Texas TFM-04 Test Day: What to Expect at PSI

Texas TFM-04 Test Day: What to Expect at PSI

The basics

PSI sets the time limit. Check your PSI confirmation and candidate bulletin before test day.

Before you can sit it

You need a Type B licence (FEL-B), or an apprentice permit held for at least 6 months. The Type A licence also requires TFM-01 Statutes & Rules and the Type B technical test (TFM-02), unless you already passed them for Type B.

What to bring

• ID: identification that meets PSI's requirements, with a name matching your application.
• Nothing else: NFPA 11, 12, 12A, 15, 16, 18, 25 and 2001 are what you are tested on, but they stay outside.

Pacing

Fifty questions across eight standards means few questions per standard. A question usually names the system ("a CO₂ total flooding system", "a foam-water deluge system"), so place it in the right standard before you read the options. True/false items often turn on one word ("all", "only", "never"), so read every question to the end.

Retakes

SFMO allows a retake once a week, and no more than three times in 12 months. Plan your first attempt as if it were the only one.

Where technicians lose points

• Frequencies. Monthly, semiannual and annual checks differ by system and by standard. Closed book, they are recall or nothing.
• Mixing up the gaseous standards. CO₂ (NFPA 12), Halon 1301 (NFPA 12A) and clean agents (NFPA 2001) have similar structures but different rules.
• Water-based ITM. Water spray and foam-water inspection and testing sit in NFPA 25, not in the installation standards.
• "Which standard applies?" Know the scope of each of the eight documents.
• Fire classes. Classes A to D and K, as NFPA 10 defines them.

Practise under the same rules

Closed book, 50 questions. Our Texas practice exams run TFM-01 to TFM-04 separately, the way PSI does. Start with the free practice test.