What's on the Texas TFM-04 Type A Test?
TFM-04 is based on eight NFPA standards, from CO₂ and clean agent to foam and water spray. The six subjects the State Fire Marshal names, and what each one means in the standards.
Contents
What's on the Texas TFM-04 Type A Test?
The format
| Questions | 50 |
| Book policy | Closed book |
| Question types | True/false or multiple choice |
| Pass mark | 70% |
What SFMO says it covers
TFM-04 is based on eight NFPA standards:
| Standard | Covers |
|---|---|
| NFPA 11 | Low-, medium- and high-expansion foam |
| NFPA 12 | Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems |
| NFPA 12A | Halon 1301 systems |
| NFPA 15 | Water spray fixed systems |
| NFPA 16 | Foam-water sprinkler and spray systems |
| NFPA 18 | Wetting agents |
| NFPA 25 | Inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based systems |
| NFPA 2001 | Clean agent systems |
SFMO lists six subjects:
- Pipe and fittings selection for various systems.
- System testing requirements and frequency.
- Maintenance requirements and frequency.
- General knowledge of fire protection systems.
- Identifying applicable NFPA standards.
- Fire type classification.
SFMO publishes no weights for these subjects.
What that means in the standards
- Pipe and fittings: the piping, joints, fittings and hangers each system allows. CO₂ and clean agent piping is built for container pressure; water spray and foam-water piping follows sprinkler-style rules. Know which applies where.
- Testing: acceptance tests (flushing, hydrostatic and operating tests, discharge and concentration tests) and the periodic tests in each standard, including NFPA 25's water spray and foam-water test intervals.
- Maintenance: inspection and service intervals. Examples: clean agent container checks, hose tests, foam concentrate sampling, and the annual quality test of wetting agent concentrate under NFPA 18.
- General knowledge: agents and how they work, the hazards each system suits, personnel safety around CO₂ and clean agents, and system components.
- Identifying standards: which document governs which system. The table above is the map.
- Fire classification: Classes A, B, C, D and K, as NFPA 10 defines them.
Which editions?
Texas adopts these editions (28 TAC §34.507):
| Standard | Edition |
|---|---|
| NFPA 11 | 2016 |
| NFPA 12 | 2018 |
| NFPA 12A | 2018 |
| NFPA 15 | 2017 |
| NFPA 16 | 2019 |
| NFPA 18 | 2021 |
| NFPA 25 | 2020 |
| NFPA 2001 | 2018 |
Our questions use the newest editions we hold. Where a tested requirement changed between editions, the explanation says so.
Already ICC certified?
For the Type A licence, SFMO accepts any one of four ICC/NAFED technician exams in place of TFM-02, TFM-03 and TFM-04. See the Type A requirements article.
Study order
- Learn the testing and maintenance frequencies first. Closed-book tests reward exact intervals.
- Next, the pipe and fittings rules for the gaseous systems (CO₂, Halon, clean agent).
- Then the water-based ones (water spray, foam-water).
- Finish with the scope of each standard, which is where the "which standard applies?" questions come from.
Our free practice test covers all four Texas tests, and the full question bank has a separate TFM-04 exam. Every answer cites the section it comes from.
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