What is the primary purpose of a fire alarm system in a facility?

The primary purpose of a fire alarm system in a facility is to notify occupants of a fire. This is essential for ensuring the safety of individuals within the building. When a fire alarm is triggered, it alerts people through audible alarms and visual signals, allowing them to evacuate the premises quickly and safely. The timely notification can make a significant difference in preventing injury or loss of life, as it provides occupants with crucial information to react accordingly and find their way to exits.

While other options like extinguishing fires, monitoring air quality, and controlling smoke spread are important aspects of fire safety management, they are not the main objective of a fire alarm system. For instance, extinguishing fires is typically handled by automatic suppression systems or fire-fighting personnel, and while monitoring air quality is relevant for overall safety, it does not directly pertain to fire detection or alerting occupants. Similarly, controlling smoke spread often involves other systems such as smoke barriers and ventilation controls, rather than the fire alarm itself. Hence, the focus of a fire alarm system is squarely on ensuring occupants are made aware of a fire situation promptly.