Review Items

Chapter 6002 exists mainly to protect lives and property by regulating who can plan, install, service, monitor, and certify fire alarm systems, and by controlling the types of devices that can be used.

A fire alarm device is broadly defined as any device that can warn of fire or combustion through audible or visible signals, such as smoke detectors, horns, buzzers, and strobes.

The APS is the system designer; they prepare fire alarm plans and certify that the design complies with applicable NFPA standards and state rules. They are not primarily installers or monitors.

A Fire Alarm Technician’s job is to install, inspect, test, service, and certify fire alarm systems to make sure they meet legal and code requirements. Planning and design are done by APS/RAS/PE.

Any firm that plans, certifies, installs, services, or monitors fire alarm systems must hold a Certificate of Registration (ACR) from the State Fire Marshal, even if its employees are licensed.

Each separate office location doing regular fire alarm business must have its own branch office registration, unless that office only deals with stand‑alone residentialtype devices.

A registered firm must carry general liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate for bodily injury and property damage to protect the public from losses.

Each registered firm must have at least one properly licensed individual (FAL, RAS, or APS) to be responsible for the fire alarm work that the company performs.

A personal license by itself does not authorize independent business operations; the licensee must work under or represent a firm that holds a valid ACR.

A homeowner working on their own single‑family residence is exempt. Anyone providing alarm services to others for compensation must be licensed/registered unless a specific exemption applies.

Electricians may install stand‑alone household smoke alarms in dwellings without a fire alarm license, as long as the devices are not part of a control panel system or transmitting offsite.

Any commercial fire alarm work for others (planning, installing, servicing, monitoring, etc.) requires appropriate licensing and registration; doing so without it is a violation.

The FAL requires passing two state exams: one covering Texas laws and rules (TFM11) and one covering technical fire alarm knowledge (TFM12).

Holding a NICET Level II (or ESA Level II) fire alarm certification allows the technical exam requirement to be waived because it demonstrates comparable technical competency.

RAL licensees complete an approved residential training course and do not take a state exam. Their work is limited to one‑ and two‑family residential systems.

An AMT license is restricted to performing monitoring duties (typically in a central station) and does not authorize installing or servicing systems in the field.

The State Fire Marshal can discipline licensees and firms for violating statutes/rules, fraud, or misrepresentation, including unlicensed work or serious code violations.

Following a revocation, the individual or firm must wait at least one year and then demonstrate to the State Fire Marshal why they should be granted a new license or registration.

Performing certain regulated fire alarm activities without proper credentials is a Class B misdemeanor, which can include fines and possible jail time.

Devices must be listed/labeled by recognized testing labs (e.g., UL) for fire alarm use. Installing unlisted or non‑approved devices is prohibited.

For new or modified systems, the installer must complete and attach a white Installation label inside the control panel (or approved location), documenting firm, license, date, and planner.

Any service, maintenance, or testing requires a white Service label to be filled out and affixed at the control panel, documenting what was done and by whom.

A Yellow tag indicates one or more non‑critical code deficiencies or maintenance issues; the system still operates but needs correction to fully comply.

A Red tag is used for serious conditions—such as an inoperable or critically impaired system—where normal fire alarm operation is not assured.

For Yellow tags, the company must send written notice within 5 business days to the owner (or representative) and the AHJ describing the deficiencies.

When a system is completely inoperable, the technician must immediately contact the owner/occupant and AHJ (phone or in person), then follow up with written notice by the next business day.

When corrections are complete, the Yellow tag is removed by a licensed company or authority, a Service label is applied documenting the fix, and the AHJ is notified in writing.

Once a serious impairment is corrected, the Red tag is removed, a Service tag documents the repair, and the AHJ is notified in writing that the Red tag has been cleared.

Service labels must stay in place for a minimum of two years, providing a record of recent repairs and maintenance for inspectors and technicians.

Blue Inspection/Test labels are used for periodic system inspections and must remain on the system for at least five years to document inspection history.

Even with no problems found, the technician must attach a Blue Inspection/Test label, and if any service was performed (e.g., battery replacement), a White Service label is also required.

Technicians must carry and present their license ID when performing fire alarm work to verify they are properly licensed.

Firms must inform the SFMO within 14 days whenever a licensee is hired or leaves so that state records show who is associated with the company.

The individual licensee must update the SFMO within 14 days and obtain an updated license card that reflects new employment or personal information.

An RAS can perform planning, installation, and certification of residential fire alarm systems in one‑ and two‑family dwellings and can also act as a Fire Alarm Technician, but is limited to the residential scope.

APS applicants must pass the statutes and rules exam and also demonstrate advanced technical competency through a high‑level national certification or professional engineer license.

By rule, an RAL alone cannot qualify a firm for registration; the company must employ at least an FAL, APS, or RAS to obtain an ACR.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office enforces Chapter 6002 and related rules, with authority to investigate complaints, take administrative action, and refer criminal violations.

State law preempts local licensing of fire alarm contractors. Cities may require permits and enforce codes but cannot require extra local licenses or franchise fees beyond the state’s ACR.

FALs can perform almost all field work on fire alarm systems except system planning/design, which must be done by a qualified APS/RAS or engineer. TFM12 – Technical Fire Alarm Codes & Practices (Questions 41–100)

NFPA 72 requires that occupants never have to travel more than 200 feet to reach a manual pull station on a given floor.

Pull stations must be within 42–48 inches above finished floor to remain accessible, including to people using wheelchairs.

Standard spacing for spot‑type smoke detectors is 30 ft on center, which creates about 900 square feet of coverage under ideal conditions.

Wall‑mounted detectors should have the top of the detector 4–12 inches below the ceiling to avoid the dead air space right at the ceiling.

Photoelectric detectors are more sensitive to larger smoke particles typical of smoldering fires, making them quicker in that scenario.

Ionization detectors are generally faster for fast‑flaming fires that produce tiny combustion particles, even if visible smoke isn’t heavy yet.

Sleeping areas must receive at least 75 dBA at the pillow, and at least 15 dB above average ambient, to reliably wake occupants.

NFPA 25 requires quarterly testing of mechanical waterflow alarm devices, typically by operating the inspector’s test connection.

Tamper switches for control valves must be tested twice a year to ensure they will signal if a sprinkler control valve is closed.

NFPA 72 calls for a full system inspection and test at least annually, though some components have more frequent requirements.

Fire alarm panels must monitor waterflow (alarm) and valve tamper switches (supervisory) to detect sprinkler activation and closed valves.

NFPA 25 specifically addresses ITM for water‑based systems like sprinklers, standpipes, and related alarm devices.

NFPA 70 is the NEC, and Article 760 contains the rules for fire alarm circuit wiring.

UL 827 is the standard for Central Station Alarm Services, including construction and operation of monitoring centers.

The EOL resistor completes the supervised loop on Class B circuits so the panel can detect opens and display a trouble condition.

A trouble signal means something is wrong with the system—open circuit, ground fault, failed device, power loss, etc.—that could affect performance.

Addressable systems give point‑specific information for alarms and troubles, greatly improving location accuracy and troubleshooting.

Technicians must notify the central station and AHJ (if applicable) and building occupants before testing to prevent unwanted dispatches and panic.

Failed standby batteries mean the system may not work in a power outage, so this is a serious deficiency requiring prompt repair and proper tagging.

NFPA 13 is the main standard for sprinkler system design and installation, including locations of waterflow and valve devices interfaced with alarms.

Duct detectors are primarily used to shut down fans and close dampers to prevent smoke spread through the HVAC system.

A monitor (input) module connects non‑addressable contacts or circuits to the addressable loop, letting the panel supervise and read their status as addressable points.

A supervisory condition warns that a fire protection system (such as sprinklers) is not in its normal ready state—like when a control valve is shut.

In a Class B circuit, an open cuts off all devices beyond the break and causes the panel to lose the EOL resistor, resulting in a trouble condition.

Class A wiring loops out and back to the panel, so a single break can be isolated and the circuit can still communicate with all devices from the other direction.

Equipment must be listed/approved for fire alarm service (e.g., UL‑listed), ensuring it meets safety and performance standards.

NFPA 72 requires 24 hours of standby plus 5 minutes in full alarm for most protected premises systems.

A ground fault occurs when a circuit conductor unintentionally contacts ground, which can cause strange behavior and is reported as a trouble.

NEC rules require separation so high‑voltage circuits cannot induce voltage or fault current onto power‑limited fire alarm circuits.

Control relay modules interface the fire alarm panel with building systems, turning things on/off in response to alarm conditions (elevator recall, door release, HVAC shutdown, etc.).

Codes often require emergency voice/alarm communication systems in high‑rise buildings and large assembly occupancies to manage complex evacuations.

Voice systems must operate for 24 hours in standby plus at least 15 minutes in full alarm due to the extended messaging needed.

Studies showed that 520 Hz low‑frequency tones are better at awakening sleepers, so codes now require them in many sleeping rooms.

Fault isolator modules automatically open around a short‑circuited section, leaving the rest of the loop operational.

A fire watch uses designated personnel to look for signs of fire when automatic detection/suppression is unavailable.

A proper written test report documents what was tested, what passed/failed, actions taken, and any tags applied.

NFPA 72 and UL 827 define technical and operational requirements for supervising station (central station) facilities.

The panel’s AC supply must be a dedicated, clearly marked, and secured breaker so it isn’t accidentally turned off.

Proper testing involves introducing test smoke (per manufacturer instructions) so the detector’s sensing chamber is actually tested.

Fire alarm panels differentiate Alarm (emergency), Trouble (system fault), and Supervisory (off‑normal protection system condition).

A pre‑signal system first alerts staff at a control point; they verify conditions before the system goes into full general alarm, when permitted by the AHJ.

A waterflow switch senses sustained water movement in the sprinkler piping and sends an alarm input to the panel.

Long wire runs and many appliances cause voltage drop; designers must verify that all appliances, including the last one, have adequate voltage to operate properly.

Staged (two‑stage) evacuation allows selective evacuation of certain zones while others receive an alert/standby signal.

Heat detectors respond when temperature reaches a set point or rises rapidly; they do not sense smoke particles.

Classic DACT setups use two independent phone lines (or equivalent dual paths) for redundancy in transmitting signals.

Exposed wiring in plenums must be plenum‑rated (FPLP) or in conduit due to stricter smoke and flame spread requirements.

The owner or representative must receive as‑built drawings and operation/maintenance manuals reflecting the installed system.

Documents must not be stuffed inside the control unit; they should be stored nearby but outside the panel.

A local system notifies occupants only; a monitored system sends signals offsite so responders can be dispatched automatically.

Alarm verification resets and re‑samples a detector within a limited time (typically up to 60 seconds) to reduce nuisance alarms.

Smoke detectors associated with elevators trigger Phase I recall, bringing cars to a safe landing and removing them from normal service.

A fire watch is human surveillance used when automatic fire protection is temporarily out of service.

Sensitivity must be confirmed using calibrated methods or built‑in diagnostics, verifying that the detector still responds within its listed range.

Staged/zoned evacuation allows targeted evacuation by area instead of clearing the entire building at once.

NFPA 90A and NFPA 92 describe HVAC and smoke control systems, while NFPA 72 governs their interface with the fire alarm system.

An annunciator provides remote indication of alarms, troubles, and supervisory signals, often at building entrances or fire command centers.

Cross‑zoning requires two separate detection inputs to activate before certain actions (like clean agent release) occur, reducing the chance of false discharge.

NFPA 72 expects that activation of an initiating device will result in notification within about 10 seconds, barring special arrangements like alarm verification or pre‑signal.

Even with “System Normal,” a non‑working device is unacceptable; the technician must troubleshoot the field device, wiring, and programming until it responds correctly.