Which statement correctly describes from where a fire alarm can initiate?

• A. Only from the main panel
• B. Manual fire alarm boxes or automatic fire detectors and sensors
• C. From the electrical outlet
• D. From the water supply line

Answer: (B)

Fire alarms start from two kinds of devices: manual pull stations and automatic detectors. A person can trigger the system by pulling a manual alarm box, which sends a signal to the control panel to set off the alarms. Automatic detectors sense conditions that indicate a fire—smoke, heat, or flame—and send a signal to the panel to activate warning devices. The control panel itself isn’t a trigger; it processes signals and coordinates the alert. Power outlets simply provide power to the system, not initiate the alarm. The water line isn’t a direct initiation source; only if a connected automatic device like a water-flow switch within a sprinkler system triggers the panel would it be considered automatic initiation, not the water line itself.