In a fire safety system, which statement correctly contrasts automatic detection with manual detection?

• A. Manual detection is activated by fire alarms automatically without human input.
• B. Automatic detection systems detect fires with sensors and can trigger alarms without human input.
• C. Manual detection does not rely on occupant reports.
• D. Automatic detection is always slower to alert occupants than manual detection.

Answer: (B)

Automatic fire detection identifies a fire using sensors and can trigger alarms without anyone taking action. This distinguishes it from manual detection, which depends on occupants noticing a fire and raising the alarm themselves. That autonomous triggering is what makes automatic detection faster and capable of alerting even if people are unaware or unable to act. The other statements misstate how manual and automatic systems operate: manual detection isn’t automatic, it relies on people reporting a fire; and automatic detection isn’t inherently slower than manual detection—it's designed to provide prompt warning without waiting for human input.