If a fire alarm system has a malfunctioning circuit that is not corrected at the completion of an inspection, test, or maintenance visit, the ______ must be notified within 24 hours in writing.

• A. Building Owner
• B. Tenant
• C. Fire Department
• D. Equipment Manufacturer

Answer: (A)

When a fire alarm system has a circuit that isn’t functioning and can’t be fixed during the inspection, test, or maintenance visit, the party responsible for the building’s fire protection must be told in writing within 24 hours. The building owner is that responsible party because they own the system and control the necessary repairs, budget, and interim safety measures. Notifying the owner quickly ensures they can authorize repairs, arrange temporary protections (like a fire watch if required), and have a written record for compliance and any future investigations.

The tenant generally doesn’t have authority to mandate repairs or handle documentation for the system, so they’re not the designated recipient. The fire department isn’t automatically notified for a malfunction unless the protocol requires it or there’s an active alarm event. The equipment manufacturer would be involved only for product defects rather than routine field malfunctions.