CSLB C-16 Fire Protection (Trade Exam) — All Questions

Who must perform testing and maintenance of automatic fire extinguishing systems, with listed exceptions?

• a.Persons licensed under H&S Code 13196.5✓
• b.A certified welder from the trades
• c.The building's own maintenance engineer
• d.A person the building owner designates

Testing and maintenance is performed by those licensed under Health and Safety Code 13196.5, with exceptions such as fire departments with a waiver. A certified welder holds a trade certificate unrelated to servicing extinguishing systems. The building's maintenance engineer is not licensed under that section. A person the owner designates is the rule for inspection, not for testing and maintenance.2025 CFC 901.6 (Title 19 text)

How often are waterflow alarm devices inspected, in the public NFPA 25 summary?

• a.Every 3 years
• b.Quarterly✓
• c.Annually
• d.Every 5 years

Waterflow alarm devices are inspected quarterly, with mechanical devices tested quarterly and vane or pressure switch devices tested semiannually. Annually, every 3 years and every 5 years are intervals the summary table uses for other items, such as the main drain test, trip tests and internal pipe inspection, not for alarm inspection.NFPA 25 summary table (East Bay Municipal Utility District)

How often is the main drain tested, in the public NFPA 25 summary?

• a.Every 10 years
• b.Monthly
• c.Annually✓
• d.Every 3 years

The main drain test is annual in the summary table. Monthly is more often than the table asks. Every 3 years and every 10 years are far longer than the annual interval.NFPA 25 summary table (East Bay Municipal Utility District)

How often is internal piping inspected for obstruction, in the public NFPA 25 summary?

• a.Every 5 years✓
• b.Every 25 years
• c.Every 2 years
• d.Every year

The internal inspection of piping for obstruction is every 5 years in the summary table. Every year and every 2 years are too frequent for an internal inspection. Every 25 years is far too long.NFPA 25 summary table (East Bay Municipal Utility District)

How often are private hydrants flow-tested, under the fire code?

• a.Every 10 years
• b.Every 5 years
• c.Annually✓
• d.Monthly

Private hydrants are inspected annually and after each operation, with a flow test and maintenance annually. The 5-year flow test is for fire service main piping, not hydrants. Every 10 years is longer than any interval the code gives. Monthly is more often than the code requires.2025 CFC 507.5.3

If a pump test curve is higher than the factory curve with an electric motor, what does the trade article suggest checking?

• a.The suction pipe diameter
• b.The color of the controller
• c.The voltage at the motor✓
• d.The bearing grease

The article says high voltage, more than about 10 percent above the motor's rating, can raise the curve and needs correcting. Suction pipe diameter would lower or limit flow, not raise a curve. The color of the controller has no effect on the test. Bearing grease would show up as heat or noise, not as a curve above the factory line.Fire Engineering, Testing Building Fire Pumps Part 2

What does a pump's suction pressure that drops and stays low during churn call for checking?

• a.The condition of the ceiling hangers above
• b.The breaker rating for the room lights
• c.Downstream piping, including the relief valve✓
• d.The color of the pump nameplate and paint

The article says to inspect all piping downstream of the pump for leaks, including the relief valve, and then call the water utility if none are found. Ceiling hangers above the pump room have nothing to do with suction pressure. A breaker rating for room lights is unrelated to the pump's water side. The color of the nameplate and paint does not affect suction pressure.Fire Engineering, Testing Building Fire Pumps Part 2

What must the fire department and fire code official be told when a required sprinkler system goes out of service?

• a.At the next monthly meeting
• b.Immediately✓
• c.After the repair is finished
• d.If a fire occurs

The fire department and the fire code official shall be notified immediately, and where required an approved fire watch or evacuation is provided until the system is returned to service. Waiting for a monthly meeting leaves the building unprotected without notice. Notifying after the repair is finished defeats the point of warning them. Notifying only if a fire occurs is too late.2025 CFC 901.7

What is the sole duty of a fire watch posted for an out-of-service system?

• a.Constant patrols of the premises watching for fire✓
• b.Reading utility meters at the riser room
• c.Repairing the sprinkler system while on watch
• d.Answering tenant questions at the front desk

The fire watch's only duty is to perform constant patrols and keep watch for fires, with at least one approved means to notify the fire department. Reading utility meters is a different task. Repairing the sprinkler system while on watch pulls the person away from the patrol. Answering tenant questions at a desk also leaves no one patrolling.2025 CFC 901.7

What does the manufacturer require before closing a control valve for maintenance?

• a.A signed letter from the sprinkler manufacturer
• b.Permission from authorities and notice to affected people✓
• c.A new certificate of occupancy for the building
• d.A pressure test of the valve before closing it

Permission to shut down the system must be obtained from the proper authorities and all affected personnel notified. A letter from the sprinkler manufacturer is not required before shutting a control valve. A new certificate of occupancy has nothing to do with a shutdown for maintenance. A pressure test before closing is not a step the manufacturer calls for.Manufacturer data sheet (Tyco TFP690)

What does the manufacturer say about cleaning sprinklers?

• a.Brush them with a stiff wire brush
• b.Paint over the dirt to hide it from view
• c.Dust them gently with a feather duster only✓
• d.Wash them with a strong cleaning solvent

Sprinklers are only cleaned by gently dusting with a feather duster, otherwise non-operation or inadvertent operation may result. Solvent, wire brushes and paint would harm them.Manufacturer data sheet (Tyco TFP690)

What does the federal criteria document say to use when repairing existing galvanized piping in a wet system?

• a.More galvanized pipe
• b.Copper tubing
• c.Black steel pipe✓
• d.CPVC pipe

Black steel pipe must be used for the addition, repair or relocation of existing galvanized pipe in wet, dry or preaction systems. More galvanized pipe is the opposite of the rule. Copper tubing is not the material the rule names for these repairs. CPVC is not the specified repair material.UFC 3-600-01 section 9-7

Where may saddle tees with rubber gaskets be used, per the federal criteria document?

• a.In no part of the federal criteria document
• b.On the new mains throughout a new building
• c.On dry pipe systems
• d.Only to connect to existing piping for changes✓

Saddle tees using rubber gasket fittings are only permitted when connecting to existing piping for additions or modifications. Saying they are not allowed anywhere in the document contradicts that exception. New mains throughout a new building are not covered by the exception. Dry pipe systems are not a place the document permits them.UFC 3-600-01 section 9-7

How long must the fire watch continue after hot work ends?

• a.5 minutes
• b.Until the next shift
• c.At least 3 hours
• d.At least 30 minutes✓

The fire watch continues for not less than 30 minutes after the conclusion of the work, and may be extended. Five minutes is too short to catch a smoldering fire. Until the next shift has no basis in the rule. Three hours is longer than the minimum, though the code official may extend it.2025 CFC 3504.2.1

Hot work is needed in an area whose sprinkler system is impaired. What does the fire code say?

• a.Required to be done at night
• b.Restricted unless the fire code official approves✓
• c.Allowed if a bucket of water is nearby
• d.Allowed if the work takes under an hour

Hot work shall not be conducted in areas where the automatic sprinkler system is impaired unless approval has been obtained from the fire code official. Doing it at night does not restore protection. A bucket of water nearby does not substitute for the impaired system. A short job under an hour still has the full ignition risk, so duration is not an exception.2025 CFC 3501.3

How long must the hot work permit be available for review after the work is complete?

• a.1 hour
• b.7 days
• c.48 hours✓
• d.30 days

Hot work permits are available for review at the time the work is conducted and for 48 hours after work is complete. One hour is shorter than the rule. Seven days and 30 days are longer than the rule requires.2025 CFC 3503.3

What must the fire code's maintenance rule achieve after a protective qualities disruption?

• a.Replacement of the whole system right away
• b.A written plan submitted within 30 days or so
• c.Immediate action to restore normal operation✓
• d.Notice to the insurer, with no other step

Upon disruption or diminishment of fire protective qualities, immediate action shall be instituted to reestablish the equipment to its original normal and operational condition. Replacing the whole system right away is not what the rule demands. Submitting a written plan within about 30 days leaves the protection down in the meantime. Notifying the insurer alone takes no step to restore the system.2025 CFC 901.6

Who is it unlawful to remove or disturb a required fire protection system for, except for listed purposes?

• a.Visitors
• b.Any person✓
• c.Tenants
• d.Contractors without licenses

It is unlawful for any person to remove, tamper with or disturb any required system except for extinguishing fire, training, recharging, making necessary repairs or where approved. Visitors and tenants are only some of the people covered, so limiting the prohibition to them is wrong. Contractors without licenses are also only a part of the group, so a licensed contractor is not exempt.2025 CFC 901.8

How often are electrically supervised control valves inspected, in the public NFPA 25 summary?

• a.Every 3 years
• b.Every 5 years
• c.Not required, because they are supervised
• d.Quarterly✓

Electrically supervised control valves are inspected quarterly, with operation and position tested annually and supervisory tested semiannually. Every 3 years and every 5 years are intervals the table uses for other items. Supervision does not remove the inspection, so saying none is required is wrong.NFPA 25 summary table (East Bay Municipal Utility District)

How often is a dry-pipe valve trip test done, in the public NFPA 25 summary?

• a.Every 5 years
• b.Annually✓
• c.Weekly
• d.Every 10 years

The dry-pipe trip test is annual, with a full-flow trip test every 3 years. Every 5 years and every 10 years are much longer than the annual interval. Weekly is far more often than the table gives.NFPA 25 summary table (East Bay Municipal Utility District)

How often does the table give for dry-pipe priming water checks?

• a.Every 5 years
• b.Annually
• c.Every 3 years
• d.Quarterly✓

Priming water for dry-pipe valves is checked quarterly, as are quick-opening devices. Every 5 years and every 3 years are intervals the table gives for other items. Annually is less often than the quarterly priming water check.NFPA 25 summary table (East Bay Municipal Utility District)

After which event are engineered fixed extinguishing systems serviced beyond their semiannual schedule?

• a.A change of season
• b.A change of tenant
• c.A change of fire marshal
• d.A system activation✓

Engineered and pre-engineered fixed extinguishing systems are inspected, tested and maintained at least semiannually and immediately after a system activation. A change of season, tenant or fire marshal does not change the condition of the system, so none of them triggers the extra service.2025 CFC 904.1 (Title 19 text)

How must fire hydrant systems be maintained under the 2025 California Fire Code?

• a.Inspected annually, with repairs only on the owner's request
• b.Tested each spring, repaired at the next scheduled shutdown
• c.In an operative condition at all times, repaired where defective✓
• d.Kept in service only while the building is occupied

Hydrant systems shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times and repaired where defective. Testing each spring and repairing at a scheduled shutdown allows a defective hydrant to sit out of service. Repairs only on the owner's request leaves the duty with the wrong party. Keeping hydrants in service only while the building is occupied is not in the rule, because the duty applies at all times.2025 CFC 507.5.2

What must the owner do about deficiencies found during inspection?

• a.Wait for the next annual test
• b.Defer repair until the tenant leaves
• c.Promptly correct or repair them✓
• d.Report them to the insurer

The owner or occupant shall promptly correct or repair deficiencies, damaged parts or impairments found, and recalled products shall be replaced or remedied. Waiting for the next annual test or deferring until the tenant leaves delays the correction. Reporting to the insurer does not correct anything.2025 CFC 901.7 (Title 19 text)