Texas TFM-13 Residential Fire Alarm Test: What It Covers and Who Needs It

Texas TFM-13 Residential Fire Alarm Test: What It Covers and Who Needs It

TFM-13 is the State Fire Marshal's Residential Fire Alarm test. It is the technical test behind the two residential fire alarm licenses, and it is narrower than anything else in the Texas fire alarm series.

Who needs TFM-13

On the RAS, TFM-12 can be waived by an ESA Level II or NICET Fire Alarm Level II certification. TFM-11 and TFM-13 cannot.

Both licenses cost $120 initial and $200 to renew.

For the commercial fire alarm license, see our Texas FAL requirements guide.

The format

The time limit is set by PSI. PSI's candidate bulletin also says a handout is supplied for TFM-13. Read the bulletin before test day so you know what you will and will not have in front of you.

What it covers

SFMO is unusually specific. TFM-13 is "based only on information contained in the chapter on Household Fire Alarm Systems" of NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.

Texas adopts NFPA 72-2019 (28 TAC §34.607). In that edition the household material is Chapter 29.

SFMO lists five subjects:

1. "Detector type, location, and spacing."
2. "Required amounts of detectors."
3. "Detector requirements for single and multiple stations."
4. "Power supplies."
5. "Maintenance and tests."

SFMO publishes no weights for these subjects.

How to study it

One chapter is a small target, which is the advantage. Read Chapter 29 of the 2019 edition end to end, then read it again against the five subjects above.

A few habits that help:

• Study the 2019 edition. If you learned on a newer one, check what changed in the household chapter.
• Stay inside the chapter. Commercial NFPA 72 knowledge can mislead you here. Answer from the household rules, not from what you would do in a commercial building.
• Learn the "where" and the "how many". Two of the five subjects are about where detectors go and how many are required.

Retakes and results

Each test can be scheduled once a week and no more than three times in 12 months. A passing result is valid for one year for applying, so line up TFM-11 (and TFM-12 for the RAS) inside that window.

Practice for TFM-13

Our Texas fire alarm practice exams now cover TFM-13 alongside TFM-11 and TFM-12, with each test run separately the way PSI does. Start with the free Texas fire alarm practice test, and see what TFM-11 and TFM-12 cover if you are going for the full RAS.