Texas Residential Fire Alarm (v17.3)

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering regulations, codes, installation standards, and definitions from the Texas Residential Fire Alarm examination.

Functional Test

The test required to be performed upon completing preventative or corrective maintenance before leaving the customer's premises.

Listed

A term indicating that an item shares certain qualities and meets certain tests.

White Label

A label used to indicate installation of service.

Red Label

A label required for a fire alarm system found to be defective or inoperable.

Blue Label

A label that must remain attached to a system for at least 5 years.

ESA Minimum Installation Standard (Circuit Wiring)

Standard specifying that all circuit wiring shall have conductors not smaller than #22 AWG.

UL 985

The standard for residential fire alarm system panels, allowing household control panels to combine fire alarm and security alarm functions.

System Maintenance Responsibility (NFPA 72)

According to NFPA 72, the customer is the person or persons responsible for keeping a residential fire alarm system in good working order once installed.

Photoelectric Smoke Detectors (Residential Types)

The two primary types of photoelectric smoke detectors utilized in homes: light scattering and light obscuration.

NFPA 72 Chapter 29

The primary starting point chapter in NFPA 72 for single- and multiple-station alarms and household fire alarm systems, which may refer the user to other chapters for specific rules.

FPL

The required wire rating for fire wire used on a residential fire alarm system.

Smoke Alarms

Self-contained units powered by springs, batteries, or AC with dry cell standby battery, intended to be either stand-alone or interconnected to each other.

Fire Alarm Grounding Exemption

Grounding is not required for alarm systems operating at less than 50 volts, unless explicitly specified by the manufacturer.

Side Wall Smoke Detector Mounting (NFPA 72)

Mounting requirement stating that some portion of the smoke detector must be at or above the point 12 inches below the ceiling level.

Peaked or Sloped Ceiling Smoke Detector Mounting (NFPA 72)

Requirement stating that devices must be placed within 3 feet of the peak horizontally, but no closer than 4 inches to the top of the peak.

Ceiling Jet

The lateral spread of rising heat and smoke along a ceiling after reaching the highest level of a room during a fire.

International Building Code (IBC)

A code that defines minimum regulations and is founded on broad-based principles that enable the use of new materials.

Factory Mutual

An organization that reviews product safety and verifies that products will meet stated conditions of performance and quality.

Overcurrent Protection (Non-Power-Limited Systems)

Protection standard requiring no more than 7 amps for 18 AWG conductors, and 10 amps for 16 AWG conductors.

Heat Detector Types

Fire detection device categories that include rate-of-rise, rate compensation, and fixed temperature mechanisms (ionization is a smoke detection principle, not heat).

Forced Air Supply Register Clearance (NFPA 72)

Spacing rule mandating that a smoke detector must not be mounted within 36 inches of a forced air supply register.

Split-Level Home Detection Requirement

NFPA 72 guideline driving the requirement for additional smoke detection between levels if there is an intervening door between the levels.

NFPA 70

The National Electrical Code (NEC).

Power-Limited Fire Alarm Cable Minimum Size

National code specification requiring that individual cables used in power-limited fire alarm systems cannot be smaller than 18 AWG.

Any arrangement of materials whose sole function is to detect fire, smoke, or combustion.

Fire Detection Device