What is the primary purpose of a fire alarm system?

The primary purpose of a fire alarm system is to detect smoke and fire, which ensures the safety of occupants by providing timely alerts. Fire alarm systems are designed to identify the presence of fire or smoke and activate alarms to notify occupants in the building. This early detection is critical in preventing the spread of fire, allowing people to evacuate safely.

While evacuating the building is an important function related to fire safety, it is a response to the activation of the fire alarm system rather than the system's primary purpose. The alarm system's main role is to detect hazardous conditions, which triggers the necessary emergency protocols, including evacuation. Alerting fire personnel and monitoring building security are also functions that are crucial within broader safety and emergency management frameworks, but they are secondary to the fundamental reason for a fire alarm system's existence: to detect fire and smoke.