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2024-2025 General Catalog
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FIR 152 - Fire Protection Systems


Last Date of Approval: Spring of 2019

3 Credits
Total Lecture Hours: 45
Total Lab Hours: 0
Total Clinical Hours: 0
Total Work-Based Experience Hours: 0

Course Description:
This course provides information relating to the features of design and operation of fire detection and alarm systems, heat and smoke control systems, special protection and sprinkler systems, water supply for fire protection and portable fire extinguishers.

Prerequisites/Corequisites: None

Mode(s) of Instruction: Traditional/face-to-face

Credit for Prior Learning: There is no credit for prior learning for this course

Course Fees: None

Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives:
Course Outcomes: 

  • Discuss the basics of fire behavior. 

  • List fire protection systems and the model code process. 

  • List fire alarm system components and explain their functions. 

  • Describe different types of rie alarm and detection systems. 

  • Describe different water supply sources for fire protection systems. 

  • Explain the use and requirements of standpipe and hose systems. 

  • Describe the components and applications of an automated fire sprinkler system. 

  • List specialized water-based fire protection systems. 

  • Explain the use of fixed wet and dry chemical extinguishing systems. 

  • Explain the use of gaseous agent extinguishing systems. 

  • Describe basic portable fire extinguishers. 

  • Explain the use of smoke control and management systems. 

  • Explain how property security systems affect emergency response and fire protection systems. 

Student Learning Outcomes: 

  • Describe the difference between fire and combustion. 

  • Identify and describe the elements of the fire triangle and fire tetrahedron. 

  • List and describe the different types of fire. 

  • List and describe the different stages of fire. 

  • List and describe forms of heat transfer. 

  • List and describe methods used to extinguish fires. 

  • List and describe the classes of fire and their relationship to extinguishing agents. 

  • Define the terms code and model code. 

  • Name the two most prominent model code organizations. 

  • Describe the International Code Council (ICC) model code development process. 

  • Describe the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) model code development process. 

  • Define the terms referenced standard and code amendment. 

  • Describe the advantages to governments and organizations that adopt model codes. 

  • List the two most important code-related conditions that determine the installation requirements for fire protection systems.  

  • Describe a fire alarm system. 

  • List five functions fire alarm systems provide. 

  • List and describe the three types of fire alarm signals. 

  • Discuss the characteristics of conventional fire alarm system technology. 

  • Discuss the characteristics of addressable fire alarm system technology. 

  • Discuss the functions of a fire alarm control panel and annunciation panel. 

  • List and describe the different components that make up a fire alarm system. 

  • List and describe devices that interface with a fire alarm system to supervise the condition of other fire protection systems. 

  • List and discuss the different fire alarm system classifications. 

  • List and discuss the interface capabilities between fire alarm systems and other building fire protection and life safety systems. 

  • List and discuss the different conditions, situations, and circumstances used to determine manual fire alarm and automatic detection system installation requirements. 

  • Describe the different acceptance and periodic inspections, tests, and maintenance activities required for fire alarm systems. 

  • Define the terms pressure, flow, and duration as they relate to the movement of water. 

  • Identify and describe the components of a water supply and distribution network. 

  • Discuss the difference between a municipal/public water system and a private water system. 

  • Describe how pumped, gravity, and combined supply systems operate. 

  • Define friction loss and discuss how it affects water flow. 

  • Define the terms static pressure and residual pressure. 

  • List and discuss the characteristics of the two types of NFPA-approved stationary fire pumps. 

  • Define the terms churn, rated performance, and peak performance in relation to stationary fire pump testing. 

  • List and describe the different types of standpipes and the different standpipe classifications. 

  • List and describe the different standpipe system components. 

  • State when and where standpipes and hose systems are required in buildings. 

  • Reference the design and installation standards that apply to standpipes. 

  • State the minimum standpipe system design pressure and flow requirements. 

  • Reference the inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements. 

  • Recognize the possible impairments to standpipe systems. 

  • Describe an automatic fire sprinkler system. 

  • Discuss the myths and realities associated with automatic fire sprinkler system operation. 

  • List and describe the different components that make up an automatic fire sprinkler system. 

  • List and describe the different types of automatic fire sprinkler system heads. 

  • Describe the different types of automatic fire sprinkler systems and the best applications for those systems. 

  • State the factors that determine requirements to install automatic fire sprinkler systems. 

  • Discuss the design concepts behind automatic fire sprinkler systems. 

  • List and describe different occupancy and commodity classifications. 

  • Discuss the inspection and testing requirements for automatic fire sprinkler systems. 

  • State three reasons why, under certain circumstances, the installation of specialized types of water-based fire protection systems is a better choice than standard automatic fire sprinkler systems. 

  • Discuss the characteristics and applications for fixed foam systems. 

  • Discuss the characteristics and applications for foam-water sprinkler and foam-water spray systems. 

  • Discuss the characteristics and applications for water spray fixed systems. 

  • Discuss the characteristics and applications for water mist systems. 

  • Discuss the inspection and test requirements for acceptance of specialized water-based fire protection systems. 

  • Recognize the possible impairments to specialized water-based fire protection systems. 

  • Describe the characteristics of fixed wet and dry chemical extinguishing systems. 

  • Discuss the hazards fixed wet and dry chemical extinguishing systems most likely protect. 

  • Describe how fixed wet and dry chemical agents control and extinguish fire. 

  • Describe a pre-engineered system. 

  • List the major components that make up fixed wet and dry chemical extinguishing systems. 

  • Describe the types of fixed wet and dry chemical extinguishing systems. 

  • Discuss the various acceptance and periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for fixed wet and dry chemical extinguishing systems.  

  • Describe the physical characteristics of carbon dioxide. 

  • Describe the four application methods for delivery of carbon dioxide. 

  • Describe the physical characteristics of halogenated hydrocarbons (halons). 

  • Explain the halon numbering identification system. 

  • Describe the physical characteristics of halocarbons and inert gases (clean agents). 

  • Discuss the two categories of clean agents. 

  • Explain the difference between the two types of aerosol generators. 

  • Discuss the various acceptance and periodic inspections and tests that are required to certify and maintain gaseous agent extinguishing systems.  

  • Discuss the fire extinguisher classification system. 

  • List the different extinguishing agents and their applications. 

  • Discuss the fire extinguisher rating system and identify which classifications of extinguishers it applies. 

  • Explain why a certain extinguisher classification requires a conductivity test. 

  • Describe the different types of fire extinguishers and how they operate. 

  • Explain the acronym PASS in relation to fire extinguisher operation. 

  • Discuss the inspection, testing, and maintenance procedures for portable fire extinguishers. 

  • Define the terms smoke control and smoke management. 

  • State the design goals for smoke control and smoke management systems. 

  • Name the three general methods used to control smoke movement. 

  • Describe the four pressure differential methods used to control smoke. 

  • Describe five design requirements or operational characteristics of smoke control systems. 

  • List the different life safety and fire protection systems that interface with smoke control systems and describe how they interact. 

  • Discuss the importance of the acceptance testing and annual retesting of smoke control and management systems.  

  • Identify and describe the three components of a means of egress. 

  • List and describe the override requirements for exit stairway doors in high-rise buildings. 

  • List and describe the requirements for delayed egress locks. 

  • List and describe the requirements for access-controlled egress doors. 

  • List and describe the requirements for electrically controlled and electromagnetically locked egress doors. 

  • Describe the purpose of an emergency building entrance system. 

  • List what is typically found inside an emergency building entrance system. 

  • List and describe the different methods of property access through security gates and vehicle barriers. 



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