Alarm Response Course for Security Guards 2026

1. Pregunta 1 de 25

   How should a security guard treat every fire alarm?

   • AAs a false alarm unless they see flames
   • BAs a test unless the owner calls
   • CAs something to ignore at night
   • DAs a real emergency until it is confirmed otherwise
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: D. As a real emergency until it is confirmed otherwise

   Fire departments ask that every alarm be treated as an emergency. Even a likely false alarm must be answered and checked.

2. Pregunta 2 de 25

   In a single-stage fire alarm system, what happens when a pull station or detector is activated?

   • AOnly the guard's pager vibrates
   • BAll the alarm bells sound right away
   • CThe system waits 30 minutes
   • DOnly the elevator stops
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: B. All the alarm bells sound right away

   In a single-stage system, every activation sounds the general alarm throughout the building at once.

3. Pregunta 3 de 25

   In a two-stage fire alarm system, what is the first stage for?

   • AA signal for occupants to go to the roof
   • BA signal that the fire is out
   • CAn alert signal that tells staff a fire may be happening so they can investigate
   • DA monthly test signal
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: C. An alert signal that tells staff a fire may be happening so they can investigate

   The first stage, or alert signal, tells supervisory staff to investigate before the building-wide alarm signal sounds.

4. Pregunta 4 de 25

   In Vancouver's guidance on two-stage systems, how long do staff have to investigate before the system sounds the evacuation alarm?

   • A30 minutes
   • B5 minutes
   • CThere is no limit
   • D30 seconds
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: B. 5 minutes

   If staff do not confirm the situation within 5 minutes, the system automatically goes to the second stage, the evacuation alarm.

5. Pregunta 5 de 25

   In a two-stage system, what is the 5-minute window meant for?

   • AResetting the panel so the noise stops
   • BTaking a break before responding
   • CInvestigating and verifying whether the event is real
   • DSilencing the bells before checking
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: C. Investigating and verifying whether the event is real

   Vancouver's bulletin says the time is for investigation, not for acknowledging or silencing the system.

6. Pregunta 6 de 25

   According to Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, at which stage should the fire department be notified in a two-stage system?

   • AOnly after the second stage
   • BAt the first stage, the alert signal
   • CThe next morning
   • DOnly if flames are seen
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: B. At the first stage, the alert signal

   The fire department must be notified and respond at the first stage, not wait for the second stage.

7. Pregunta 7 de 25

   What does the fire alarm annunciator panel help you find out?

   • AWho pulled the alarm
   • BWhich zone or device set off the alarm
   • CThe outside temperature
   • DHow much the repair will cost
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: B. Which zone or device set off the alarm

   The annunciator shows the zone or device in alarm, so you know where to go and what to tell firefighters.

8. Pregunta 8 de 25

   When does Vancouver Fire Rescue Services recommend silencing a fire alarm?

   • AOnly after the fire department has arrived and evaluated the situation
   • BAs soon as you reach the panel
   • CWhenever occupants complain about the noise
   • DAfter 60 seconds
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: A. Only after the fire department has arrived and evaluated the situation

   Silencing too early can leave people unaware of a real fire. The fire department should evaluate first.

9. Pregunta 9 de 25

   Why is silencing a fire alarm too early so dangerous?

   • AThe bells may not restart on their own if the fire grows, and people may not leave
   • BIt uses up the battery
   • CIt damages the sprinklers
   • DIt calls the police by mistake
   Ver respuesta

   Respuesta: A. The bells may not restart on their own if the fire grows, and people may not leave

   In most newer systems, silenced audible devices will not restart automatically. Premature silencing has led to fire deaths.

10. Pregunta 10 de 25

    What should you do before a fire alarm system is reset?

    • ARecord the information shown on the panel
    • BUnplug the panel
    • CRemove the detector that went off
    • DOpen all the fire doors
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Record the information shown on the panel

    Resetting can erase the alarm location. Recording it first helps firefighters and technicians find the cause.

11. Pregunta 11 de 25

    Why should a guard not reset the fire alarm before firefighters arrive?

    • AFirefighters may have to search the whole building instead of one zone
    • BResetting makes the alarm louder
    • CResetting calls more fire trucks
    • DResetting turns off the lights
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Firefighters may have to search the whole building instead of one zone

    An early reset loses the zone information, so crews must search everywhere and stay out of service longer.

12. Pregunta 12 de 25

    A building keeps having false alarms from a faulty system. What may happen to the owner?

    • AThe guard is fined personally
    • BThey may be charged false alarm fees
    • CThe fire department removes the system
    • DNothing ever happens
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: B. They may be charged false alarm fees

    Continued operation of a faulty system may lead to false alarm fees, so faults must be reported and fixed.

13. Pregunta 13 de 25

    You arrive at the zone shown on the panel and find a burnt toast smell but no fire. What should you still do?

    • ALeave the site
    • BFollow the fire safety plan and let the fire department confirm
    • CReset the panel yourself right away
    • DTell occupants to ignore the alarm
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: B. Follow the fire safety plan and let the fire department confirm

    Even a likely false alarm must be handled by the plan. The fire department decides when it is safe to silence or reset.

14. Pregunta 14 de 25

    Many Ontario police services, such as Hamilton and London, use "verified response" for property alarms. What does this mean?

    • APolice never respond to any alarm
    • BPolice are sent only after the alarm is confirmed to show likely criminal activity
    • COnly security guards may call police
    • DPolice come to every alarm within 5 minutes
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: B. Police are sent only after the alarm is confirmed to show likely criminal activity

    Under verified response, police dispatch to property alarms only after verification of a crime or threat to safety.

15. Pregunta 15 de 25

    Which one counts as a way to verify an intrusion alarm under Hamilton Police's program?

    • AA phone call saying the alarm is loud
    • BAn on-scene witness, such as a guard or keyholder
    • CThe alarm company's billing record
    • DA single motion sensor with no other sign
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: B. An on-scene witness, such as a guard or keyholder

    Hamilton accepts audio, video, an on-scene witness (owner, keyholder, guards) or multiple sensors activating in a suspicious sequence.

16. Pregunta 16 de 25

    Under verified response programs, how do police treat panic, hold-up and duress alarms?

    • AThey ignore them
    • BThey send a letter the next week
    • CThey respond without needing verification
    • DThey require video proof first
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: C. They respond without needing verification

    Panic, hold-up and duress alarms signal a threat to people, so police dispatch right away without verification.

17. Pregunta 17 de 25

    Which pattern can count as verification of an intrusion alarm?

    • AOne door contact opening during business hours
    • BA low-battery signal
    • CTwo or more separate sensors activating in a sequence that suggests someone is moving inside
    • DA power failure signal
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: C. Two or more separate sensors activating in a sequence that suggests someone is moving inside

    Multiple activations in a suspicious sequence can verify that someone may be inside.

18. Pregunta 18 de 25

    You respond to an intrusion alarm and see a smashed window and a light moving inside. What should you do?

    • AStay outside in a safe spot, call police with what you see, and keep watching
    • BReset the alarm so it stops
    • CLeave, because it is not your job
    • DGo in alone to catch the person
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Stay outside in a safe spot, call police with what you see, and keep watching

    Signs of a break-in mean someone may still be inside. Your role is to observe and report from a safe place and let police enter.

19. Pregunta 19 de 25

    When you arrive at an intrusion alarm, what is a good first step?

    • ACheck the outside of the building from a safe distance for signs of entry
    • BDisarm the alarm before looking around
    • CTurn on your siren to scare people
    • DUnlock the front door and walk straight in
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Check the outside of the building from a safe distance for signs of entry

    An outside check of doors, windows and roof access shows whether there are signs of forced entry before anyone goes in.

20. Pregunta 20 de 25

    What details should you note about a suspected point of entry, such as a forced door?

    • AOnly the colour of the door
    • BNothing, police will find it
    • CIts exact location and condition, without touching it
    • DHow you fixed it before police arrived
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: C. Its exact location and condition, without touching it

    Recording the location and condition, and not touching it, keeps possible evidence intact for police.

21. Pregunta 21 de 25

    What is a "trouble" signal on a fire alarm panel?

    • AA routine weather report
    • BA sign the fire is out
    • CA sign of a fault in the system, such as a wiring or power problem
    • DA sign the system is working perfectly
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: C. A sign of a fault in the system, such as a wiring or power problem

    A trouble signal means part of the system may not work properly. It must be reported, and a long-lasting trouble may require a fire watch.

22. Pregunta 22 de 25

    A fire alarm trouble condition lasts more than an hour at a Queen's University building. What does its procedure require?

    • ATurning off the panel
    • BEvacuating the whole campus
    • CA modified fire watch
    • DNothing until the next inspection
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: C. A modified fire watch

    Queen's procedure requires a modified fire watch when a trouble condition lasts more than one hour.

23. Pregunta 23 de 25

    After any alarm response, what should your report include?

    • ANothing if it was a false alarm
    • BTimes, the zone or device, what you found, who you notified and what was done
    • CYour opinion of the occupants
    • DOnly the time you went home
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: B. Times, the zone or device, what you found, who you notified and what was done

    A complete record helps the owner fix causes of false alarms and shows that procedures were followed.

24. Pregunta 24 de 25

    Who should be told when an alarm system is found to be faulty?

    • AYour supervisor or the building contact, so a service company can repair it
    • BNobody, it will fix itself
    • COnly the other guards
    • DThe news media
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: A. Your supervisor or the building contact, so a service company can repair it

    Faulty systems must be repaired by a qualified service company. Report so the owner can arrange it.

25. Pregunta 25 de 25

    You hear a panic alarm from a cashier's station. What is the safest approach?

    • AAssume it was pressed by accident and ignore it
    • BReset it before checking
    • CRun in shouting
    • DTreat it as a possible threat to people, call police and approach carefully, or observe from a safe place
    Ver respuesta

    Respuesta: D. Treat it as a possible threat to people, call police and approach carefully, or observe from a safe place

    Panic and hold-up alarms mean someone may be in danger. Police respond immediately, and your safety comes first.

Teclado: 1–4 para responder, Intro para la siguiente pregunta.