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About the exam
FDNY F-01 Fire Guard for Impairment Certificate of Fitness Exam
When a building's sprinkler, standpipe or fire alarm system is out of service, the NYC Fire Code requires a fire watch, and after the first four hours the patrols must be done by a fire guard holding an FDNY Certificate of Fitness. The F-01 Fire Guard for Impairment certificate is the entry-level one: it is required for fire watch duty at construction sites and in buildings with impaired systems across New York City, and employers in security, construction and building management ask for it.
The F-01 exam is given by FDNY on a touch-screen computer at FDNY headquarters in Brooklyn. It is 20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes, and you need 70 percent (14 correct). FDNY publishes the study material free, and the booklet states that the exam covers the entire booklet and its tables. The January 2026 revision changed only contact and payment details; the content is based on the 2022 Fire Code.
This bank is written from that booklet alone: fire guard duties and the orientation checklist, impairments and the fire watch rules (including the construction-site table in Appendix A), fire science and portable extinguishers, fire protection systems, hot work, housekeeping and hazards including lithium-ion batteries, and emergency response, notification and record keeping.
Exam format
FDNY F-01 Fire Guard: questions, time and pass mark
| Item | Official exam | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 20 multiple choice | Verified Oct 2026 (F-01 booklet p. 3) |
| Time limit | 30 minutes | Verified Oct 2026 (booklet p. 3) |
| Pass mark | 70 percent (14 of 20) | Verified Oct 2026 (booklet p. 3) |
| Delivery | Touch-screen computer at FDNY headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn; no booklets allowed | Verified Oct 2026 (booklet pp. 3, 5) |
| Retakes | Each attempt needs a new application and fee; no retest on the same day | Verified Oct 2026 (booklet p. 1) |
| Validity | 3 years | Verified Oct 2026 (nyc-business.nyc.gov) |
| Study material | Free FDNY F-01 study booklet, revised January 2026 | Verified Oct 2026 (nyc.gov/fdny) |
| Fee | $25 new application, $15 renewal (same schedule as other FDNY certificates) | Check FDNY page before applying |
The practice test above draws 20 questions with a 30-minute timer and a 70% pass mark. Practice mode lets you work one topic at a time with explanations after every answer, and the cheat sheet view lists every question and answer for review.
Cost and booking
Fees, where to take it and retakes
Apply online through the FDNY Business portal or in person at FDNY headquarters, pay the application fee ($25 as of 2026 for most Certificates of Fitness, $15 to renew), and take the exam on a computer at 9 MetroTech Center. Bring government photo ID and, for in-person applications, the completed form. Results are given on the spot and the certificate is issued the same day if you pass. No training course is required for the F-01; the free booklet is the only study material.
If you fail, you may test again on another day with a new application and fee. The certificate is valid for three years and is renewed online. Note that the F-01 is a fire guard certificate; related certificates such as the F-60 (fire guard for torch operations) have their own booklets and exams.
What’s covered
150+ practice questions, by topic
Written from FDNY F-01 Fire Guard for Impairment study material (revised January 2026). Every explanation cites its section.
- Fire Guard Duties, Impairments and Fire Watch44
- Fire Science and Portable Extinguishers30
- Fire Protection Systems and Impairment29
- Hot Work, Housekeeping and Hazards26
- Emergency Response, Notification and Records21
Why people fail
The mistakes that cost people the FDNY F-01 Fire Guard
- Reading the booklet once and assuming it is common sense. The exam asks for the booklet's specific numbers: four hours before certified fire guards must take over, eight hours before FDNY notification, three-year record retention, pull station heights and distances.
- Skipping Appendix A. The construction-site table (when fire watch and an impairment coordinator are required for sprinklers, standpipes and alarms, installed or not, vacant or occupied) produces several questions.
- Confusing extinguisher classes and which agents must not be used on electrical and metal fires.
- Not learning the definitions page: impairment, planned and unplanned out-of-service conditions, impairment coordinator, fire watch.
- Guessing on hot work rules, such as where hot work is prohibited while a sprinkler system is impaired.
A study plan that works
- Download the current F-01 study material from the FDNY Certificates of Fitness page and read it twice; it is about 35 pages and the exam covers all of it.
- Practice here by category. Start with Fire Guard Duties, Impairments and Fire Watch (the largest), then Fire Protection Systems and Portable Extinguishers.
- Copy the numbers into one list: 4 hours, 8 hours, 3 years, 4 feet, 5 feet, 3 feet aisle, 20 questions, 30 minutes, 14 to pass.
- Take a timed 20-question test, then another the next day. Two or three full tests with review is usually enough for this exam.
- Reread Appendix A and the definitions page on the morning of the exam.
Try a few
Sample FDNY F-01 Fire Guard practice questions
Six questions pulled straight from the bank, with the answer shown. For the timed, no-peeking version, use the quiz above.
Why: When there is no impairment coordinator, the building owner must act as the impairment coordinator.
Source: FDNY F-01 Study Material (rev. Jan 2026), Introduction, Responsibility of the Building Owner, p. 7
Why: Installed portable fire extinguishers must have an FDNY standard PFE tag affixed.
Source: FDNY F-01 Study Material (rev. Jan 2026), Sec. 2.4.2, p. 28
Why: A standpipe is made to give fast access to water in the event of a fire.
Source: FDNY F-01 Study Material (rev. Jan 2026), Sec. 2.2, p. 25
Why: The booklet says hot work is not allowed in areas of a building where the sprinkler system is impaired.
Source: FDNY F-01 Study Material (rev. Jan 2026), Sec. 1.2(i), p. 17
Why: Occupants on the fire floor and the floor above are in the greatest danger and must be evacuated first.
Source: FDNY F-01 Study Material (rev. Jan 2026), Sec. 1.4.2, p. 20
Why: An impairment is any condition in which a fire protection system cannot perform its designed fire safety function.
Source: FDNY F-01 Study Material (rev. Jan 2026), Definitions, Impairment, p. 11
FAQ
FDNY F-01 Fire Guard questions, answered
How many questions are on the F-01 fire guard exam?
20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes. You need 14 correct (70 percent) to pass. The exam is taken on a touch-screen computer at FDNY headquarters.
Do I need a course to get the F-01 certificate?
No. There is no training requirement for the F-01. FDNY provides the study booklet free and the exam is open to anyone who applies and pays the fee.
How much does the F-01 certificate cost?
FDNY's standard Certificate of Fitness fees are $25 for a new application and $15 for renewal as of 2026, payable by card online or at headquarters. Confirm on the FDNY page before you apply.
How long is the F-01 certificate valid?
Three years. Renewal is done online through the FDNY Business portal.
Where do I take the F-01 exam?
At FDNY headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center in Brooklyn, on a computer. Booklets and notes are not allowed in the exam room; staff provide any reference material needed for a question.
What is the difference between F-01 and F-60?
F-01 is the fire guard for impairment certificate: fire watch when a fire protection system is out of service, including at construction sites. F-60 is the fire guard for torch operations (hot work) certificate. Each has its own booklet and exam.
Is this the official FDNY exam?
No. These are original practice questions written only from FDNY's free F-01 study material, cited by section on every explanation. Only FDNY gives the certificate exam.