What is a hardware fault versus a wiring fault?

• A. Hardware fault refers to issues in the conductors; wiring fault refers to a faulty device.
• B. Hardware fault refers to a faulty device; wiring fault refers to issues in the conductors (open/short/ground).
• C. Hardware fault is the same as a wiring fault.
• D. Hardware fault involves environmental factors; wiring fault involves software.

Answer: (B)

The idea is to distinguish problems in the devices themselves from problems in the cables that connect those devices. A hardware fault means the device itself has failed or is malfunctioning—such as a detector, a relay, or a power supply that isn’t working properly. A wiring fault refers to issues in the conductors and connections that link devices to the control panel, like an open circuit, a short circuit, or a ground fault.

In practice, hardware faults point you toward replacing or repairing the faulty device. Wiring faults point you toward inspecting and repairing the cabling and terminations. For example, if a detector won’t power up even though power is available, that suggests a hardware fault. If the detector is fine but the loop wiring is open or shorted, that’s a wiring fault.

Other options miss the fundamental split: they either swap the definitions, claim they’re the same, or bring in environmental factors or software, which isn’t how these faults are categorized in fire alarm systems.