What device originates the alarm signal?

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The alarm signal originates from the initiating device. These are the sensors or manual activators that first detect a condition or are manually triggered—such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, or a pull station. Once activated, the initiating device sends a signal to the fire alarm control panel, which then processes the event and activates the rest of the system (like notification appliances). The central receiving station alarm console is a monitoring link that receives signals from systems, not where the alarm starts. The notification appliances are the warnings that occupants hear or see, and they respond to the panel, not originate the alarm. So the initiating device is the one that starts the alarm.