In sprinkler systems, what type of signal is activated when a fire pump is running?

In sprinkler systems, when a fire pump is activated, it can trigger both an alarm signal and a supervisory signal.

The alarm signal indicates that a fire condition has been detected, prompting a response from the fire alarm system and notifying building occupants and emergency personnel of the situation. The activation of the fire pump generally occurs when the system is attempting to provide additional water pressure or flow to combat a fire, which is a clear indication of a fire event and thus generates an alarm condition.

Simultaneously, the supervisory signal is important for indicating that a critical system component—like a fire pump—is operational and functioning as intended. It informs the monitoring system that the fire protection system is in service and ready to respond to a fire event. This signal serves to notify personnel that the fire pump is running, which is important for system integrity and maintenance.

Therefore, the correct answer encompasses the dual role of the signals generated when a fire pump operates, which include both alarm and supervisory signals.