What is the primary purpose of a fire alarm system?

The primary purpose of a fire alarm system is to alert occupants of a fire. This is a critical function because early detection and notification allow individuals within a building to evacuate safely and promptly in the event of a fire, reducing the risk of injury and fatalities. Fire alarm systems are designed to detect smoke, heat, or other indicators of fire and to ensure that everyone in the vicinity is made aware of the danger through audible alarms, visual signals, or both.

While activating water suppression systems and notifying emergency services are important aspects of fire safety and response, they are typically secondary functions that can occur once the fire alarm has already served its primary role of alerting people in the building. Preventing unauthorized access is not a function of fire alarm systems, but rather a concern for security systems. Thus, the focus of a fire alarm is primarily on ensuring that occupants are informed of the presence of a fire as quickly as possible.