Fire Alarm Systems Certification Practice Exam

A manual fire alarm system is defined as one that requires human intervention to activate the alarm in the event of a fire. This means that individuals must physically operate a device, such as a pull station, to alert others and initiate the fire alarm response. The key feature of a manual system is that it does not automatically detect any fire; instead, it relies on occupants or designated personnel to recognize a fire situation and take action to activate the alarm.

In contrast, automatic systems detect fires without human involvement, using sensors like smoke or heat detectors to trigger the alarm. Wireless systems, while they may be part of manual fire alarms, refer to the communication technology employed rather than the activation method itself. Visual signal systems focus on alerting through visual cues, but this does not necessarily imply they are manual or automated. Thus, the distinguishing factor for a manual fire alarm system is the necessity of human action to operate it.