Which of the following is a manual initiating device?

• A. Smoke detector
• B. Manual pull station
• C. Waterflow detector
• D. Heat detector

Answer: (B)

In a fire alarm system, initiating devices are either manual or automatic. A manual initiating device is activated by a person to start the alarm, such as a pull station where you pull a handle or break glass to send a signal to the control panel. The manual pull station is designed for human action to initiate the alarm, which is why it’s the correct choice here.

The other options are automatic initiating devices: smoke detectors sense smoke and trigger the alarm without human action, heat detectors respond to high temperatures, and waterflow detectors react to water movement in sprinkler systems. They all initiate the alarm automatically rather than by a person pulling a handle.