About this C-16 — Fire Protection prep
This prep is built specifically for the C-16 — Fire Protection examination and includes a 18,000+-word study guide written for this exam, 5 full-length practice exams and 510 practice questions, each with a written explanation.
The CSLB C-16 Fire Protection trade examination is administered by CSLB / PSI. Closed book 3.5 hours. CSLB does not publish scored Q or pass %. Practice 5×100/210. Mix (on/after 1/26/2022): Planning 25, Underground 9, Installation 36, Maintenance 9, Safety 21. Law separate.. This prep is written to that board’s current scope, not to a generic national syllabus.
The real C-16 — Fire Protection exam contains 100 questions. Our practice exams mirror that structure so the format is familiar before you sit it.
Topics covered
- 2 Occupancy Hazard Classifications
- 3 Comparison of NFPA 13, 13R, and 13D
- 2 Commodity Classes (per NFPA 13)
- 3 Equivalent Pipe Length
- 4 Elevation Pressure
- 1 Scope and Application
- 3 System Design Approaches
- 2 Key Differences from NFPA 13
- 2 Key Provisions
- 1 California Fire Code Overview
- 5 Plan Submission and Permits
- 1 Purpose
- 2 The Hazen-Williams Formula
- 5 Worked Example: Hydraulic Calculation
- 3 Fire Department Connection (FDC)
- 4 Underground Fire Service Mains
- 3 Main Drain Test
- 1 Trenching and Excavation Safety
- 3 Prevailing Wage
- 1 Flow Test Procedures
How access works
You are paying for access length (30, 60, or 90 days). The study guide and four timed exams are the same on every term. Access starts when you enrol and works on any device for that term.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by any state licensing board or exam vendor. For exam-preparation purposes only.
What is actually on the C-16 exam
CSLB divides the Fire Protection (C-16) examination into five sections. These weightings are the Board’s own, taken from the study guide it publishes for this classification — they are not our estimate:
| Section | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Planning and Estimating | 25% |
| Installation of Underground Fire Main Systems | 9% |
| Installation of Fire Protection Systems | 36% |
| Maintenance and Repair of Fire Protection Systems | 9% |
| Safety | 21% |
The C-16 examination is closed book — no reference materials may be used during the test. Questions are multiple choice with four options, and there is no penalty for guessing, so leave nothing blank.
This is only half of what you sit. Every applicant also passes the separate Law and Business examination, which is not part of the C-16 paper and is weighted on its own outline. Budget preparation time for both.
Source: CSLB Fire Protection (C-16) examination study guide. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CSLB.