I just took it on Nov 23, 2018. If you are well experienced in fire sprinkler work, it is not a difficult test. At least, that is how I recall it. Honestly, I didn't study at all for it. It is open book and you just need to know where to find things. It is typical of these types of exams. You will know a large percentage without looking anything up. There will be some that you "know" but you better look up to be certain. There are others that will be so specific, you have to look it up.

I can only think of 1 question that I really wasn't sure of the answer. So basically, don't panic going into the exam. Review the reference material. Be familiar with where to find things you will need to look up. Then just practice good test taking strategies.

1 - Blow through the test one time answering only questions you can get the answer in less than 3 seconds. These are the ones you know without issue. I would also answer the ones that require some calculations (provided you are very well versed in the hazen williams hand calcs).
2 - Go through the test a second time and answer the questions that you are pretty sure of but need to look up to be certain.
3 - Go through the test a 3rd time with the questions you just have to look up. For example, I would have to go find the obstruction chart if I needed to know what is the maximum distance an SSU can be above an obstruction that is 4' away? I have no idea off the top of my head, but I do know it is in Chap 8 of NFPA 13. It is probably in 8.6 or somewhere in that area.
4 - You should have answers for all questions by this time. Use the time that is left and go through the test again to review your answers. Make sure you didn't read something wrong.

Then, hit finish on the exam. Pick up your materials. Go get the results from the proctor that say you passed

Best of luck!!

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC
www.mfpdesign.com
"Follow" us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFP-Design-LLC/9221...

@TravisMack Thank you sir!

How did it go Soly FP?

@DennisR4
Unfortunately I failed :(
The exam contained A LOT of questions regarding the storage applications which I didn't study well. You have to be very familiar with the charts/tables of the ESFR, CMDA,...etc

Sorry to hear that! I probably would have too, had I not just taken (and used Firetech to study for) my NICET Level III exams a few months prior. For sure, it isn't a cakewalk. At least now, if you decide to take it again, you have an idea of whats coming.

Sorry to hear that. I hope I didn't give you a false sense of security. I am sure you will crush it the next time you take it.

A lot of that stuff is just knowing where to look and how to pull the information they are looking for. Can you recall some general stuff about questions you had that were difficult / confusing. Maybe some of here can help guide you in the right direction for next time.

Travis Mack, SET, CWBSP, RME-G, CFPS
MFP Design, LLC
www.mfpdesign.com
"Follow" us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFP-Design-LLC/9221...

@TravisMack @DennisR4

Thanks!

To be honest, I didn't study the storage applications well. So most of the questions regarding that were little confusing for me. I thought it's just pulling out information from a chart/table, but I think it involved more than that.
Other questions were OK, like simple hydraulic calcs, type of sprinkler used for a specific application, different scenarios of how to locate a sprinkler head....etc.

I'm going over (for real this time! :D) the storage application part currently and I'm shooting for a retest by June. Wish me luck!

@TravisMack @DennisR4

Hey all, just wanted to see if this CWBSP certification seemed worth getting. I do mechanical design work for a consulting firm but want to kind of break myself apart from the crowd by focusing on Fire Protection since we only have a few knowledgeable engineers that do anything FP related.

I am wondering if you would recommend this certification or if I am better off going for my NICET first.

My personal opinion is that currently, the NFPA CWBSP does nothing for you professionally. It is more of a personal thing. I also obtained the CFPS certificate. It does nothing for me in the fire sprinkler world.

This is not to say that these certifications won't mean something more in the future. But for today, NICET is the gold standard.

Travis Mack, SET, CWBSP, RME-G, CFPS
MFP Design, LLC
www.mfpdesign.com