Home › New York › FDNY S-95 Fire Alarm Systems
About the exam
FDNY S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems Certificate of Fitness Exam
In New York City, a building's fire alarm system must be supervised by a person holding the right FDNY Certificate of Fitness. For buildings whose alarm system has no voice communication component and does not require a Fire and Life Safety Director (F-89), an F-80 or an F-53, that certificate is the S-95, Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems and Other Related Systems. Building staff, superintendents and security supervisors hold it, and it is valid only for the specific person at the specific premises.
The S-95 exam is 35 multiple-choice questions in 53 minutes on a computer at FDNY headquarters, with 70 percent (25 correct) to pass. The free FDNY study material, revised March 2024, draws on NFPA 72, the NYC Fire Code and the Fire Rules, and the booklet warns that it does not contain everything you need, so a reading of the referenced code sections helps.
This bank covers the booklet in full: the S-95 holder's duties, log book and FDNY notifications; fire alarm components, signals, central station handling and control panel operation; inspection, testing and maintenance intervals; impairments, fire watch and emergency procedures; and related systems, portable extinguishers and lithium-ion battery safety.
Exam format
FDNY S-95 Fire Alarm Systems: questions, time and pass mark
| Item | Official exam | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 35 multiple choice, four options, one correct | Verified Oct 2026 (S-95 booklet pp. 5, 7) |
| Time limit | 53 minutes | Verified Oct 2026 (booklet p. 5) |
| Pass mark | 70 percent (25 of 35) | Verified Oct 2026 (booklet p. 5) |
| Delivery | Touch-screen computer at FDNY headquarters; only FDNY-provided reference material allowed | Verified Oct 2026 (booklet pp. 5, 8) |
| Guessing | No penalty; unanswered questions count as wrong | Verified Oct 2026 (booklet p. 7) |
| Fee | $25 new application, $15 renewal | Verified Oct 2026 (nyc.gov/fdny S-95 page) |
| Validity | 3 years; valid only for the named holder at the named location | Verified Oct 2026 (nyc.gov/fdny) |
| Study material | FDNY S-95 Notice of Exam and Study Materials, revised March 2024 | Verified Oct 2026 |
The practice test above draws 35 questions with a 53-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 through the FDNY Business portal or in person at 9 MetroTech Center in Brooklyn, pay the $25 application fee (as of 2026) and take the exam on a computer the same day. You need photo ID and, because the S-95 is location-specific, a letter from the building owner or employer identifying the premises. There is no course requirement; the free study material is the official preparation.
If you fail, you reapply and pay again for another sitting on a different day. The certificate is renewed every three years for $15. If you change employers or buildings, the certificate must be reissued for the new location.
What’s covered
150+ practice questions, by topic
Written from FDNY S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems study material (revised March 2024). Every explanation cites its section.
- S-95 Holder Duties, Records and FDNY Notifications38
- Fire Alarm Components, Signals and Control Panel Operation45
- Inspection, Testing and Maintenance30
- Impairments, Fire Watch and Emergency Procedures22
- Related Systems, Extinguishers and Lithium-Ion Safety15
Why people fail
The mistakes that cost people the FDNY S-95 Fire Alarm Systems
- Not knowing the signal rules at the central station: every fire alarm signal is retransmitted to FDNY immediately even if it restores, and trouble and supervisory signals have their own time limits for investigation.
- Confusing silence, acknowledge and reset. The booklet is specific about what each switch does, when the panel may be reset and who may reset it.
- Guessing inspection and testing intervals (weekly, semi-annual, annual) and the detector cleaning rules, including the one-week limit for analog detectors that signal a need for cleaning.
- Weak on the certificate hierarchy: which buildings need an S-95 versus an F-89, F-80 or F-53, and what the S-97 and S-98 technicians may do that an S-95 holder may not.
- Skipping the log book rules (one book per calendar year, who makes entries) and the impairment notification contents.
A study plan that works
- Download the S-95 study material from the FDNY Certificates of Fitness page and read it twice, including the definitions and the certificate table in section 1.
- Practice here by category. Start with Fire Alarm Components, Signals and Control Panel Operation, the largest, then S-95 Holder Duties.
- Make a sheet of intervals and limits: four minutes for trouble investigation, ten seconds for output functions, six months for detector cleaning, one week for analog detectors, three-year renewal.
- Take a 35-question timed test in 53 minutes and review every explanation. Star anything about resets and central station handling you missed.
- Before the exam, reread sections 3 and 4 of the booklet (central station and panel operation) and your starred questions.
Try a few
Sample FDNY S-95 Fire Alarm Systems practice questions
Six questions pulled straight from the bank, with the answer shown. For the timed, no-peeking version, use the quiz above.
Why: The rule is a separate log book for each calendar year, which also fits the requirement that each section has pages for at least a year.
Source: FDNY S-95 Study Material (rev. Mar 2024), Sec. 10.2(2), p. 38
Why: The reset switch is used to reset the system after the alarm condition has been cleared, and all initiating devices should return to normal.
Source: FDNY S-95 Study Material (rev. Mar 2024), Sec. 4.3, p. 17
Why: Defective devices must be replaced immediately by qualified personnel, and S-95 holders may not repair components.
Source: FDNY S-95 Study Material (rev. Mar 2024), Sec. 10.3, p. 43; Sec. 9, p. 36
Why: The notification includes the condition, the area affected, the type of occupancy, the estimated time to return to service, and the Impairment Coordinator's name and phone number.
Source: FDNY S-95 Study Material (rev. Mar 2024), Sec. 10.7, p. 45
Why: Class K fires occur in cooking appliances involving combustible cooking media like vegetable or animal oils and fats.
Source: FDNY S-95 Study Material (rev. Mar 2024), Sec. 11, p. 46
Why: Large hotels with communication systems fall in the FLSD category, held by F-89/T-89. The S-95 applies only when no FLSD, F-80 or F-53 is required.
Source: FDNY S-95 Study Material (rev. Mar 2024), Sec. 1 table, p. 12
FAQ
FDNY S-95 Fire Alarm Systems questions, answered
How many questions are on the S-95 exam?
35 multiple-choice questions with four options each, in 53 minutes. You need 25 correct (70 percent) to pass. There is no penalty for guessing, and unanswered questions count as wrong.
How much does the S-95 certificate cost?
$25 for a new application and $15 to renew, as of 2026, paid online or at FDNY headquarters.
Is the S-95 valid at any building?
No. An S-95 is issued to a specific person for a specific location. If you move to another building, the certificate must be reissued for that address.
Do I need the S-95 or an F-89?
The S-95 is for buildings whose fire alarm system has no voice communication component and does not require a Fire and Life Safety Director (F-89), a homeless shelter fire safety coordinator (F-80) or a one-way public address supervisor (F-53). Large hotels, office buildings and others with voice systems fall under the F-89.
Can an S-95 holder repair the fire alarm system?
No. Programming, servicing, testing, repairing and replacing components is limited to S-97 and S-98 holders. The S-95 holder supervises, keeps the log book, handles impairments and notifications, and must have defective devices replaced immediately by qualified personnel.
How long is the S-95 valid?
Three years, renewed online for $15.
Is this the official FDNY exam?
No. These are original practice questions written from FDNY's free S-95 study material, cited by section on every explanation. Only FDNY gives the certificate exam.