Which fire alarm component sounds alerts to occupants?

The choice that identifies the component responsible for sounding alerts to occupants is the signal appliance. Signal appliances are designed specifically to emit audible and/or visual signals to notify individuals of a fire or other emergencies. Common examples of signal appliances include sirens, horns, bells, and strobe lights. Their primary function is to ensure that occupants are aware of an emergency situation and can respond accordingly, thereby enhancing occupant safety.

In contrast, initiating devices are responsible for detecting fires or emergencies and typically include smoke detectors and manual pull stations. The control panel serves as the central hub for monitoring and controlling the fire alarm system, processing signals from initiating devices, and controlling the operation of signal appliances. Monitoring devices are used to supervise system integrity and may involve communication systems that alert monitoring services rather than providing direct alerts to occupants. Therefore, signal appliances are central to occupant notification in a fire alarm system.