Checked 24 October 2026. The S-95 booklet was revised March 2024 (Apply/Pay) and is built on NFPA 72 (2010 edition), the 2014 Fire Code and the Fire Rules; the alternative issuance form is Rev. 10-2022. The FDNY S-95 page and the booklet describe how the certificate is obtained differently, and both are shown. The FDNY says some Notices of Exam are being updated for online applications.
The S-95 is the FDNY Certificate of Fitness for Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems. The FDNY S-95 page says "Any building with an FDNY approved fire alarm system or other related system is required to be under the supervision of a Certificate of Fitness holder", and that the S-95 is authorized to personally supervise the visual inspection of a fire alarm system without any voice communication system. The FDNY documents show three things besides the exam that matter to many applicants: the S-95 can also be obtained by an alternative issuance procedure, holders of some other certificates are exempt or can add the S-95 without an exam, and the FDNY S-95 page and the study booklet do not describe the route in the same way. This guide sets those out, then the duty chart, the booklet's map and the numbers to know. See also FDNY Certificate of Fitness: exam format, fee and how to apply. ProSyllabus is an independent study site, not part of the FDNY (Fire Department of the City of New York) or the City of New York. Every rule here is quoted or summarised from the FDNY pages and study booklets listed at the foot of the page.
FDNY S-95 study material (revised March 2024) and S-95 page, read 24 Oct 2026. The 25-of-35 figure is our arithmetic: 70% of 35 is 24.5.
- 50 original questions, 2 full exams
- Timed like the F-60 test, 70% to pass
- The reason behind every answer
- Your score by topic
When a building needs an S-95
The S-95 booklet's first chapter gives a table of which certificate supervises which fire alarm system. The S-95 is the fallback: if no Fire and Life Safety Director (FLSD), F-80 or F-53 holder is required, any approved fire alarm system without a voice communication system must be supervised by an S-95 holder.
| Fire alarm system or building | Certificate required |
|---|---|
| Two-way voice communication system with a warden phone | FLSD (F-89/T-89) |
| Installed in a commercial or mixed high-rise building | FLSD |
| One- or two-way communication, in a hotel with 50 or more sleeping rooms above the ground floor | FLSD |
| In a homeless shelter not requiring an FLSD | F-80 |
| One-way communication system (public announcement), not requiring an FLSD or F-80 | F-53 |
| No voice communication system, and not requiring an FLSD, F-80 or F-53 | S-95 |
The booklet explains why this matters: the Fire Code adopted in July 2008 vastly changed the requirements for supervising fire alarm systems. Before it, only interior fire alarm systems needed supervision. It says the 2008 Fire Code affects thousands of fire alarm systems in buildings that previously did not require a Certificate of Fitness holder.
FreeTests: Certificate, permits and authorization · Responsible person and pre-hot work check · Fire safety requirements and gas torch precautions
FDNY F-60 Practice Exam: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.Three ways to hold an S-95
| Route | What the FDNY documents say |
|---|---|
| 1. The exam | The S-95 booklet: 35 multiple-choice questions on a touch-screen computer, 53 minutes, at least 70% to pass. Four alternative answers to each question, only one correct; an unanswered question is scored as incorrect; there is no penalty for guessing. Application fee $25 online (credit or debit card) or in person by check or money order; cash is no longer accepted. The booklet's cover says all applicants must apply and pay online before arriving, while its exam page lists in-person payment methods and the General Notice says other certificates can apply in person. |
| 2. The alternative issuance procedure (AIP) | The booklet says the S-95 can be obtained by the AIP. Qualified applicants complete the S-95 Alternative Issuance Procedure Affirmation Form and submit the application, documents and payment on FDNY Business. The form and its requirements are in the next section. |
| 3. Holding another certificate | The booklet: holders of the F-89, T-89, F-80 or F-53 are exempt from a separate S-95 for the same premises, and may obtain an S-95 for a different premises without taking the S-95 exam, though an employer recommendation letter and the $25 payment are still required. The FDNY guide to additional certificates also lists F-89/T-89/Q89 and F-53 holders, and S-97/S-98 holders, as able to apply for an S-95 without taking the exam, uploading a photo of the current card and a recommendation letter naming the new certificate and work location. |
The FDNY S-95 page and the booklet differ. The page says the certificate "can only be obtained by meeting the special qualification requirements" and asks applicants to review the Notice of Exam. The booklet describes an exam and an AIP. The page also says the certificate is valid only at a specific location and for the specific person to whom it is issued, lists a $25 application fee, a $15 renewal fee, a 3-year renewal cycle and a review period of 5 days. If you are unsure which route fits you, ask the FDNY Public Certification Unit (718-999-1988 or pubcert@fdny.nyc.gov) before you apply.
The alternative issuance procedure
The FDNY's S-95 affirmation form (Rev. 10-2022) is used by individual applicants only. It sets out who qualifies and what must be uploaded. It is a sworn statement, and the form warns of penalties for false statements.
| Requirement | What the form says |
|---|---|
| Qualification (one of) | You hold a New York State license to install, repair and maintain fire alarm systems, or you hold an S-78/F-78 Certificate of Fitness. Section 4 requires a copy of the license documentation with the application; the S-78/F-78 option asks for the COF number and the Smoke Detector or Fire Alarm Company number. |
| Declaration | You certify that you are trained and knowledgeable in Fire Code Section 907, Fire Rule Chapter 9, NFPA 72 (2010 Edition) and the FDNY S-95 study material, and that you thoroughly know the fire protection systems and other fire safety equipment and procedures at your work location. |
| Experience | The form asks for your experience in the related field, in years. It sets no minimum number. |
| Employer letter | A letter of recommendation on official letterhead stating your full name, experience and the address where you will work (a notarized letter if you are self-employed). |
| Photo | A recent 2x2 head shot as a JPG or JPEG file named with your first and last name. |
| Notarization and fee | The affirmation form must be notarized. The $25 fee and the application are submitted online. |
| The FDNY can still test you | The FDNY reserves the right to call up to test applicants issued by AIP, and an applicant who has failed the written exam cannot use the AIP. |
What an S-95 holder may and may not do
The booklet separates the S-95 from the smoke detector and fire alarm technician certificates with this chart. It says holders of the S-97 or S-98 may perform the duties of holders of the S-78/F-78, but not the other way round.
| Duty | S-95 | S-78/F-78 | S-97/S-98 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual inspection of smoke detectors | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visual inspection of other fire alarm system components | Yes | No | Yes |
| Smoke detector inspection, testing and cleaning | No | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke detector maintenance | No | No | Yes |
| Program, service, clean, test, repair or replace low voltage fire alarm components | No | No | Yes |
Section 10 adds who may do what: the required visual inspections can be done by the S-95, F-53, F-89/T-89 and S-97 or S-98 holders; only certified technicians holding an S-97 or S-98 may service and test fire alarm systems; and the S-95, F-53, F-89/T-89 and F-80 holders are authorized to maintain the log books. The S-95 holder supervises the operation and testing of the system and the entries, while an S-97/S-98 holder may make the entry when servicing. Heat detectors can only be tested by authorized fire alarm technicians, and the S-95 holder's job there is to ensure operational heat detectors are in place and to notify the fire alarm maintenance company for repairs.
The booklet, section by section
| Section | Page | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Supervision of fire alarm systems | 12 | The 2008 Fire Code change and the table of which certificate supervises which system; the list of systems a fire alarm system may include, from standpipe fire pumps to the Auxiliary Radio Communication System. |
| 2 Fire alarm systems | 13 | The scope of each certificate and the duty chart; the buildings that need alarm systems. |
| 3 Components | 14 | The fire alarm control panel; the three signals (fire alarm, supervisory, trouble); sub-systems such as halon, FM200, range hood, pre-action and foam. |
| 4 In case of an alarm | 16 | The acknowledge, alarm silence and system reset buttons; device types and the signals they generate. |
| 5 Power supplies | 19 | Primary power and secondary power. |
| 6 Initiating devices | 21 | Smoke detectors (ionization, photoelectric, beam, duct, air sampling), combination detectors, heat detectors, waterflow devices, carbon monoxide detectors, manual stations and gas detectors. |
| 7 Sprinkler system; 8 Other related devices | 32 | Section 7 is the sprinkler system. Section 8 covers audio and visual notification devices, the remote on-site annunciator panel and activation of those devices. |
| 9 Communication system | 36 | The communication system. |
| 10 Tests, inspections and repair procedures | 37 | Inspections; the alarm log book; manual stations; smoke detectors; the central station; off-line procedure; out-of-service situations and the impairment coordinator. |
| 11 Fire extinguishers; 12 Lithium-ion battery safety; Appendix A | 46 to 53 | Portable extinguishers, tags and inspections; lithium-ion safety; a sample Letter of Approval for a fire alarm system. |
FDNY S-95 study material, sections 4.4, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4, read 24 Oct 2026.
FreeTests: Certificate, permits and authorization · Responsible person and pre-hot work check · Fire safety requirements and gas torch precautions
FDNY F-60 Practice Exam: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.The numbers and rules the booklet gives
Inspections and the alarm log book
| Topic | Rule | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Daily visual inspection | Highly recommended to be done at the beginning of each day by the certificate holder, to detect defective components or abnormalities. All abnormal conditions must be investigated and noted in the log book. | 10.1 and 4.4 |
| Fire command center | Per NFPA 72 as the booklet states it, an unmonitored fire command center is visually inspected at a minimum weekly, and a monitored one may be inspected annually, by an S-95, FLSD, F-80, F-53 or S-98 holder. The booklet adds that a daily visual inspection of the fire command center is the industrial practice and is highly recommended by the FDNY. | 10.1 |
| No central station | If the system is not connected to a central station, NFPA 72 recommends a visual inspection of all initiating devices semi-annually as a minimum, with testing annually. | 10 |
| Manual (pull) stations | The FDNY recommends a visual inspection at a minimum of once monthly where practical, with the result recorded in the log book. Manual fire alarm boxes must be red. | 10.3 |
| Smoke detectors | Cleaned not less than once every six months, except analog (intelligent) detectors, which are cleaned no later than one week from an indication of the need; tested for smoke entry not less than once a year; by an S-78, S-97 or S-98 holder. The S-95 holder is not allowed to clean them. A painted smoke detector is logged and replaced by a qualified technician. | 4.4 and 10.4 |
| Format of the log book | A bound book other than spiral bound, with consecutively numbered lined pages, "ALARM LOG BOOK" on the cover with the building name and address, entries in ink and dated, a separate book for each calendar year, retained for three years from the date of the last entry. It is kept at the main fire alarm control panel on the premises; if there is no secure location there it may be secured elsewhere during non-business hours, provided it is available to FDNY representatives responding to an alarm. | 10.2 |
| The four sections | Daily entries; system off-line entries; activated alarm entries; notification entries. Each section needs enough pages for at least one year of entries. | 10.2 |
| Who is responsible | The FLSD, or in a building not requiring an FLSD a person designated by the owner such as an S-95 holder, makes the entries required by Fire Rule 907-01 and supervises the log book. | 10.2 |
Alarms, signals, off-line and out of service
| Topic | Rule | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Three signals | A fire alarm signal sends the building alarm and a signal to the FDNY-approved central station. A supervisory signal means a monitored system or device is in an abnormal state (for example a closed sprinkler valve or low air pressure on a dry pipe system). A trouble signal means the system is wholly or partly out of service (for example AC failure, ground fault or a phone line failure). Section 3.2 says the FDNY is not dispatched for supervisory or trouble signals; section 6.7 separately describes gas detector supervisory signals that the central station still reports to the Fire Department. | 3.2 and 6.7 |
| Central station | Every fire alarm signal must be re-transmitted immediately to the FDNY as a fire alarm signal, even if it restores automatically, with no exceptions. Routine handling of a trouble signal should take a maximum of four minutes from receipt until the telephone investigation begins. | 3.2 |
| Silence and reset | Depending on the system, the alarm silence button silences all the notification appliances or only the audible alarm with the strobes still flashing; it does not stop a signal being sent to the central station. Never reset the fire alarm system, or silence the building devices, until the condition is verified by FDNY personnel. | 4.2 and 4.3 |
| Taking the system off line | Mandatory to notify the FDNY-approved central station beforehand whenever the system is to be activated for a test, inspection or fire drill. It is not necessary for speaker audibility tests. The off-line entry records the date and time off, the reason, the name and certificate of fitness number of the person notified at the central station (section 10.7 calls this the operator number), and the date and time restored. | 10.2, 10.6 and 10.7 |
| Out of service | The owner or owner's representative is notified of an impairment; an outage of the fire alarm system is reported promptly to the FDNY; where a required fire protection system is out of service the FDNY is notified immediately and, unless the Fire Commissioner directs otherwise, either the building is evacuated or a fire watch is kept by persons holding a Fire Guard certificate. A placard goes over a defective box. The owner is the impairment coordinator in the absence of a designee. | 10.7 |
| The notification | Must include a brief description of the condition, the area affected, the type of occupancy, the estimated time until the system is operational, and the name and telephone number of the impairment coordinator making it. | 10.7 |
| Power | Primary power not exceeding 277/480 volts from utility or an isolated plant. A secondary power source is required where an emergency power system is provided or required; batteries shall not be a substitute. | 5 |
| Carbon monoxide detectors | Required in any building with fossil (gas and oil) fuel burning equipment. An alarm that cannot be reset is to be treated as carbon monoxide still present until it can be excluded. | 6.5 |
Numbers that are easy to mix up
| Mix-up | How the booklet separates them |
|---|---|
| S-95, S-78/F-78, S-97/S-98? | The S-95 supervises and inspects visually. The S-78/F-78 also inspects, tests and cleans smoke detectors. The S-97/S-98 does all of that and also maintains, services and repairs the system. |
| Supervisory or trouble signal? | Supervisory: a monitored system or device is in an abnormal state. Trouble: the alarm system itself, its transmitter or communications path is wholly or partly out of service. Section 3.2 says neither dispatches the FDNY. |
| Silence or reset? | Silence stops all notification appliances or only the audible alarm, depending on the system, but not the signal to the central station. Reset restores the system after the alarm condition has cleared. Neither is done until FDNY personnel have verified the condition. |
| Weekly, monthly, six months, a year? | Unmonitored fire command center: weekly. Pull stations: at least monthly where practical (an FDNY recommendation). Smoke detector cleaning: every six months, or within a week for analog detectors. Smoke detector smoke-entry test: yearly. Monitored fire command center: annually, though daily is recommended. |
| Exam or AIP? | The exam is 35 questions in 53 minutes. The AIP needs a New York State fire alarm license or an S-78/F-78, a notarized affirmation form, an employer letter and a photo, and is not open to anyone who has failed the written exam. |
The S-12 booklet lists a reference guide for the S-95 among the material provided in the S-12 exam room; see the S-12 exam guide. See the fire guard guide for more on the out-of-service rules. ProSyllabus does not have an S-95 practice exam.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the S-95 exam?
35 multiple-choice questions in 53 minutes, with at least 70% needed to pass, which is 25 correct answers (our arithmetic). An unanswered question is scored as incorrect and there is no penalty for guessing.
Can I get an S-95 without taking the exam?
Yes, in some cases. Holders of the F-89, T-89, F-80 or F-53 are exempt from a separate S-95 for the same premises and can obtain one for a different premises without the exam. The booklet also describes an alternative issuance procedure, and its separate affirmation form requires either a New York State license to install, repair and maintain fire alarm systems or an S-78/F-78. The FDNY S-95 page, however, says the certificate can only be obtained by meeting special qualification requirements, so confirm with the FDNY.
What does the S-95 cost and how long does it last?
The FDNY S-95 page lists a $25 application fee, a $15 renewal fee and a 3-year renewal cycle. It also says the certificate is valid only at a specific location and for the specific person it is issued to.
What is the difference between the S-95 and the S-97 or S-98?
The S-95 holder supervises and does visual inspections. Only S-97 or S-98 holders may service and test fire alarm systems and perform maintenance.
Can an S-95 holder clean smoke detectors?
No. The booklet says S-95 holders are not allowed to clean smoke detectors; cleaning is by an S-78, S-97 or S-98 holder.
How long must the alarm log book be kept?
A separate bound log book is kept for each calendar year, and each is retained for three years from the date of the last entry.
Which building needs an S-95?
Any building with an FDNY-approved fire alarm system that has no voice communication system and does not require an FLSD, F-80 or F-53 holder.
More in this series
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness: how to get one
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness: full list of certificates
- Fire guard license in NYC: which FDNY certificate
- FDNY F-60 exam: Fire Guard for Torch Operations
- FDNY S-12 exam: Citywide Sprinkler Systems
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness renewal: steps, fees, late penalty
- FDNY MetroTech exam day: what to bring and expect
- Fire watch in NYC: who needs a certificate
Sources
- official — FDNY: Study material for the S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems exam, revised March 2024 (Apply/Pay)
- official — FDNY: S-95 Certificate of Fitness Alternative Issuance Procedure affirmation form (Rev. 10-2022)
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems page
- official — FDNY: Quick reference instruction for obtaining an additional Certificate of Fitness (revised 08/23/2022)
- official — FDNY: General Notice of Exam (NOE) for Certificate of Fitness Examinations, revised 07/2023
- official — FDNY: Certificates of Fitness (walk-in exams, hours, ID, payment, online application, appointments, accommodations, renewals, list of certificates)
- official — FDNY: Study material for the S-12 / S-15 / T-15 sprinkler system exams, revised March 2024 (apply/pay)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
FreeTests: Certificate, permits and authorization · Responsible person and pre-hot work check · Fire safety requirements and gas torch precautions
FDNY F-60 Practice Exam: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.
