completeness, and usefulness of the pre-incident plan, and to identify any changes or updates needed based on the lessons learned from the incident.Evaluating the pre-incident plan after an incident can also help improve the emergency response performance and the fire safety management of the site.References:123

Spontaneous combustion is the exception to the requirement of a combustible material, an oxidizing agent, and an ignition source for combustion to take place. Spontaneous combustion is a phenomenon in which a material can ignite without any external heat or flame, due to a chemical reaction within the material that generates enough heat to reach the ignition temperature. Spontaneous combustion can occur in certain materials that are prone to self-heating, such as oily rags, hay, coal, and compost. Spontaneous combustion is a type of smoldering combustion, which is a slow, low-temperature, flameless form of combustion.References:

• Fire Protection Handbook, 20th Edition, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Section 2.2.1.11
• NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, 2021 Edition, Section 4.3.12

According to NFPA 72-2023, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, sound meters used to test notification appliances in fire alarm systems shall comply with ANSI S1.4-1983 (R2006), Specification for Sound Level Meters, or ANSI S1.42-2001 (R2007), Design Response of Weighting Networks for Acoustical Measurements. These standards are equivalent to IEC 61672-1:2002, Electroacoustics – Sound Level Meters – Part 1: Specifications. The sound meters shall also have a frequency range that includes at least 100 Hz to 10 kHz and a dynamic range that includes at least 45 dB to 120 dB12

References:

• NFPA 72-2023: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, Section 18.4.5.21
• Testing fire alarm sounders to BS EN 5839 - NoiseNews2

Computers and other information technology equipment are particularly susceptible to heat, steam, and combustion products, which can damage their sensitive components, cause data loss or corruption, and impair their functionality.Therefore, fire protection for IT equipment should consider the potential sources of heat, steam, and combustion products, such as electrical faults, flammable liquids, dust accumulation, water-based sprinklers, or smoke from adjacent areas, and implement appropriate measures to prevent, detect, and suppress fires, as well as to minimize the exposure of IT equipment to these hazards1234.References:Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technology Equipment;Fire Protection of Computer Rooms—Legal Obligations and Best Practices - ISACA;Exploring Requirements for Information Technology Equipment;Demystifying IT room protection requirements - Consulting.

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Typical fire pump drivers reach maximum brake horsepower (BHP) between 140% and 170% of rated capacity, depending on the type and size of the pump. This means that the driver must be able to provide enough power to operate the pump at its peak efficiency point, which is usually beyond the rated capacity. The rated capacity is the flow rate at which the pump is designed to deliver a certain pressure, as specified by NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection. The maximum BHP is the highest power output required by the pump at any point on its performance curve. The driver must be sized to match the maximum BHP of the pump, with some allowance for service factor and safety margin.References:Understanding the Basics of Fire Pumps | Pumps & Systems;How are Engines and Motors Sized for Fire Pumps?; NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, 2023 Edition, Chapter 4, Section 4.7.

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 ofashes 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.

A rate-of-rise heat detector is a type of heat detector that automatically resets after operation, when the ambient temperature drops below the operating temperature. This is because a rate-of-rise heat detector operates on a rapid rise in element temperature of 6.7° to 8.3°C (12° to 15°F) increase per minute, irrespective of the starting temperature1 If the temperature rise stops or reverses, the detector will reset itself and stop sending an alarm signal to the control panel2 A rate-of-rise heat detector can also have a fixed temperature element that will trigger an alarm at a specified temperature, but this element is not self-resetting and requires replacement after activation2

References:

• Heat Detectors Selection Guide: Types, Features, Applications - GlobalSpec2
• Heat detector - Wikipedia1

Cellulose nitrate products begin to decompose at about 300 °F (150 °C). This is the temperature at which the nitrate ester bonds start to break down and release nitric acid, which further catalyzes the decomposition. The decomposition temperature depends on the nitrogen content, the stabilizers, and the external heating rate of the cellulose nitrate. Higher nitrogen content, lower stabilizer concentration, and faster heating rate lower the decomposition temperature and increase the risk of thermal runaway.

References:Nitrocellulose - Wikipedia;Comparative analysis of stable decomposition and combustion kinetics of nitrated cellulose;Degradation of aged nitrocellulose investigated by thermal analysis methods;Nitrocellulose;Effect of stabilizers and nitrogen content on thermal properties of nitrocellulose

The coefficient of discharge of a fire hydrant when the outlet is smooth and well-rounded is 0.90. This is the highest coefficient given by NFPA 291 for fire hydrant outlets, and it means that the stream is almost as large as the outlet diameter. The coefficient of discharge is a factor that accounts for the difference between the actual flow and the theoretical flow from an orifice, based on the shape and condition of the outlet1. A lower coefficient means that the stream is more restricted and has a smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet. NFPA 291 provides three coefficients for fire hydrant outlets, depending on how the outlet projects into the barrel: 0.90 for smooth and well-rounded outlets, 0.80 for outlets with a hexagonal or square projection, and 0.70 for outlets with a long projection or adamaged edge2. The coefficient of discharge is used to calculate the flow rate from the pitot pressure measured at the centerline of the stream3. References:

• Fire Fighting Foams - Chemguard
• Guide to Hydrant Flow Testing | WSRB
• New Fire Hydrant Flow Test Charts (PDF) - MeyerFire

The correct answer is C. A thermocouple is a temperature measurement device that consists of a pair of wires of different metals or alloys welded together at a point to form a junction. The junction is exposed to the temperature to be measured, while the other end of the wires is connected to a reference junction at 0°C. The thermocouple produces a voltage difference between the two junctions that depends on the temperature difference.This voltage difference can be calibrated to give the temperature in degrees using a thermocouple table or a formula123