FAA Powerplant Written Practice Test

What is considered a feature of an ideal fire detection system?

1. High cost

2. Minimizing false alarms

3. All of the above

4. Dependence on manual checks

The correct answer is: All of the above

An ideal fire detection system is characterized by its ability to minimize false alarms. This is critical because frequent false alarms can lead to desensitization of personnel, making them less likely to respond to legitimate alarms. Additionally, minimizing false alarms ensures that the system remains reliable and trustworthy, important factors for safety. The feature of an ideal system is not high cost, as a good detection system should provide effectiveness and efficiency without being prohibitively expensive. Affordability allows for widespread implementation, which enhances overall safety. Furthermore, reliance on automatic detection methods is preferred over dependence on manual checks. Manual checks can be less dependable due to human error and oversight. Therefore, an ideal fire detection system should operate autonomously, quickly identifying the presence of fire without the need for regular manual intervention. Thus, while the option given suggests that "all of the above" are features of an ideal system, the true characteristics of an effective fire detection system focus on minimizing false alarms and eliminating the dependence on manual checks, rather than on high costs or manual interventions, which detract from the ideal functionality.