Manual actuators shall be located between ten and twenty feet from the system.

• A. 5 to 10 feet
• B. 10 to 20 feet
• C. 20 to 30 feet
• D. 0 to 5 feet

Answer: (B)

The key idea is to place manual alarm actuators where people can reach them quickly without crowding the equipment itself. Being between ten and twenty feet from the system provides a practical balance: you’re close enough that someone can trigger the alarm within a short walk, but not so close that the area around the main system becomes crowded or prone to accidental activation. If the distance were shorter than ten feet, there’s a higher chance of nuisance activations or interference with the equipment. If it were farther than twenty feet, the time to reach the actuator increases, which can delay alerting others and the fire response.