What kind of alarm results from improper installation or maintenance?

The choice of "Unwarranted Alarm" is particularly relevant when discussing alarms that arise due to improper installation or maintenance of a fire alarm system. An unwarranted alarm indicates a situation where the alarm has been activated without any real fire threat or emergency. This can frequently happen as a consequence of incorrect installation practices, such as faulty wiring or misconfigured sensors, or insufficient maintenance that leads to equipment malfunction.

When systems are not installed or maintained properly, they may trigger alarms without the presence of smoke or heat, thereby creating a reaction that is not justified — or unwarranted. This can disrupt regular operations, leading to alarm fatigue among responders and a potential disregard for future alarms.

The other options, while seemingly related, highlight different aspects of alarm issues. For example, an unnecessary alarm might refer to a situation where an alarm is triggered without cause but not directly due to improper installation or maintenance. A false alarm tends to describe instances where alarms activate due to factors not involving a legitimate emergency, which can also tie back to installation and maintenance but is interpreted as misleading under different contexts. A manual alarm refers to alarms activated by a person intentionally, which is unrelated to the installation or maintenance of the system itself.

In summary, the selected answer reflects