In alarm system terminology, which option best describes a manual alarm device requiring two distinct actions to trigger?

• A. Single action pull station
• B. Double action pull station
• C. Push-button alarm
• D. Manual call point

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that some manual alarm devices are designed to require two deliberate steps to activate, guarding against accidental triggers. That two-step requirement is what defines a double action pull station: you must perform two distinct actions (for example, lifting a protective cover and then pulling the lever, or pushing a safety tab and then pulling) to send the alarm signal.

In contrast, a single action pull station activates with one motion, such as simply pulling the handle. A push-button alarm triggers with one press, and a manual call point (the typical glass-break or button on many systems) is generally activated with a single action as well. Therefore, the device that fits the description of requiring two distinct actions is the double action pull station.