What is the role of pre-discharge alarms?

• A. To warn occupants of an imminent release and allow evacuation or safe action.
• B. To disable the system.
• C. To detect only fire, not the release.
• D. To provide post-release reporting.

Answer: (A)

Pre-discharge alarms provide an early warning before any clean agent is released, giving occupants a chance to evacuate or take protective action. They are activated at the start of the discharge sequence and are designed to be clearly audible and visible so people in the space and nearby areas have time to move to safety, close doors as needed, and brief themselves on what to do next. This lead time is critical because exposure risk increases once the release begins, so the alarm’s purpose is to enable safe egress rather than to do anything after the fact. It’s not about disabling the system, detecting only fire, or reporting after the release; those functions belong to other parts of the system and procedures.