CWBSP NFPA Certified Water-Based Systems Professionals Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

NFPA standards allow a certain distance for underground mains to run under a building to the riser without imposing additional requirements. A distance of up to 5 ft is commonly accepted, providing a practical allowance for connecting the underground water supply to the building's sprinkler system while minimizing potential risks.

References: NFPA guidelines for the installation of fire sprinkler systems, including considerations for underground water supply connections.

Working plans for dry systems are required to include the total system volume, as this informationis critical for determining the amount of air or nitrogen needed to pressurize the system and for calculating the time to water delivery. This requirement helps ensure the system's effective operation and quick response in the event of a fire.

References: NFPA 13 requirements for the documentation and planning of sprinkler systems, emphasizing the importance of detailed system information for dry configurations.

The equivalent length of a 45° elbow for 6 in Schedule 10 pipe is often considered to be around 11.8 ft, accounting for friction loss and the impact on water flow. This equivalent length helps in hydraulic calculations to ensure the sprinkler system meets the required design criteria for pressure and flow.

References: NFPA 13 and hydraulic calculation principles used in the design and installation of sprinkler systems, including considerations for pipe fittings like elbows.

For a system using the Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule method, the minimum pressure and flow required are typically based on the system's design criteria, which for a system fully monitored as specified by NFPA 13 and with the highest elevation of sprinklers at 28 ft, would be around 500 gpm at 27 psi.

References: NFPA 13 includes guidelines for calculating system demand using the pipe schedule method, taking into account factors such as system elevation and monitoring.

The maximum floor area on any one floor to be protected by sprinklers supplied by any one sprinkler system riser or combined system riser shall be as follows:

1.Light hazard — 52,000 ft2 (4830 m2)

2.Ordinary hazard — 52,000 ft2 (4830 m2)

3.* Extra hazard — Hydraulically calculated — 40,000 ft2 (3720 m2)

4.High-piled Storage — High-piled storage (as defined in 3.3.100) and storage covered by other NFPA standards — 40,000 ft2 (3720 m2)

5.In-rack Storage — 40,000 ft2 (3720 m2)

If sprinklers are above the level of the water supply to the antifreeze system, a check valve with a 1/32 in. (0.8 mm) hole in the clapper shall be provided in the U-loop.

ASTM F442 covers the standards for the manufacture of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipes, which are permitted for use in fire sprinkler systems due to their suitable properties for carrying water in fire suppression applications.

References: The ASTM F442 standard specifies requirements for CPVC materials used in fireprotection systems, ensuring they meet necessary safety and performance criteria.

A kitchen area of over 700 ft² in a restaurant typically does not meet the definition of a "small room" in fire protection terminology, as it exceeds common size thresholds for such a classification, which often consider both the area and the specific use or hazard of the space.

References: NFPA standards and fire protection guidelines often define "small rooms" based on specific criteria related to size, use, and construction features, which vary across different applications and standards.

In an NFPA 13 fire sprinkler system, a main control valve must be listed, and a flow switch is also required to monitor water movement in the system, signaling activation of the sprinklers. The flow switch is a critical component for system monitoring and alerting.

References: NFPA 13 requirements for the installation and components of fire sprinkler systems, emphasizing the importance of listed equipment and system monitoring devices.