False alarms, also known as nuisance alarms are usually associated with malfunctioning fire and security alarm systems.

The term False alarm is actally a misnomer and is regularly replaced by the term nuisance alarm.

When a sensor operates, it is hardly false infact it is usually a true indication of the state of the sensor. A more appropriate term is nuisance, ie that the alarm activation is inconvenient, annoying, or vexatious.

Fire Systems

Fire systems are typically an interconnected series of sensors like a Smoke_detector which are used to detect the presence of heat, smoke, flames, carbon monoxide, water flow and water pressure variations. Sensors such as manual call points or break glass alarms can also be used to manually initiate an alarm signal.

Security Systems

Like fire systems, security systems are a series of interconnected sensors which are used to detect motion, vibration, heat and changes in air pressure. Alarms can also be manually initiated using break glass or duress alarms.