Alarm Response Course for Security Guards 2026

1. Vraag 1 van 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
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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. Vraag 2 van 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
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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. Vraag 3 van 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
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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. Vraag 4 van 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
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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. Vraag 5 van 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
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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. Vraag 6 van 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
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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. Vraag 7 van 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
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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. Vraag 8 van 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
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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. Vraag 9 van 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
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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. Vraag 10 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 11 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 12 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 13 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 14 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 15 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 16 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 17 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 18 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 19 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 20 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 21 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 22 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. A modified fire watch

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

23. Vraag 23 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 24 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 25 van 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
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

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