What does an alarm signal categorized as unwarranted indicate?

An alarm signal categorized as unwarranted indicates a false positive. This happens when the smoke detector signals an alarm without there being an actual fire or threat present. False positives can be caused by various factors, such as cooking smoke, steam, or dust, which might be interpreted by the detector as smoke from a fire.

Understanding unwarranted alarms is crucial for safety and operational efficiency because they can lead to unnecessary panic, disruptions, and resource allocation if not addressed properly. By identifying that an alarm has gone off without a legitimate cause, responders can better distinguish between true emergencies and false alarms, ultimately improving response times for real incidents.