How quickly must the secondary power supply provide power to the protected premises system?

The secondary power supply must provide power to the protected premises system within 10 seconds. This requirement is crucial for maintaining the operation of fire alarm systems during a power failure. The 10-second timeframe is established to ensure that the fire alarm system remains functional and can effectively respond to emergencies, allowing occupants to be alerted in a timely manner and enabling emergency services to be notified without undue delay.

By ensuring the secondary power supply activates within this specified period, the system ensures continuous monitoring and alarm capabilities, which are vital for life safety in a fire scenario. The rapid transition to backup power minimizes the risk of system failure, which could otherwise jeopardize both property and lives during critical moments.

Other timeframes, such as 5 seconds, 30 seconds, or 60 seconds, do not align with the requirements set forth in fire safety codes and standards, which emphasize the need for quickly accessible backup power to maintain system integrity. Thus, the standard for a 10-second delay is a well-considered benchmark to balance operational readiness with realistic performance expectations in fire protection systems.