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Fire Detection & Alarm Systems (FDA)

intermediate 36 hours 4 modules 12 lessons 4 assessments Final exam 4 practical tasks Certificate valid 1 years

About this course

Understand, design, install, commission, and maintain fire detection and alarm systems. Covers detection principles, conventional and addressable panels, system categories and zoning, circuit classes and cabling, battery calculations, cause-and-effect, and inspection and testing to NFPA 72, BS 5839-1, and EN 54.

What you will be able to do

  • Choose the right detector type for each fire risk and environment
  • Compare conventional and addressable systems and select a system category
  • Lay out detectors, manual call points, and sounders using code spacing rules
  • Specify circuit classes, isolators, and fire-resistant cabling
  • Calculate standby battery capacity
  • Write a cause-and-effect matrix and commission, inspect, and maintain a system

Curriculum

305 min of reading
  • 1
    Conventional vs addressable systems
    25 min
  • 2
    System categories and zoning
    25 min
  • 3
    Device layout: detectors, call points, and sounders
    30 min
  • Q
    Module assessment: System Types & Design
    5 questions · pass 80%
  • 1
    Circuit classes, isolators, and fire-resistant cables
    25 min
  • 2
    Power supplies and battery calculations
    30 min
  • 3
    Cause and effect and system interfaces
    25 min
  • Q
    Module assessment: Wiring, Power & Cause and Effect
    5 questions · pass 80%
  • 1
    Commissioning and acceptance testing
    25 min
  • 2
    Routine inspection, testing, and maintenance
    25 min
  • 3
    Fault finding on fire alarm systems
    25 min
  • Q
    Module assessment: Commissioning, Inspection & Maintenance
    5 questions · pass 80%

Final exam

20 questions including field scenarios and image questions · 35 minutes · pass mark 80%. Unlocks when every lesson and module assessment is complete.

Locked

Practical sign-off

Hands-on tasks a supervisor must watch you complete and sign off before your certificate is issued.

  • 1

    Wire and commission a conventional zone with correct EOL

    Prove open and short circuit faults are reported.

  • 2

    Program an addressable loop and its cause and effect

    Device text, zones, isolators, and at least one interface output.

  • 3

    Functionally test detectors and call points with approved equipment

    Test smoke, heat tester, and call point test key; record in the logbook.

  • 4

    Measure sounder levels and complete a battery calculation

    Meter readings against design levels and a signed battery calculation.