Catastrophic IDS failure is defined as?

• A. A sensor fault in a single zone
• B. The entire system or major portion if it's inoperative
• C. A minor alarm blip
• D. A battery failure

Answer: (D)

Catastrophic IDS failure means the alarm system becomes inoperative across most or all of its coverage. A battery failure fits this because power is essential for every sensor, panel, and communication path. Without power, the entire system cannot monitor, detect, or alert, so the whole IDS is down. In contrast, a fault in a single zone or a minor alarm blip affects only a part of the system or is temporary, and thus isn’t considered catastrophic. A battery failure is the mechanism that leads to complete loss of operation, which is why it’s the correct choice.