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FPFF exit exam questions and answers — Set 15 — Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting

Set 15 of the Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (FPFF) exit exam bank — 30 of 656 questions, with the correct option marked and a one-line explanation for every one. Read it end to end, jump to a single set, or search it — then sit the same bank as a timed paper. The real DG Shipping exit exam is 30 marks with 15 to pass.

These are the bank's original groupings. Practising deals the whole bank out again every time you reshuffle, so a practice “Set 3” is a different 30 questions each time — the set numbers below are the source file's, and are only used here so the key stays navigable. Options are listed in their original order with fixed letters; when you practise, those move too.

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Set 15 — 30 FPFF exit exam questions with answers

1. Which of the following fire extinguishers cannot easily be recharged on board ship?

  • A. Soda acid
  • B. Carbon dioxide
  • C. Dry chemical, cartridge-operated
  • D. Foam
Answer: B — Carbon dioxide
A CO2 extinguisher must be refilled with liquid CO2 at high pressure using special charging equipment ashore. Cartridge dry chemical and foam extinguishers can usually be recharged on board.

2. Annual servicing of a hand portable CO2 fire extinguisher includes _____.

  • A. Inspecting the pressure gauge to ensure the needle is within operating range
  • B. Weighing the cylinder and recharging if weight loss exceeds 10% of the weight of the charge
  • C. Hydrostatic testing of the cylinder
  • D. Discharging, cleaning inside, and recharging
Answer: B — Weighing the cylinder and recharging if weight loss exceeds 10% of the weight of the charge
The contents of a CO2 extinguisher cannot be read from a gauge, so it is weighed at servicing. If weight loss exceeds 10% of the charge, the extinguisher must be recharged.

3. Which of the following is NOT required to be part of a vessel's Fire Control Plan?

  • A. Ventilation fan location
  • B. Ventilation fan capacity
  • C. Ventilation fan control
  • D. Ventilation dampers
Answer: B — Ventilation fan capacity
SOLAS II-2/15.2.4 requires the fire control plan to show particulars of the ventilating system, including fan control positions, dampers and fan identification numbers. Fan capacity is not required.

4. Oil fires are best extinguished by ____.

  • A. Cutting off the supply of oxygen
  • B. Removing the fuel
  • C. Cooling below the ignition temperature
  • D. Spraying with water
Answer: A — Cutting off the supply of oxygen
Oil fires are best extinguished by smothering with foam or CO2, which excludes oxygen from the fuel surface. Water jets can spread burning oil and removal of fuel is rarely practicable.

5. A foam-type portable fire extinguisher would be most useful in combating a fire in ____.

  • A. Solid materials such as wood or bales of fiber
  • B. Flammable liquids
  • C. A piece of electrical equipment
  • D. Combustible metallic solids
Answer: B — Flammable liquids
Foam extinguishers are designed for Class B flammable liquid fires, forming a blanket that smothers the fire and seals in vapour. Foam is conductive, so it is unsuitable for electrical fires.

6. Under the NFPA classification, what is the primary hazard, other than fire damage, associated with a Class C fire?

  • A. Possibility of reflash
  • B. Electrocution or shock
  • C. Explosion
  • D. Flashover
Answer: B — Electrocution or shock
Class C fires involve energised electrical equipment, so the main additional hazard is electric shock or electrocution to firefighters, especially if water or foam is used.

7. What is the major fire hazard found in accommodation spaces?

  • A. Electrical appliances
  • B. Oily rag
  • C. Paint drum
  • D. Electric motor
Answer: A — Electrical appliances
In accommodation spaces, faulty or misused electrical appliances such as kettles, heaters, irons and overloaded sockets are a major cause of fires, alongside careless smoking.

8. Dry chemical extinguishers may be used on what class of fires?

  • A. A only
  • B. B only
  • C. B and C only
  • D. A, B or C as marked on the extinguisher
Answer: D — A, B or C as marked on the extinguisher
Dry chemical extinguishers are made with different powders: BC powder for flammable liquid and electrical fires, and ABC multipurpose powder for those plus ordinary combustibles. The suitable classes are marked on the extinguisher.

9. Which extinguishing agent is most likely to allow reflash as a result of not cooling the fuel below its ignition temperature?

  • A. Foam
  • B. CO2
  • C. Water stream
  • D. Water fog
Answer: B — CO2
CO2 smothers a fire but has very little cooling effect. If the CO2 concentration drops before hot fuel has cooled below its ignition temperature, the fire can reflash.

10. What should be your FIRST action if you discover a fire aboard ship?

  • A. Sound the alarm
  • B. Attempt to put out the fire
  • C. Confine it by closing doors, ports and vents
  • D. Call the Master
Answer: A — Sound the alarm
Raising the alarm is the first action so that the whole crew is alerted and the fire party mustered. The discoverer can then attempt to tackle the fire if it is small and safe to do so.

11. Which of the following firefighting agents is the least hazardous to personnel?

  • A. CO2
  • B. Steam
  • C. Water
  • D. Carbon tetrachloride
Answer: C — Water
Water is non-toxic and does not displace oxygen, so it is the least hazardous agent to personnel. CO2 and steam can asphyxiate or scald, and carbon tetrachloride produces toxic phosgene gas.

12. Dry chemical extinguishers extinguish Class B fires mainly by ____.

  • A. Cooling
  • B. Smothering
  • C. Oxygen dilution
  • D. Breaking the chain reaction
Answer: D — Breaking the chain reaction
Dry chemical powders extinguish Class B fires mainly by chemically interrupting the combustion chain reaction. Their smothering and cooling effects are minor in comparison, which is why reflash can occur if hot surfaces remain.

13. To extinguish an electrical fire, you should use ____.

  • A. Mechanical foam
  • B. Chemical foam
  • C. Carbon dioxide
  • D. Soda acid
Answer: C — Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is non-conductive and leaves no residue, making it suitable for electrical fires. Mechanical foam, chemical foam and soda acid contain water and conduct electricity.

14. You are fighting a fire in the electrical switchboard in the engine room. You should secure the power, then ____.

  • A. Use a portable foam extinguisher
  • B. Use a low-velocity fog adapter with the fire hose
  • C. Use a portable CO2 extinguisher
  • D. Determine the cause of the fire
Answer: C — Use a portable CO2 extinguisher
After isolating power, a CO2 extinguisher is the preferred agent for a switchboard fire because it is non-conductive and leaves no residue to damage sensitive electrical equipment.

15. Which of the following firefighting agents produces a buoyant blanket to separate burning vapours from air?

  • A. CO2
  • B. Low-expansion foam
  • C. Water fog
  • D. Steam
Answer: B — Low-expansion foam
Low-expansion foam is lighter than oil and floats on the burning surface, forming a cohesive blanket that separates the fuel and its vapours from the air.

16. Before attempting to put out a Class C fire involving an electric-driven centrifugal pump, you should FIRST ____.

  • A. Insulate your shoes
  • B. Ground the fire hose
  • C. Secure its power supply
  • D. Start the fire pump
Answer: C — Secure its power supply
Isolating the electrical supply removes the shock hazard and the source of ignition. The fire can then be fought as an ordinary fire with suitable agents.

17. The three positions of an all-purpose fire nozzle handle are ____.

  • A. Forward: off, center: fog, back: solid stream
  • B. Forward: solid stream, center: fog, back: off
  • C. Forward: fog, center: solid stream, back: off
  • D. Forward: off, center: solid stream, back: fog
Answer: A — Forward: off, center: fog, back: solid stream
On the all-purpose nozzle, pushing the handle fully forward shuts the nozzle, the upright centre position gives high-velocity fog, and pulling the handle fully back gives a solid stream.

18. One disadvantage of CO2 when used as a total flooding agent is ____.

  • A. The lack of cooling effect on heated materials
  • B. It cannot be used in a dead ship condition without power for a CO2 pump
  • C. It breaks down under extreme heat to form poisonous gases
  • D. It has no effect on a Class A fire even in an enclosed space
Answer: A — The lack of cooling effect on heated materials
CO2 extinguishes by smothering and has very little cooling effect. Heated materials stay above their ignition temperature, so the space must stay sealed for long periods to prevent reignition.

19. If a powdered aluminium fire is being fought, the correct extinguishing agent would be ____.

  • A. Dry powder
  • B. Water fog
  • C. CO2
  • D. Steam
Answer: A — Dry powder
Burning aluminium powder is a Class D metal fire. Water, steam or CO2 can react with or be ineffective on hot metal, so a special dry powder is used to smother and cool it.

20. The main advantage of a solid stream of water on a Class A fire is that it ____.

  • A. Breaks up and cools the fire
  • B. Protects the firefighting crew
  • C. Removes the oxygen
  • D. Washes the fire away
Answer: A — Breaks up and cools the fire
A solid stream has reach and impact to penetrate and break up burning Class A materials such as wood or bedding, and the water cools the fuel below its ignition temperature.

21. Which fire-fighting agent is most effective at removing heat?

  • A. Water spray
  • B. Foam
  • C. Carbon dioxide
  • D. Dry chemical
Answer: A — Water spray
Water has a very high specific heat and latent heat of vaporisation, and a spray of fine droplets exposes a large surface area. This makes water spray the most effective agent for removing heat.

22. Which of the following substances is to be considered as fuel for a Class "B" fire?

  • A. Wood
  • B. Rags
  • C. Electrical insulation
  • D. Fuel oil
Answer: D — Fuel oil
Class B fires involve flammable liquids such as fuel oil, lubricating oil, paints and solvents. Wood, rags and insulation are ordinary solid combustibles giving Class A fires.

23. Fires in combustible metals, such as sodium or magnesium, are classified as Class ____.

  • A. A
  • B. B
  • C. C
  • D. D
Answer: D — D
Class D fires involve combustible metals like sodium, potassium and magnesium. They need special dry powder agents, as water can react violently with burning metals.

24. When choosing extinguishers to fight a Class "B" fire, do NOT use ____.

  • A. Carbon dioxide
  • B. Dry chemical
  • C. Foam (stored-pressure type)
  • D. Water (cartridge-operated)
Answer: D — Water (cartridge-operated)
A solid water jet on a burning liquid spreads the fuel and may cause violent boil-over or splashing. CO2, dry chemical and foam are all suitable for flammable liquid fires.

25. A fire discovered in an operating laundry room dryer is considered to be which of the listed classes of fire, as per NFPA?

  • A. Class A
  • B. Class B
  • C. Class C
  • D. Class D
Answer: C — Class C
Under the NFPA classification, any fire involving energised electrical equipment is Class C. An operating dryer is live, so a non-conducting agent must be used until the power is isolated.

26. Which of the following is true concerning flammable liquid vapours with a concentration above the upper explosive limit?

  • A. The mixture is too lean to burn.
  • B. The mixture is too rich to burn.
  • C. The vapour is about to explode.
  • D. Conditions are perfect for combustion.
Answer: B — The mixture is too rich to burn.
Above the upper flammable (explosive) limit there is too much vapour and too little oxygen, so the mixture is too rich to burn. Dilution with air can bring it back into the flammable range, as ISGOTT warns.

27. What is the most important characteristic of the extinguishing agent in fighting a Class "C" fire under NFPA?

  • A. Weight
  • B. Temperature
  • C. Electrical nonconductivity
  • D. Cost
Answer: C — Electrical nonconductivity
Class C fires involve energised electrical equipment, so the agent must not conduct electricity, otherwise the operator risks electric shock. CO2 and dry powder are therefore preferred.

28. A fire in a pile of linen is a Class ____ fire.

  • A. A
  • B. B
  • C. C
  • D. D
Answer: A — A
Linen, wood, paper, rags and other ordinary solid combustibles burn leaving embers and ash and are classified as Class A fires, best extinguished by cooling with water.

29. What, when removed, will result in the extinguishment of a fire?

  • A. Nitrogen
  • B. Sodium
  • C. Oxygen
  • D. Carbon dioxide
Answer: C — Oxygen
Oxygen is one side of the fire triangle. Removing or reducing it below about 15% by smothering, for example with CO2 or foam, extinguishes the fire.

30. The extinguishing agent most likely to allow reignition of a fire is ____.

  • A. Carbon dioxide
  • B. Foam
  • C. Water fog
  • D. Water stream
Answer: A — Carbon dioxide
CO2 extinguishes by smothering and has very little cooling effect. Once the gas disperses, hot surfaces can reignite the fuel, so a watch for re-flash is essential after CO2 use.

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