Which component is essential for alerting occupants in a fire alarm system?

In a fire alarm system, the component that is essential for alerting occupants is the notification appliance. This includes devices such as alarms, horns, bells, or strobe lights that are specifically designed to signal an emergency situation. When the fire alarm system detects a fire, the notification appliances activate to provide audible or visual alerts, ensuring that occupants are warned and can evacuate quickly and safely.

While the control unit manages the overall system, the initiating devices (such as smoke detectors or manual pull stations) detect the fire and relay this information to the control unit. The power supply is crucial for the operation of the entire system, providing the necessary energy, but it does not directly alert occupants. Therefore, the notification appliances play a vital role in communicating fire emergencies to those who need to respond.