Fire Protection Systems Terminology: Definitions and Explanations, Exams of Engineering

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ALARM NOTIFICATION APPLIANCE - Answer: A fire alarm system component, such as a bell, horn, speaker, light, text display or vibration device that issues an audible, tactile, and/or visual alert. ALARM SIGNAL - Answer: A signal indicating an emergency requiring immediate action, such as a signal indicative of fire. ANTIFREEZE SPRINKLER SYSTEM - Answer: A wet pipe sprinkler system employing automatic sprinklers that are attached to a piping system that contains an antifreeze solution and is connected to a water supply. The antifreeze solution is discharged, followed by water, immediately upon operation of sprinklers opened by heat from a fire. AUTOMATIC BALL DRIP - Answer: An automatic drain valve horizontally installed at the low point in the piping between the lower check valve and the Fire Department connection of automatic sprinkler systems. Water pressure from a Fire Department pumper automatically closes this valve. It automatically re-opens when pressure ceases, permitting this piping to drain and thereby preventing freezing. CENTRAL STATION - Answer: A facility that receives alarm signals from a protected premises and retransmits or otherwise reports such alarm signals to the department. COMBINATION STANDPIPE AND SPRINKLER SYSTEM - Answer: A system where the water piping services both 21⁄2 in. (65 mm) outlets for fire department use and outlets for automatic sprinklers. CONCEALED SPRINKLER - Answer: A recessed sprinkler with a cover plate. CONTROL MODE SPECIFIC APPLICATION SPRINKLERS (CMSA) - Answer: Control mode sprinkler systems are designed to control a fire until its original fuel source is depleted or until fire-fighting activities can commence. A fire is controlled by cooling the ceiling-level air temperatures, reducing the fire's rate of heat release and pre-wetting adjacent combustibles.

DRY PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEM - Answer: A sprinkler system employing automatic sprinklers that are attached to a piping system containing air or nitrogen under pressure. The release of the air or nitrogen, (as from the opening of a sprinkler) results in the water pressure opening a valve known as a dry pipe valve, resulting in the flow of water into the piping system and out of the fused sprinklers heads. DRY SPRINKLER - Answer: A sprinkler secured in an extension nipple that has a seal at the inlet to prevent water from entering the nipple until the sprinkler operates. May be configured with an upright pendent or sidewall sprinkler. DISCHARGE DEVICE - Answer: A device designed to discharge water or foam-water solution in a predetermined, fixed, or adjustable pattern. Examples include, but are not limited to, sprinklers, spray nozzles, and hose nozzles. EARLY SUPPRESSION FAST RESPONSE SPRINKLER (ESFR) - Answer: A type of fast response sprinkler that is listed for its capability to provide fire suppression of specific high challenge fire hazards. EXTRA LARGE ORIFICE SPRINKLERS (ELO) - Answer: A sprinkler head with and orifice size equal to or greater than 1". This sprinkler is used for protection of high piled storage in warehouses and less pressure is required to achieve a given discharge density. EXTENDED COVERAGE SPRINKLERS - Answer: A type of spray sprinkler with a maximum area of coverage of 400 square feet (20 foot by 20 foot spacing between sprinklers) for light hazard occupancies to a maximum of 144 square feet (12 foot by 12 foot spacing between sprinklers) for extra hazard occupancies. FIRE ALARM SYSTEM - Answer: Any system, including any interconnected fire alarm sub-system, of components and circuits arranged to monitor and annunciate the status of fire alarm or supervisory signal-initiating devices. FIRE DEPARTMENT CONNECTION - Answer: A connection, normally on the exterior of the building, through which the fire department can pump supplemental water into the sprinkler system, standpipe, or other system furnishing water for fire extinguishment to supplement existing water supplies. (Formerly known as Siamese connection.)

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM - Answer: An approved system of devices and equipment which detects a fire and discharges an approved fire extinguishing agent onto or in the area of a fire. Such term includes automatic systems and, where such systems are authorized by this code or the Building Code, manually activated systems. FIRE HYDRANT - Answer: A valve connection on a water supply system having one or more outlets and that is used to supply hose and fire department connections with water. FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM - Answer: Approved devices, equipment and systems or combinations of systems used to detect a fire, activate an alarm, extinguish or control a fire, control or manage smoke and products of a fire or any combination thereof, including fire extinguishing systems, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems and standpipe systems. FIRE PUMP - Answer: A pump that is a provider of liquid flow and pressure dedicated to fire protection. A fire pump is a part of a fire sprinkler system's water supply and can be powered by electric, diesel or steam. The pump intake is either connected to the public underground water supply piping or a static water source (e.g., tank, reservoir, lake). The pump provides water flow at higher pressure to the sprinkler system risers and hose standpipes. A pump used only to fill a tank is not a fire pump. The following fire pumps are required to be maintained in accordance with the NYC Fire Code FIRE PUMP, FOAM - Answer: A fire pump used to boost water supply pressures in a fire protection system where such system uses firefighting foam as an additive. FIRE PUMP, AUTOMATIC STANDPIPE: - Answer: A fire pump located at or below street level that supplies the lower 300 feet of a standpipe system or a combined standpipe and sprinkler system. FIRE PUMP, LIMITED SERVICE: - Answer: A fire pump with a motor rating not exceeding 30 hp and utilizing a limited service fire pump controller. FIRE PUMP, SPECIAL SERVICE: - Answer: A fire pump that is located above street level and that receives its water supply from a gravity tank or suction tank supplying water to fire sprinkler system and/or Fire Department hose outlets. FIRE PUMP, SPRINKLER BOOSTER PUMP: - Answer: A fire pump that supplies sprinkler systems only.

MASTER PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE - Answer: - A pressure reducing valve installed to regulate pressures in an entire fire protection system and/or standpipe system zone. MAIN DRAIN - Answer: - The primary drain connection located on the system riser and also utilized as a flow test connection. These valves are typically globe pattern valves. MICROBIOLOGICALLY INDUCED CORROSION (MIC) - Answer: Corrosion caused by the presence of microbes in the water supply that over time attack the interior of metallic piping and cause leaks, pitting, and blockages. OUT OF SERVICE SYSTEM - Answer: - A fire protection system that is not fully functional; or whose operation is impaired or is otherwise not in good working order. OLD-STYLE/CONVENTIONAL SPRINKLER - Answer: A sprinkler that directs 40% to 60% of the water initially in a downward direction and is designed to be installed with the deflector in either the upright or pendent position. PENDENT SPRINKLER - Answer: - A sprinkler designed to be installed in such a way that the water stream is directed downward against the deflector. PINTLE SCREWS - Answer: A visual indicating device required for sprinklers manufactured prior to 1999 identifying small orifice sprinklers and large orifice sprinklers where orifice size is different than the nominal thread size of the sprinkler head. PIPE SCHEDULE SYSTEMS - Answer: - A method of sizing piping based upon the number of sprinkler heads and the occupancy of the protected area. PREACTION SPRINKLER SYSTEM - Answer: A sprinkler system employing automatic sprinklers that are attached to a piping system that contains air that may or may not be under pressure, with a supplemental detection system installed in the same areas as the sprinklers. PERSONAL SUPERVISION - Answer: Supervision by the holder of a FDNY Certificate of Fitness who is required to personally present on the premises, or other proximate location acceptable to the department, while performing the duties for which the certificate is required.

PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE - Answer: A pilot operated pressure reducing valve that may be used with a fire or booster pump designed for the purpose of preventing the incoming water supply pressure from dropping below a set pressure. PRESSURE-REDUCING VALVE - Answer: A valve designed for the purpose of reducing the downstream water pressure under both flowing (residual) and nonflowing (static) conditions. PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE - Answer: - A valve designed for the purpose of releasing excess air or water pressure from the Fire Protection Piping System. PRESSURE TANK - Answer: - A tank using air pressure to supplying water for water-based fire protection systems. Tank contents to be maintained at one third air to two thirds water. QUICK RESPONSE SPRINKLER HEAD - Answer: - A sprinkler having a fusible link with a response time index (RTI) of 50 or less. RECESSED SPRINKLER - Answer: - A sprinkler in which all or part of the body, other than the shank thread, is mounted above the ceiling. RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLER - Answer: - A type of fast response sprinkler that has been specifically tested to enhance survivability in the room of fire origin and listed for use in dwelling units. RESPONSE TIME INDEX (RTI) - Answer: A measurement of the thermal sensitivity of a sprinkler head expressed in (meters-seconds) 1/2. SPRINKLER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (SIN) - Answer: Sprinklers manufactured after Jan. 1, 2000 are required to be marked to identify performance characteristics. SUPERVISORY SIGNAL - Answer: - A signal indicating the need for action in connection with the supervision of guard tours, fire extinguishing systems or equipment, fire alarm systems or the maintenance features of related systems.

WATER SPRAY - Answer: - Water in a form having a predetermined pattern, particle size, velocity, and density discharge from specially designed nozzles or devices. WATER SUPPLY - Answer: A source of water that provides the flows [gal/min (L/min)] and pressures [psi (bar)] required by the water-based fire protection system. WET PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEM - Answer: - A sprinkler system employing automatic sprinklers attached to a piping system containing water and connected to a water supply so that water discharges immediately from sprinklers opened by heat from a fire. WATER SPRAY FIXED SYSTEM - Answer: A special fixed pipe system connected to a reliable fire protection water supply and equipped with water spray nozzles for specific water discharge and distribution over the surface or area to be protected. The piping system is connected to the water supply through an automatically or manually actuated valve that initiates the flow of water. An automatic valve is actuated by operation of automatic detection or manual release equipment installed in the same areas as the water spray nozzles. (In special cases, the automatic detection system may also be located in another area.) WATER TANK - Answer: A tank supplying water for water-based fire protection systems.