Manual alarms can be initiated by which of the following devices?

• A. A listed manual fire alarm box
• B. A heat detector
• C. A smoke detector
• D. An automatic sprinkler head

Answer: (A)

Manual alarm initiation involves devices that require a person to take action to start the alarm. A listed manual fire alarm box is the device designed for this purpose; it’s installed so occupants can physically trigger the system in an emergency. The other devices operate automatically: heat detectors trigger when a high temperature is reached, smoke detectors trigger on smoke, and automatic sprinkler heads activate the system as part of the suppression action. Since the question asks which device can manually initiate the alarm, the listed manual fire alarm box is the correct choice.