Which component's role is to alert occupants of a fire condition?

• A. Power supply with battery backup
• B. Notification appliances
• C. Initiating devices
• D. Fire alarm control panel

Answer: (B)

Alerts to occupants come from the notification appliances—the audible and visual devices such as horns, bells, sirens, and strobe lights. These are the end point of the fire alarm system: once the control panel receives a signal from initiating devices (smoke/heat detectors or manual pull stations), it activates the notification appliances so people hear and see the warning and can evacuate. The power supply with battery backup ensures those devices have power, but it isn’t the alert itself. The control panel coordinates detection and signaling, while initiating devices detect the fire condition. The essential idea is that the alert to occupants is delivered by the notification appliances.