Free CFPE Practice Questions

Question 1

A plan examiner receives a complete set of construction documents for a new building. Which determination must be made FIRST, because every subsequent code requirement depends on it?

Accepted Answer

Determine the occupancy classification of the building and its spaces

Answer

Calculate the occupant load of each space to size the means of egress

Answer

Verify the construction type against the assemblies shown on the plans

Answer

Identify which fire protection systems the building will be required to have

Question 2

When calculating occupant load, which of the following is the defining characteristic of NET floor area as opposed to GROSS floor area?

Accepted Answer

Net area excludes corridors, stairs, restrooms, and mechanical spaces; gross area includes them

Answer

Net area is measured to the inside face of exterior walls, gross area to the outside face

Answer

Net area applies to sprinklered buildings; gross area applies to non-sprinklered buildings

Answer

Net area is used for existing occupancies; gross area is used for new construction

Question 3

A single-story building contains 6,000 ft² of open office area (150 ft² gross/person) and a 1,200 ft² conference room with tables and chairs (15 ft² net/person). What is the total occupant load, and which space governs it?

Accepted Answer

120 persons; the conference room governs despite being the smaller space

Answer

48 persons; the office area governs because it is five times larger

Answer

88 persons; the two spaces contribute roughly equally to the total

Answer

80 persons; only the conference room is counted because it has the denser factor

Question 4

A jurisdiction has formally adopted the 2021 edition of NFPA 101. A designer submits plans citing a 2024 edition provision that is MORE stringent than the 2021 requirement. How should the plan examiner proceed?

Accepted Answer

Apply the 2021 edition, since the adopted edition governs in the jurisdiction

Answer

Apply the 2024 provision, since the more stringent requirement always governs

Answer

Apply the 2024 provision, since it reflects the current state of the art

Answer

Reject the submittal and require the designer to resubmit citing only the 2021 edition

Question 5

A candidate is asked to verify the maximum permitted travel distance for a space. What is the correct approach?

Accepted Answer

Locate the limit in the occupancy chapter applicable to that specific occupancy and status

Answer

Apply the general travel distance limit found in NFPA 101 Chapter 7

Answer

Apply 200 ft for non-sprinklered and 250 ft for sprinklered buildings as a standard rule

Answer

Use the most restrictive travel distance found anywhere in the Life Safety Code

Question 6

A developer submits plans for a five-story apartment building with sprinkler protection designed to NFPA 13R. The plan examiner should:

Accepted Answer

Identify a deficiency, because NFPA 13R is limited by the building's height in stories

Answer

Approve the design, since NFPA 13R is written specifically for apartment buildings

Answer

Approve the design if the building is fully sprinklered throughout including attics

Answer

Approve the design only if each dwelling unit is separated by 1-hour construction

Question 7

A design professional proposes an alternative material not specifically addressed by the adopted code, asserting it provides equivalent protection. Under the equivalency provisions, who carries the burden of demonstrating equivalency?

Accepted Answer

The submitter proposing the alternative material

Answer

The authority having jurisdiction, which must disprove the claim

Answer

The manufacturer, through a listing from an approved testing laboratory

Answer

Neither party; equivalency is resolved by the appeals board on request

Question 8

A building contains manufacturing operations and administrative offices that are intermingled throughout, with no fire-resistance-rated separation between them. How are the code requirements applied?

Accepted Answer

The requirements applicable to the most restrictive occupancy present are applied

Answer

Each area is evaluated independently against the requirements for its own occupancy

Answer

The requirements of the occupancy with the greater floor area are applied throughout

Answer

The building is reclassified as a single Industrial occupancy and offices are disregarded

Question 9

A floor has an occupant load of 300 persons egressing entirely by stairways, using a capacity factor of 0.3 in. per person. Two stairways are provided. What total stair width is required, and what must the examiner ALSO verify?

Accepted Answer

90 in. total; that each stairway independently meets the minimum required width

Answer

60 in. total; that each stairway independently meets the minimum required width

Answer

90 in. total; that the two stairways are of exactly equal clear width

Answer

100 in. total; that the wider stairway can accommodate the entire occupant load

Question 10

A plan examiner identifies a dead-end corridor that exceeds the permitted length. Which comment is MOST appropriate for the plan review report?

Accepted Answer

"Dead-end corridor at grid line 4 exceeds the limit of the applicable occupancy chapter; cite section provided."

Answer

"Dead-end corridor exceeds the permitted length; relocate the north wall to create a second exit access."

Answer

"Corridor arrangement is unsafe and will not be approved in its current configuration."

Answer

"Dead-end corridor at the north end appears excessive and should be reviewed by the design team."

Free CFPE Practice Questions

Domain 1: Administration 21% of exam

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Domain 2: Plan Review 79% of exam

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

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