16a - Fire Detection, Alarms, & Suppression Systems - IG

FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS
MISSOURI DIVISION
OF
FIRE SAFETY FIRE FIGHTER I & II
UNIT OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this unit of study, the student should be able to:
1. Identify supervisory alarm equipment and demonstrate action to take upon
receipt of an alarm according to local operating conditions.
2. Identify the various types of detection devices used in fire detection systems.
3. Identify the components of an automatic sprinkler system and their functions.
4. Identify the major sprinkler systems and describe their operation.
5. Identify the actions required for fire department support of an automatic sprinkler system.
6. Connect a fire department pumper to the fire department connection for a
sprinkler system.
7. Demonstrate the procedure to temporarily stop the flow of water from a sprinkler head.
8. Identify and demonstrate the procedures for inspecting an automatic sprinkler
system in order to determine the systems state of readiness.
Fire Detection, Alarm, & Suppression Systems - 1

MISSOURI DIVISION
OF
NFPA STANDARDS
Successful completion of the information in this section is necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the following sections of NFPA 1001-2008:
Fire Fighter I Standard
5.3.14 Conserve property as a member of a team, given salvage tools and equipment and an
assignment, so that the building and its contents are protected from further damage.
(A) Requisite Knowledge. The purpose of property conservation and its value to the
public, methods used to protect property, types of and uses for salvage covers, operations
at properties protected with automatic sprinklers, how to stop the flow of water from an
automatic sprinkler head, identification of the main control valve on an automatic sprinkler
system, and forcible entry issues related to salvage.
(B) Requisite Skills. The ability to cluster furniture; deploy covering materials; roll and
fold salvage covers for reuse; construct water chutes and catch-alls; remove water; cover
building openings, including doors, windows, floor openings, and roof openings; separate,
remove, and relocate charred material to a safe location while protecting the area of origin
for cause determination; stop the flow of water from a sprinkler with sprinkler wedges or
stoppers; and operate a main control valve on an automatic sprinkler system.
Fire Fighter II Standard
6.5.3* Prepare a preincident survey, given forms, necessary tools, and an assignment, so
that all required occupancy information is recorded, items of concern are noted, and
accurate sketches or diagrams are prepared.
(A) Requisite Knowledge. The sources of water supply for fire protection; the
fundamentals of fire suppression and detection systems; common symbols used in
diagramming construction features, utilities, hazards, and fire protection systems;
departmental requirements for a preincident survey and form completion; and the
importance of accurate diagrams.
(B) Requisite Skills. The ability to identify the components of fire suppression and
detection systems; sketch the site, buildings, and special features; detect hazards and
special considerations to include in the preincident sketch; and complete all related
departmental forms.
2 - Fire Detection, Alarm, & Suppression Systems

MISSOURI DIVISION
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TEACHING OUTLINE
SLIDES
Material in italics is NOT included in the Student Manual
I. Fire Detection, Alarm, and Suppression Systems

A. Fire detection, alarm, and suppression systems are
installed to:
1. Notify occupants to escape a fire
2. Summon emergency responders
3. Initiate fire control and suppression systems and

sound an alarm
4. Supervise suppression systems for operational

status
5. Initiate environmental and utility controls
B. Fire fighters must understand the various types of fire

protection systems which may be encountered in different occupancies and
1. How these systems function
2. Their role when these systems function in an emergency
II. Types of Alarm Systems (Essentials p. 826)

A. Protected premises fire alarm systems
1. Also known as "local warning systems"
2. Designed to be initiated manually by pull stations
3. Installed in small schools and public properties
4. Designed to only alert the building's occupants

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5. Does not notify the fire department
6. Automatic detection devices may be added to the

system to detect a fire and initiate the signal
B. Heat detectors
1. Respond to the thermal energy of a fire
a. Typically the slowest type of system to activate
b. Activate at a predetermined temperature or

when a specified temperature rate of rise occurs
c. Used in areas unoccupied or environmentally

unsuitable for application of smoke detectors
d. Typically used as a property protection device
2. Fixed temperature heat detectors

a. Activate when heated to the rated temperature,
usually 135oF or higher
b. In a large area, a fire could burn for some time

without activating a fixed-temperature detector
c. Fusible devices/frangible bulbs

(1) Operate identically to fusible links or
frangible bulbs used in automatic sprinkler
systems
(2) To restore a fusible device/frangible bulb

detector, the entire detector must be
replaced

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(3) Many of these devices are still in service,

however, they are no longer manufactured
(4) A fusible device is held in place with

solder with known melting (fusing) temperature
(5) When the temperature rises to the fusing

temperature, the solder melts, and a spring
closes the contact points
(6) The action completes the circuit and initiates the alarm signal
(7) A frangible bulb holds the electrical contacts apart like a fusible link does
(8) The bulb is a small glass vial containing a
liquid with a small air bubble
(9) When the rated temperature is reached, the
bulb fractures and falls out and the contacts
complete the circuit to initiate the alarm
d. Continuous line detector

(1) Designed to detect heat over a linear area
parallel to the detector
(2) Used to protect long cable channels
(3) One type is a cable with a conductive metal

inner core sheathed in stainless steel tubing
(a) The core and sheathing are separated by
an insulating material

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(b) At a predetermined temperature, the

insulation loses some of its electrical
resistance
(c) The current flow between the core and

sheathing increases and initiates the
alarm
(4) Another system uses two insulated wires

with an outer covering
(a) When the rated temperature is reached,

the insulation melts and the wires touch
(b) The circuit is then completed and the

alarm initiated
e. Bimetallic element detector

(1) Uses two metals with different heat expansion rates
(2) When heated, one metal expands faster,

causing the strip to bend
(3) The deflection makes or breaks the circuit

causing alarm activation
(4) Most bimetallic detector reset automatically when cooled
3. Rate-of-rise heat detectors

a. Operates on the assumption that the temperature
from a fire will increase faster than normal
atmospheric heating
b. Designed to operate when the temperature rise

exceeds 12oF to 15oF in one minute

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c. Most are reliable and not subject to false

activations
d. Automatically reset if undamaged
e. Pneumatic rate-of-rise spot detector

(1) Most common type of rate-of-rise detector
used
(2) Consists of a dome-shaped air chamber

with a flexible metal diaphragm in the base
(3) A small hole allows air to enter and exit the
chamber during normal temperature changes
(4) During a fire, the air in the chamber expands faster than it can escape
(5) The expansion causes the pressure in the

chamber to increase and forces the metal
diaphragm against the contact points, initiating the alarm
f. Rate-compensated detector
(1) Consists of an outer metallic sleeve housing
two bowed struts with slower expansion
rates than the sleeve
(2) When heated rapidly, the outer sleeve

expands in length
(3) The tension is reduced on the inner strips

causing the contacts to come together

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C. Smoke detectors/alarms
1. Smoke detectors
a. Typically installed in nonresidential and multifamily occupancies
b. Detect smoke and transmit a signal to another
device that sounds the alarm
2. Smoke alarms
a. Installed in single-family dwellings
b. Self-contained unit capable of detecting smoke
and sounding an alarm
3. Photoelectric smoke detectors

a. Also called a "visible products-of-combustion
detector"
b. Use a photoelectric cell coupled with a small

light source
c. Generally more sensitive to smoldering fires

than ionization detectors
d. Beam application type

(1) A beam of light is focused onto a photoelectric cell which converts the beam into
an electric current
(2) When smoke obscures the light beam, the

amount of current is reduced and an alarm
sounds

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e. Refractory photocell type

(1) A light beam passes through a small chamber away from the light source
(2) The light does not strike the photocell and

no current is produced
(3) When smoke enters the chamber, the light

beam is refracted in all directions and
strikes the photocell, activating the alarm
4. Ionization smoke detectors

a. Tiny particles and aerosols are produced during
combustion
b. These particles can be detected by devices

using a small amount of radioactive material to
ionize air molecules as they enter the detector
c. The ionized air particles allow an electrical

current to flow between plates in the ionization
chamber
d. When smoke enters the chamber, its particles

attach to the air ions making the air less conductive
e. The decrease in current activates the alarm
D. Flame detectors
1. Reacts the fastest to fire
a. Prone to activation by sunlight, welding and

other bright lights

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b. Usually positioned where other light sources are

unlikely
c. Must have an unobstructed view of the protected area
d. Used where immediate reaction is necessary

such as flammable liquid manufacturing and
dispensing facilities
2. Infrared detectors
a. Sensitive to sunlight and usually installed in
fully enclosed areas
b. Most are designed to require flickering motion
of flame to activate
3. Ultraviolet detectors
a. Virtually insensitive to sunlight
b. Not suitable when arc welding is done
E. Fire-gas detectors
1. Used to detect the gases produced by a fire in a
confined space
2. The gases produced will vary depending on the

chemical makeup of the burning fuel
3. Will initiate an alarm more quickly than a heat

detector but slower than a smoke detector
4. Can be designed to be sensitive only to those gases
produced by a hostile fire and ignore those produced by a friendly fire in an industrial operation

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5. Fire fighters will encounter very few fire-gas

detectors except in special occupancies
F. Combination detectors: makes detectors more responsive to fire conditions

1. Fixed temperature/rate-of-rise heat detectors
2. Smoke/heat detectors
3. Smoke/fire-gas detectors
G. Detectors have a variety of audible and visual indicating devices
H. Fire department response to heat/smoke alarm calls
1. Normally a full structure fire response is dispatched
to the location of a activated smoke or heat alarm
2. If there are no signs of smoke or fire when they

arrive, a fire fighter with a portable radio should go
to the alarm control panel to silence the alarm so it
can be further investigated
3. The system must not be reset or turned off until

fire fighters determine the cause of the alarm
4. The individual assigned to the alarm panel must

remain and monitor the panel in case of another
alarm
5. If a second alarm sounds, the Incident Commander

should be immediately notified
6. The system can be reset after the source of the
alarm is determined and stabilized

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III. Automatic Alarm Signaling Systems (Essentials p. 837)

A. Fire codes or insurance companies may require an
occupancy to have an alarm system which transmits a
signal off site to summon help
B. Auxiliary systems
1. Local energy systems: used only in communities
with municipal fire alarm box systems
a. An occupancy's alarm system is directly connected to the municipal master alarm box
b. When the occupancy's alarm activates, it trips

the alarm box to which it is attached and transmits the alarm to the alarm center
2. Shunt systems where the municipal alarm circuit

extends ("is shunted") into the protected property
3. Parallel telephone systems

a. Do not connect to the municipal alarm system
b. Transmits the alarm over municipally controlled
telephone circuits, which are not used for any
other purpose
C. Remote station systems

1. Connected directly to the public dispatch center or
other approved answering service
2. Usually connected over leased telephone lines
3. Common where central station systems are not

available

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D. Proprietary alarm systems

1. Used for large commercial and industrial buildings, high rises, and commonly owned facilities in
a single location (campus or industrial complex)
2. Have a central alarm receiving point on the property that is constantly staffed by trained personnel
3. Alarms are transmitted to a supervising stations

where operators can call the fire department or the
fire department is automatically notified
E. Central station alarm systems

1. Typically a company that sells alarm services to
individual customers at different properties
2. Connected to protected properties by dedicated
phone lines or radio transmitter
3. When an alarm is received, central station employees initiate an appropriate emergency response
F. Fire alarm systems are designed to be self-supervising

1. A distinct trouble signal is generated anytime the
system is not operating normally, such as when:
a. A utility power outage occurs and the system
switches to battery power
b. A break in a detector or notification circuit
occurs
2. Older systems use closed, supervised circuits

where a tiny current always flows

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3. Newer systems microprocessors do an internal

diagnostic system test at specified intervals
4. Alarm signals must be distinctively different from

trouble signals
5. Some fixed suppression systems depend on a signal

from a manual pull station or an automatic detection
device to activate
6. Alarm systems must also be "addressable," indicating the location of an activated detector or pull
station or a trouble signal
G. Auxiliary services interconnected with alarm systems

1. Modern alarm systems may incorporate environmental controls, security, and personnel access
controls
2. These auxiliary services may include:
a. Shutting down HVAC systems for smoke control
b. Closing smoke or fire-rated doors and dampers
c. Increasing air pressure in stairwells to exclude

smoke from means of egress
d. Overriding elevator controls

e. Monitoring refrigeration systems and coldstorage areas
f. Controlling personnel access to restricted areas
g. Detecting combustible or toxic gases

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IV. Sprinkler Systems
(Essentials p. 842)
A. Consists of a series of sprinkler heads (sprinklers)

arranged to automatically apply water directly on a fire
to either extinguish it or control it until fire fighters
arrive
1. NFPA Standards set minimum guidelines for:

a. Spacing of sprinklers
b. Size of piping to be used
c. Methods for hanging piping
d. Minimum design area per sprinkler
e. Installation details
2. General types
a. Complete system: protects an entire building
b. Partial system: protects only certain areas,

such as high hazard areas and exit routes
B. Factors affecting sprinkler system reliability and

performance:
1. Partially or completely closed valves
2. Poor or improper maintenance
3. Improper design
4. Hazards of the occupancy
5. Distribution obstructions

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6. Deficient water supply
7. Partial sprinkler protection
8. Frozen or broken pipes
9. Damaged or painted sprinkler heads
10. Tampering or vandalism
C. Properly operating sprinkler systems:

1. Improve the life safety of a building's occupants by
applying water when a fire is relatively small
2. Prevent vertical fire spread in multistory buildings
3. Protect occupants in other parts of a building from

fire spread
D. Sprinklers alone may not be as effective if:

1. Fires are too small to activate the sprinkler system
2. Smoke reaches the occupants before the system

activates
3. Sleeping, intoxicated, or handicapped people

occupy the building
E. Sprinkler system components

1. Water supply
a. Public water supply
b. Gravity tanks
c. Fire pumps

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2. Basic piping
a. Supply main
b. Riser: larger vertical piping
c. Feed main: connects riser to cross mains
d. Cross mains: services branch lines
e. Branch lines: smaller piping on which sprinklers are installed
3. Sprinkler heads
a. Parts
(1) Valve cap
(2) Frame arms
(3) Deflector
(4) Toggle joint
(5) Lever arms
(6) Fusible link
b. Temperature ratings: may be identified by colorcoded frame arms, colored liquid, or temperature stamped into the head
(1) Fusible link sprinkler heads
(a) 135o to 170o: uncolored or black
(b) 175o to 225o: white

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(c) 250o to 300o: blue

(d) 325o to 375o: red
(2) Frangible bulb heads

(a) 135o to 170o: orange or red glass bulb
(b) 175o to 225o: yellow or green bulb
(c) 250o to 300o: blue bulb
(d) 325o to 375o: purple bulb
c. Release mechanisms
(1) Fusible-link
(2) Chemical pellet
(3) Frangible bulb
(4) Quick-response: has a specially designed

fusible link with an increased surface area
d. Fusible link sprinkler head operation

(1) Two lever arms press against the frame
arms and valve cap to hold back the water
(2) The fusible link holds the levers together
(3) The link melts or fuses when exposed to
heat and the water pushes the levers and
cap out of the way
(4) Water strikes the deflector and becomes a
spray

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e. Frangible bulb sprinkler head operation

(1) The bulb filled with liquid and a bubble
holds the orifice shut
(2) Heat expands the liquid until the bubble is
absorbed by the liquid
(3) The increase in internal pressure shatters
the bulb and the orifice opens
(4) Water strikes the deflector and becomes a
spray
f. Chemical pellet sprinklers
(1) A pellet of solder, under compression,
within a small cylinder, melts at a predetermined temperature
(2) A plunger then moves down and releases
the valve cap
g. Sprinkler head position

(1) Pendant: extends down from the underside
of the piping
(2) Upright: sits on top of the piping
(3) Sidewall: extends from the side of the pipe

and has a special deflector to create a fanshaped pattern
(4) Special purpose
(a) Corrosive-resistant coated
(b) Recessed

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4. Sprinkler head storage

a. A storage cabinet for extra heads and a wrench
should be installed near the sprinkler system
b. Normally holds minimum of six extra heads
5. Control indicator valves

a. Located between water source and sprinkler
system to shut off water supply
b. Indicating valves visually show if opened or
closed
c. Outside screw and yoke (OS&Y)

(1) Has a yoke on the outside with a threaded
stem which controls the opening and closing of the valve gate
(2) Threaded stem is out of yoke when open

d. Post indicator valve (PIV)
(1) Valve stem inside of hollow post
(2) Has small window on post where "OPEN"

or "SHUT" is displayed
e. Wall post indicator valve (WPIV) - similar to

PIV but extends through wall
f. Post indicator valve assembly (PIVA)

(1) Does not have the small window and words
(2) Has a sight area that is open when the valve
is open

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6. Operating valves
a. Alarm test valve: simulates activation of the
system
b. Inspector's test valve: equipped with a same

size opening as a sprinkler head to simulate
activation of a head
c. Main drain valve: to drain water from the

system for maintenance
7. Water flow alarms

a. Hydraulically operated: to alert occupants and a
passerby that water is flowing through the
system
b. Electrically operated: to alert occupants and

transmits an alarm when water is flowing
through the system
8. Fire department connection (FDC)
a. Usually a clappered siamese with at least two
21/2-inch female connections
b. A check valve is located between the fire

department connection and the system to prevent
water from the system flowing into the FDC
c. Fire department support

(1) Supply pumper should have a capacity of at
least 1,000 gpm
(2) Using same water main as that supplying

system will rob the sprinkler system of
water

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(3) A minimum of two 21/2-inch or larger lines

should be attached to the FDC
(4) Most sprinkler systems are supplied at 150

psi
E. Types of sprinkler systems (Essentials p. 852)

1. Wet pipe systems
a. Used in locations not subject to freezing
b. Contain water under pressure at all times
c. Sprinkler heads will discharge water immediately on activation
d. Usually equipped with an alarm check valve on

the main riser
e. Newer systems may have a backflow prevention

check valve and electronic flow alarm instead
of an alarm check valve ("straight stick systems")
f. Maybe equipped with a retard chamber

(1) Designed to catch excess water that may
come through the alarm valve in a water
pressure surge
(2) Reduces chances of false alarms
g. Gauges
(1) Installed above and below each alarm
check valve

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(2) Riser pressure gauge showing pressure in

system
(3) Owner or owner's representative should
check and record monthly to ensure normal
water supply pressure
2. Dry pipe systems

a. Used in locations where piping may be subjected to freezing temperatures
b. System contains air under pressure instead of

water
(1) When a sprinkler head opens, air leaves

piping and dry-pipe valve automatically
opens to fill the system with water
(2) Designed with a dry-pipe valve so that a
small amount of air pressure holds the
valve closed over the water pressure on
other side
c. Gauges
(1) One gauge on the water side and another
gauge on the air side of dry pipe valve and
at the air pump supplying air
(2) Owner or owner's representative should
check and record gauge readings weekly to
ensure normal air and water pressures are
being maintained
3. Preaction sprinkler systems

a. Used in properties where it is important to
prevent water damage, even if pipes are broken

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b. System pipes are dry until water is released

into system in response to detectors
c. Uses a deluge type valve, fire detection devices,

and closed sprinkler heads
d. The operation of detectors releases water into
the system and sounds an alarm
e. Sprinkler heads open only from functioning of

fusible links
4. Deluge system systems
a. Used to protect extra hazardous occupancies
b. All sprinklers heads are always open

(1) System activated by flame or heat detectors
(2) When system activates, water flows from
all sprinkler heads
5. Residential sprinkler systems

a. Used to prevent fire involvement in area of
origin and allow occupants to escape
b. Typically equipped with quick-response sprinkler heads
c. May be wet or dry system

d. Components
(1) May use plastic or steel piping

(2) Must have a pressure gauge, flow detector,
and means for draining system

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F. Fire department operations with sprinkler systems

1. Whenever possible, pumpers supplying hose
streams should operate from mains other than that
supplying system
2. Control valves should not be closed until fire has

been extinguished unless the incident commander
determines need to prevent further damage
3. If control valve is closed, a fire fighter should be

stationed at valve with a radio to officer-in-charge
in case the valve needs to be reopened
4. Fire department personnel should not service
system components or restore a system to service
due to the potential liability
5. Restoring the system to service should be done by

representatives of the owners or occupants or a
commercial sprinkler service company
6. Control of water flow from sprinkler heads

a. Remove sprinkler wedge or clamp from apparatus
b. Raise ladder under activated head
c. Climb ladder
d. Insert wedge or clamp into flowing head
e. Gently tap wedge into place to stop flow

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V. Standpipe Systems
A. Allow connection of hoses on various levels of a
structure to avoid carrying hoselines up several levels
B. Components
1. Fire department connection: usually a clappered
siamese with at least two 21/2-inch male connections
2. Piping
3. Interior fire department valves and connections
C. Class I standpipe: have 21/2-inch hose connections for
use by fire fighters
D. Class II standpipe
1. Have 11/2-inch single jacket linen hose with a
lightweight nozzle attached
2. Designed for use by building occupants with no fire
training
3. Most have been taken out of service
E. Class III standpipe
1. Have 21/2-inch hose connections and 11/2 inch single
jacket linen hose with a lightweight nozzle attached
2. Designed for use by building occupants or fire
fighters

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VI. Fire Detection, Alarm, and Suppression Systems Summary

A. Fire fighters are likely to encounter detection and/or
suppression systems in many commercial occupancies
and must be familiar with their operations
B. Personnel have to understand their role in dealing with
detection and alarm system activations and always keep
in mind that a sounding alarm should not be taken
lightly
C. Sprinkler systems have the capacity to control small
fires in early stages but should not be depended on to
completely control every fire

MISSOURI DIVISION
OF
FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS QUIZ

Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ___________________
1. Which private fire alarm signaling system is designed to only notify the occupants
within the protected premises of a fire?
a. Central station system
b. Remote station system
c. Proprietary system
d. Protected premises fire alarm system
2. Which private fire alarm signaling system is designed to transmit alarms to a
commercial company which then sends the alarms to the fire department?
3. Which private fire alarm signaling system is designed to usually protect large
plants or complexes and has a supervising station to monitor the system?
4. Which type of detectors are typically the slowest to respond when a fire occurs?
a. Heat detectors
b. Smoke detectors
c. Flame detectors
d. Fire-gas detectors
5. Which is the most common smoke detector used by consumers and is designed to
activate when the invisible products of combustion are detected by a radioactive
material in the detector?
a. Ionization detector
b. Photoelectric detector
c. Fixed temperature detector
d. Rate-of-rise detector

MISSOURI DIVISION
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FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS QUIZ

6. A ___________ sprinkler system is designed to be used in areas where freezing is
likely to occur.
a. Wet pipe
b. Dry pipe
c. Quick response
d. Dry response
7. Which of the following factors affect sprinkler system reliability and performance?
a. Partially or completely closed valves
b. Poor or improper main
c. Distribution obstructions
d. All of the above
8. The smaller piping on which sprinklers are installed are known as the __________.
a. Risers
b. Feed main
c. Branch lines
d. Cross mains
9. On which of the following sprinkler system valves is a threaded stem extended
from the valve when it is open?
a. Post indicator valve
b. Outside screw and yoke
c. Post indicator valve assembly
d. Wall post indicator valve
10. Which of the following sprinkler systems is used to protect extra hazardous occupancies with all sprinklers heads always open?
a. Preaction
b. Dry pipe
c. Quick response
d. Deluge

MISSOURI DIVISION
OF
INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE
PRACTICAL SKILLS
These Lead Instructor Practical Skills are designed to provide the Lead
Instructor for a Fire Fighter I and II course with a more detailed overview
of the practical skills required of all students.
The appropriate skills from NFPA 1001-2008 are listed at the front of each
skill's section. Although the skills from NFPA 1001-2008 are written as Job
Performance Requirements, these have been divided into individual skill
elements. This is to allow for consistency in the evaluation of each skill
element.
Students must successfully complete each step of each practical skill during
the practical skills evaluation portion of a Fire Fighter I and II course. At
the time of a Fire Fighter I and II Certification Examination, the skill steps
have been prioritized to allow a student to miss a predetermined number of
steps.
MISSOURI DIVISION OF FIRE SAFETY
FIRE FIGHTER I & II
PRACTICAL SKILLS
Fire Detection, Alarm, & Suppression Systems

Successful completion of the practical skills in this section are necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the following sections of NFPA 1001-2008:
Fire Fighter I Standard
5.3.14 Conserve property as a member of a team, given salvage tools and equipment and an
assignment, so that the building and its contents are protected from further damage.
FIRE FIGHTER I & II
PRACTICAL SKILLS
Fire Suppression Systems - NFPA 1001-2008, 5.3.14

Demonstrate Connecting to a Fire Department Connection
Sill Objective: The candidate, given a supply of 2 1/ 2" or 3" hose in an apparatus hose bed, shall
connect two 50' sections of hose to a fire department sprinkler connection and the apparatus. The
candidate shall then identify the normal minimum water pressure that should be applied to the
sprinkler system.
Students are allowed two chances at each skill for successful completion. Any step listed in
italics missed shall result in failure of the skill. Otherwise, students are allowed to miss a maximum of one of the following steps and pass this skill.
Items to be checked
If the candidate
1. First, obtains necessary tools and equipment such as two spanner wrenches
2. Wears gloves during the skill
3. Removes 50 feet of hose from the hose bed neatly and in organized fashion
4. Connects female coupling to fire apparatus discharge
5. Connects male coupling to fire department sprinkler connection
6. Repeats steps 3, 4, & 5
7. Arranges all hose in an orderly fashion
8. Identifies that water pressure in hose lines should be a minimum of 150 psi
FIRE FIGHTER I & II
PRACTICAL SKILLS
Fire Suppression Systems - NFPA 1001-2008, 5.3.14

Demonstrate Stopping the Flow From a Sprinkler Head
Skill Objective: The candidate, given a flowing, open sprinkler head, shall stop the flow of
water using a sprinkler wedge(s) or a set of sprinkler tongs. The candidate shall then identify the
type and temperature classification of the sprinkler head.
Skill Procedure: The evaluator shall set up a sprinkler head that has opened and is flowing
water. The candidate shall stop the flow of water using wedges or tongs his/her department has
available for the purpose. Then have the candidate identify the type and temperature classification of the sprinkler head.
Students are allowed two chances at each skill for successful completion. Any step listed in
italics missed shall result in failure of the skill. Otherwise, students are allowed to miss a maximum of one of the following steps and pass this skill.
Items to be checked
If the candidate:
1. Knows the location of sprinkler stops for his/her department
2. Inserts the sprinkler stop(s) without complication
3. Adequately stops the flow of water
4. Can identify whether the sprinkler head is an upright or pendant style
5. Can identify the temperature classification of the sprinkler head

16a - Fire Detection, Alarms, & Suppression Systems - IG

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FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

FIRE SAFETY FIRE FIGHTER I & II

Fire Detection, Alarm, & Suppression Systems - 1

FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

FIRE SAFETY FIRE FIGHTER I & II

Fire Fighter II Standard

2 - Fire Detection, Alarm, & Suppression Systems

FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

FIRE SAFETY FIRE FIGHTER I & II

Material in italics is NOT included in the Student Manual

I. Fire Detection, Alarm, and Suppression Systems

2. Summon emergency responders

3. Initiate fire control and suppression systems and

4. Supervise suppression systems for operational

5. Initiate environmental and utility controls

B. Fire fighters must understand the various types of fire

II. Types of Alarm Systems (Essentials p. 826)

4. Designed to only alert the building's occupants

Fire Detection, Alarm, & Suppression Systems - 3

FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

FIRE SAFETY FIRE FIGHTER I & II

Material in italics is NOT included in the Student Manual

5. Does not notify the fire department

6. Automatic detection devices may be added to the

a. Typically the slowest type of system to activate

b. Activate at a predetermined temperature or

c. Used in areas unoccupied or environmentally

d. Typically used as a property protection device

2. Fixed temperature heat detectors

b. In a large area, a fire could burn for some time

c. Fusible devices/frangible bulbs

4 - Fire Detection, Alarm, & Suppression Systems

(2) To restore a fusible device/frangible bulb

FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

FIRE SAFETY FIRE FIGHTER I & II

Material in italics is NOT included in the Student Manual

(3) Many of these devices are still in service,

(4) A fusible device is held in place with

(5) When the temperature rises to the fusing

d. Continuous line detector

(3) One type is a cable with a conductive metal

Fire Detection, Alarm, & Suppression Systems - 5

FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

FIRE SAFETY FIRE FIGHTER I & II

Material in italics is NOT included in the Student Manual

(b) At a predetermined temperature, the

(c) The current flow between the core and

(4) Another system uses two insulated wires

(a) When the rated temperature is reached,

(b) The circuit is then completed and the

e. Bimetallic element detector

(2) When heated, one metal expands faster,

(3) The deflection makes or breaks the circuit

(4) Most bimetallic detector reset automatically when cooled

3. Rate-of-rise heat detectors

b. Designed to operate when the temperature rise

6 - Fire Detection, Alarm, & Suppression Systems

FIRE DETECTION, ALARM, & SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

FIRE SAFETY FIRE FIGHTER I & II

Material in italics is NOT included in the Student Manual

c. Most are reliable and not subject to false

d. Automatically reset if undamaged

e. Pneumatic rate-of-rise spot detector