A fire alarm pull station must be within how many feet of the exit door?

• A. Ten feet
• B. Fifteen feet
• C. Five feet
• D. Twenty feet

Answer: (C)

The key idea is quick manual alarm activation along the escape path. Pull stations are placed close to exit doors so someone can reach and activate the system as they approach or pass through the door, without detouring or losing precious seconds during evacuation. The five-foot distance strikes a practical balance: it keeps the activation point immediately accessible right at the doorway, even in crowded or smoky conditions, and helps ensure the alarm is triggered early enough to warn others and start evacuation procedures. Distances much larger than five feet would slow people down and delay alarm notification, which is why five feet is the standard requirement.