If the fire test circuit loop is inop but the fire light comes on, can the fire indication be trusted?

If the fire test circuit loop is inop but the fire light comes on, can the fire indication be trusted?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only if the extinguishing system is armed
• D. Only after a maintenance test

Answer: (A)

The fire indication signal is tied to the actual fire sensing path, not the test loop. If the test circuit loop is inoperative, that just means you can’t use that loop to simulate a fault or test the system; it doesn’t necessarily stop the normal fire-detection path from working. So if the fire light comes on, it indicates that the fire-detection system has recognized a fire condition and has activated the alarm. The extinguishing system being armed or waiting for a maintenance test doesn’t change the fact that the light is signaling a real alarm. In short, a lit fire indicator in this scenario is a trustworthy alert of a fire, while the inoperative test loop should be investigated separately to restore full test capability.

The fire indication signal is tied to the actual fire sensing path, not the test loop. If the test circuit loop is inoperative, that just means you can’t use that loop to simulate a fault or test the system; it doesn’t necessarily stop the normal fire-detection path from working. So if the fire light comes on, it indicates that the fire-detection system has recognized a fire condition and has activated the alarm. The extinguishing system being armed or waiting for a maintenance test doesn’t change the fact that the light is signaling a real alarm. In short, a lit fire indicator in this scenario is a trustworthy alert of a fire, while the inoperative test loop should be investigated separately to restore full test capability.