NFPA CFPS Exam - Topic 6 Question 2 Discussion

Actual exam question for NFPA's CFPS exam

Question #: 2
Topic #: 6

[All CFPS Questions]

Which type of smoke detector is best suited tor detecting smoldering (low-energy) fires?

AIonization

BPhotoelectric

CVideo

DRate of rise

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: B

by Britt at Feb 11, 2025, 11:20 AM

Limited Time Offer

25%

Off

Get Premium CFPS Questions as Interactive Web-Based Practice Test or PDF

Contribute your Thoughts:

Submit Cancel

Kris

7 months ago

Definitely going with photoelectric for my home!

upvoted 0 times

...

Ammie

8 months ago

Wait, are video detectors even a thing for fires?

upvoted 0 times

...

Asuncion

8 months ago

I thought ionization was better for that?

upvoted 0 times

...

Brynn

8 months ago

Totally agree, they detect smoke better!

upvoted 0 times

...

Matt

8 months ago

Photoelectric is best for smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Gail

9 months ago

I'm a bit confused; I thought rate of rise detectors were for heat detection, not smoke. Does that mean they wouldn't be suitable here?

upvoted 0 times

...

Yuette

9 months ago

I feel like we had a practice question about this, and it mentioned that photoelectric ones are good for detecting smoke from smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Arlen

9 months ago

I remember studying that ionization detectors are more sensitive to fast-flaming fires, so I guess that rules them out for this question.

upvoted 0 times

...

Micaela

9 months ago

I think the photoelectric detector is better for smoldering fires, but I'm not completely sure.

upvoted 0 times

...

Ramonita

9 months ago

Photoelectric seems like the obvious choice here. Ionization detectors can miss the slow-building smoke from smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Willow

9 months ago

Video smoke detectors? I've never heard of those. I'm going to have to go with photoelectric on this one.

upvoted 0 times

...

Trinidad

9 months ago

Photoelectric for sure. Ionization detectors are better for fast-burning fires, but photoelectric are more sensitive to the slow-building smoke from smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Ivory

9 months ago

Hmm, I'm not sure about this one. I'll have to think it through carefully. Maybe the ionization detector would be better for low-energy fires?

upvoted 0 times

...

Hoa

9 months ago

I think the photoelectric smoke detector would be best for detecting smoldering fires, since it uses a light beam to detect smoke particles.

upvoted 0 times

...

Sherita

1 year ago

Video smoke detectors? I didn't know we were playing 'Where's Waldo: Smoke Edition'. Photoelectric is the real MVP here.

upvoted 0 times

Crissy

1 year ago

Yeah, I agree. Ionization detectors are better for fast-flaming fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Latosha

1 year ago

Photoelectric is definitely the way to go for smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Nan

1 year ago

Ionization detectors? More like 'ion-izing' my brain with these silly choices. Photoelectric is the winner, hands down.

upvoted 0 times

...

Melodie

1 year ago

Rate of rise? That's for the adrenaline junkies. I'll stick with the good old photoelectric detector, thank you very much.

upvoted 0 times

Marget

1 year ago

Yeah, they are more reliable for those types of fires compared to ionization detectors.

upvoted 0 times

...

Mattie

1 year ago

I agree, photoelectric detectors are great for detecting smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Clay

1 year ago

Video smoke detectors? Really? What is this, a sci-fi movie? Photoelectric is clearly the correct answer.

upvoted 0 times

Jennifer

1 year ago

Rate of rise detectors are more for industrial settings, right?

upvoted 0 times

...

Leslie

1 year ago

Video detectors sound interesting, but I think they might be overkill for home use.

upvoted 0 times

...

Mattie

1 year ago

I agree, ionization detectors are better for fast-flaming fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Winfred

1 year ago

Photoelectric is definitely the best for detecting smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Hollis

1 year ago

I'm not sure, but I think Ionization detectors are better for detecting smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Barb

1 year ago

I agree with Gretchen, Photoelectric detectors are more sensitive to smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Margery

1 year ago

Photoelectric smoke detectors are the way to go for detecting those pesky smoldering fires. I'd say that's the obvious choice here.

upvoted 0 times

Willard

1 year ago

Good choice, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

upvoted 0 times

...

Lorean

1 year ago

I think I'll go with the photoelectric option for my home.

upvoted 0 times

...

France

1 year ago

I agree, they are more sensitive to slow-burning fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Barbra

1 year ago

Photoelectric smoke detectors are definitely the best for smoldering fires.

upvoted 0 times

...

Gretchen

1 year ago

I think the best type for detecting smoldering fires is Photoelectric.

upvoted 0 times

...