Textbook

Book: Canadian Fire Alarm Association: The Canadian Fire Alarm System – A Reference Manual, 2020, 2nd Edition (CFAA, 2020)

 

Online Students

If you purchased a course book with HSMC, we will ship it to you up to 3 days before the start of your course.

In Person Students

If you purchased a textbook with HSMC, it will be provided to you on the first day of the course.

Topics Covered

Unit 1: Building a Career in the Fire Alarm Industry

• The pathway to becoming a Registered Fire Alarm Technician
• The importance of ethical professionalism on behalf of the technician and the technician’s
  employer
• The Fire Protection concept
• Canada’s experiences and lessons learned with respect to fire disasters
• The chemistry and behavior of fire

Unit 1 is covered in its entirety.

 

Unit 2: The Codes and Standards That Govern

• Code creation and adoption
• Code structure
• ULC standards governing our activities
• The link between codes and standards

Unit 2 is covered in its entirety.

 

Unit 3: The Fire Alarm as a Life Safety System

• Devices that are used in detecting a fire
• Devices that are used to warn building occupants
• Other building functions are controlled by the fire alarm control panel
• The basic difference between the conventional and the addressable system
• The definition and required use of the two-stage system
• The Ancillary control

Unit 3 is covered in its entirety.

 

Unit 4: The Basics of Fire Detection

• The stages of fire development and the corresponding detection devices associated with
  each stage.
• How the building code mandates the use of detection devices
• How the Installation Standard mandates how the devices will be installed.
• How the different devices are designed in order to detect the presence of fire.
• Smoke detectors that are designed for specific applications

Chapters:

• 4.1 Automatic Detection
• 4.2 ULC’s Installation Standard for Fire Detectors
• 4.4 through 4.4.2 Smoke Detector Basics
• 4.11 through 4.11.3 Other Types of Smoke Detectors
• 4.12 through 4.18 Heat Detector Types and Applications
• 4.23 through 4.24 The Manual Station

 

Unit 5: The Fire Alarm Signal

• Understanding the properties of sound, its propagation and relationship to the alarm
  signal.
• How sound pressure levels are measured.
• The design and operation of the strobe.
• The Code and Standard requirements for the installation of signal devices.
• Design considerations with respect to both audible and visual signal devices.
• How signal circuits are supervised.

Chapters:

• 5.1 through 5.4 Introduction to Signaling Devices
• 5.16 Building Code Requirements for Minimum Sound Levels
• 5.27 Introduction to the Speaker
• 5.29 The T3 Pattern
• 5.32 Introduction to the Strobe

 

Unit 6: The Fire Alarm Control Panel

• Recognize the purpose of input and output devices and their role within the system.
• Understand the status information displayed by the panel and be able to manipulate the
  basic system controls.
• Understand how fire alarm panels are assembled, how circuit wires are connected
  and the power requirements.
• Recognize the differences between conventional and addressable system technology.
• Field device programming.
• Understand that complex systems require specific training acquired in the field or
  manufacturer-sponsored programs.

Chapters:

• 6.1 The Panel’s Role in the Fire Alarm System
• 6.2 The Basics
• 6.4 through 6.6 The Operator Interface; The Display and the Controls
• 6.36 Interface with Other Systems
• 6.50 The Addressable Control Panel and System
• 6.65 The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Microprocessor- based system

 

Unit 7: Zoning of Fire Alarm Systems

• The reason why fire alarm systems are zoned.
• Good system design with respect to annunciation of building areas as well as detection
  systems that function autonomously.
• Zone requirements for non-alarm devices such as sprinkler supervisory inputs.
• Annunciation for releasing systems as separate from the sprinkler suppression inputs.
• How speaker circuits have similar zoning requirements.

For Course 1, Unit 7 is covered in its entirety.

Unit 8: Circuit Structure

• The ways in which circuitry can be compromised.
• The importance of supervision of fire alarm circuits.
• How supervision is achieved; the Trouble signal.
• The difference between Class A and Class B styles.
• The Data Communication Link and how it functions.
• The role of the Fault Isolator.
• The various styles attributed to the DCL.

Chapters:

• 8.1 Circuit Supervision
• 8.2 Circuit Integrity
• 8.3 Metallic Continuity
• 8.7 Circuit Styles
• 8.8 The Class B Style circuit
• 8.13 The Class A Style Circuit
• 8.14 The Class A Style and the DCL

 

Unit 9: The Emergency Voice Communication System

• When an Emergency Voice Communication System is required
• The EVCS as an integral part of the fire alarm system
• The make-up of the Central Alarm and Control Facility
• Speaker circuit layout and provisions for supervision
• Fault Isolation
• Audible levels and patterns
• Automated messages

Chapters:

• 9.0 Its Beginnings
• 9.1 Buildings Requiring an EVC system
• 9.2 The EVC system – Paging and Signaling
• 9.3 Audible Signaling via Speakers
• 9.4 Voice Communication via Speakers
• 9.20 The Emergency Telephone (ET) System

 

Unit 10: The Suppression System

• The differences between sprinkler systems
• The types of chemical suppression systems
• The relationship between suppression systems and the fore alarm system
• Code requirements for suppression systems
• Testing procedures

Chapters:

• 10.1 The Suppression System
• 10.2 The Sprinkler System
• 10.5.1 The Wet Pipe System
• 10.5.2 The Dry Pipe System; Empty Pipes Can’t Freeze
• 10.5.3 The Pre-Action System
• 10.5.4 The Deluge System
• 10.20 The Releasing System; Special Extinguishing Systems and Agents
• 10.21 Extinguishing Methods
• 10.22 Extinguishing Agents
• 10.22.1 Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
• 10.22.2 Dry Chemicals
• 10.22.3 Foam
• 10.22.4 Clean Agents – Hydrocarbons

 

Unit 11: Installing the Fire Alarm System

This unit provides a great deal of information relating to the installation process of the fire
alarm system. In many cases, it discusses material that has gone before with respect to for
example, detection devices, signals and controls.

Chapters:

• 11.1 Where Do We Begin?
• 11.2 Before the Installation Can Begin
• 11.3 Who can install?
• 11.4 The Installation and the Verification
• 11.5 The Codes
• 11.6 The Standards
• 11.8 The Building Permit
• 11.9 Plans and Specifications (especially the creation of the Sequence of Operation).
• 11.14.2 Fire Detectors – General

 

Unit 12: The Fire Signal Receiving Centre

• The importance of proper notification of fire alarm work being carried out
• The importance of the ULC Monitoring Certificate
• An understanding of how the FSRC functions
• To understand the different signal channel technologies
• Understanding the correct circuit connections to the transmitter

For Course 1, the FSRC concept and its role as an important part of the fire alarm system is
presented, including but not limited to the following:

• 12.1 Remote (third party) Monitoring of Fire Alarm Systems
• 12.2 What fire alarm systems require monitoring?
• 12.3 The Transmitter
• 12.8 FSRC Notification Protocol
• 12.9 Fire Service Notification Protocol
• Unit 13: The Verification Process
• For Course 1, the following sections are reviewed:
• 13.1 Fire Alarms Systems are life-safety systems.
• 13.2 The Stakeholders in the Verification process
• 13.3 The governing Code and Standards
• 13.4 When is Verification Required?
• 13.7 Who performs the Verification?
• 13.48 Verification of Ancillary Devices and System

Unit 14: The Annual Inspection

Chapters

• 14.1 After the Verification
• 14.2 The Fire Safety Plan
• 14.3 The Applicable Regulations for the Annual Inspection – National and Provincial
  Fire Codes
• 14.4 CAN/ULC- S536 Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems
• 14.5 Timing of Tests and Inspections
• 14.6 Verification vs. Annual Inspection
• 14.7 Preparing for the Annual Inspection
• 14.16 – 14.19 Testing the Field Devices
• 14.28 The Individual Device Record – a Sample

Student LMS

HSMC uses an online Learning Management Software (LMS) called Moodle. This platform provides you with 24/7 access to your course, grades, and course information.

Please log in before your first class to ensure that your credentials are working properly. If you experience any difficulties, contact the College Registrar.

Notes:

• Username and password are provided in your email.
• If you are enrolled through your company, you will not have a Moodle account.

Join the Classroom

Online Students

If your training is listed as “Online, Instructor-Led” in your email, your training will be hosted by Zoom.

Please follow the steps below to ensure you are ready before your training starts:

Step 1: Check your Technology

• Confirm that you meet the minimum technology standards.
• Reminder: You will need to have your camera on at all times during the training.

Step 2: Set Up Your Zoom Account in Advance

• We strongly recommend that you create or sign into your Zoom account at least one to two days before your class. This will give you time to test your login, update your Zoom application if needed, and confirm that your audio and video are working correctly. For additional guidance, visit: Joining a Zoom meeting.

Step 3: Join the class on Zoom

• On the day of class, use the Zoom credentials provided in your email to join the online classroom.

In Person Students

If your training is listed as “In Person, Instructor-Led” in your email, your training is located at:

• Monte Carlo Inn, 7255 Warden Ave, Markham ON L3R 1B4
• Buttonville Room on the basement floor

On the day of your training you are required to sign in at the start time of course.

If you have not signed in, it will be assumed that you did not attend the training and will impact your attendance.

Attendance Guidelines

As per ministry regulations, you may miss a maximum of 8 hours per course. Exceeding this limit will impact your completion.

If you will be missing course time, notify both the College Registrar and the Course Instructor as soon as possible.

If you are unable to take a scheduled quiz or test, you will need to reschedule on a day during the week with the College Registrar to take the quiz or test, prior to your next course training.

Course Payment Reminder

Prior to the start of your course, please ensure your payment is completed according to the schedule listed on page 5 of your contract.

Credit Card Payments

If you have submitted a credit card authorization form, your deposit will be processed up to the day before your course begins.

Electronic Money Transfer (EMT)

Send your payment to:

Note: This does not apply to private corporate students.

Quizzes and Exam

 

Electronic Assesment Delivery

All quizzes and the final exam are accessed by scanning a QR code using a smartphone or direct link. All students must meet the  minimum technology standards to participate in these asssessments.

Paper-Based Assesment

If you are listed as “Paper-Based Assessment”, all quizzes and exams will be completed using a printed scantronic answer sheet and graded through ZipGrade.

To review your grade you can log into ZipGrade using the username and password provided in your email.

Evaluation

Your instructor will let you know when it is time to take each quiz or the final exam:

• Quiz 1, Chapters 1 to 5 = 20%
• Quiz 2, Chapters 6 to 10 = 20%
• Quiz 3, Chapters 11 to 12 – 20%
• Final Exam, All Chapters = 40%
• The final exam is worth 40%
• You must achieve a minimum overall grade of 60% to pass

 

Please allow 5 – 10 business days from submission date to see your grades in Moodle

Receiving Your Certificate & Transcript

Upon successful completion of all your training, your Record of Completion certificate and Transcript (if applicable) will be sent to you via email.

• For Electronic Assessment Delivery, please allow 5–10 business days after completion.
• For Paper-Based Assessment Delivery, please allow 10–15 business days after completion.

Support Services

We are here to support you every step of the way. Depending on your needs, please connect with the right person.

Academic Support

For questions about your course, and classroom learning.

• Reach out to your Course Instructor
• Sat-Sun: 9AM – 6PM EST (During class time)

Administrative & Technical Support

For help with enrollment or technical issues:

• Mary Pierog,
• Mon-Fri: 9AM – 3PM EST
• Sat-Sun: 8:30AM – 10AM EST, (During class time)

Billing & Invoicing Support

For questions about tuition payments, invoices, receipts, or financial account details.

• Judy Smith,
• Mon-Fri: 9AM – 3PM EST

B2B Training Support

For private, corporate training students:

• Tania Barnes,
• Mon-Fri: 9AM – 3PM EST

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