The secondary power source for a fire alarm shall have capacity to support the fire alarm panel for how many hours and to sound the notification appliances for at least how many minutes?

The secondary power source for a fire alarm shall have capacity to support the fire alarm panel for how many hours and to sound the notification appliances for at least how many minutes?

• A. 12 hours and 2 minutes
• B. 18 hours and 3 minutes
• C. 24 hours and 5 minutes
• D. 36 hours and 10 minutes

Answer: (C)

Standby power for a fire alarm system is about keeping the system alive during a power outage and still able to warn occupants. The standard sets the minimums that must be met: the secondary power source should be able to support the fire alarm panel for 24 hours and to sound the notification appliances for at least 5 minutes. This ensures the system remains operable long enough to detect events, communicate alerts, and continue notifying occupants even if power is out for a full day, while still delivering a guaranteed short warning period during the outage. Shorter durations wouldn’t meet the required minimums, and a longer duration isn’t the stated minimum, though it could be provided if the design calls for it.

Standby power for a fire alarm system is about keeping the system alive during a power outage and still able to warn occupants. The standard sets the minimums that must be met: the secondary power source should be able to support the fire alarm panel for 24 hours and to sound the notification appliances for at least 5 minutes. This ensures the system remains operable long enough to detect events, communicate alerts, and continue notifying occupants even if power is out for a full day, while still delivering a guaranteed short warning period during the outage. Shorter durations wouldn’t meet the required minimums, and a longer duration isn’t the stated minimum, though it could be provided if the design calls for it.