Can a copy machine cause a false alarm?

• A. Yes, by heat flash or movement.
• B. No, a copy machine cannot cause a false alarm.
• C. Only if the machine is linked to security cameras.
• D. Only during power fluctuations.

Answer: (A)

A copy machine can trigger a false alarm because alarm sensors react to environmental changes, and the machine’s operation creates changes that detectors interpret as an intrusion. When a copier runs, it generates heat, and its internal lamp or scanning light can briefly alter lighting near sensors. The moving parts and paper handling can also cause vibrations. If these changes occur near motion or heat detectors, they can look like the kind of event an alarm is meant to catch, causing a false alarm. So, yes—heat, a light flash, or movement from the copier can set off an alarm. The other statements don’t fit because a copier isn’t immune to triggering sensors, and while power fluctuations can cause alarms, they aren’t the only way a copier might trigger one.