Which alarm sound indicates an Access event?

• A. Long, low beep; then one high beep
• B. Three short, high beeping alarm sound
• C. Continuous, fast beeping alarm sound
• D. Continuous, slow, two-tone beeping alarm sound

Answer: (B)

Audible alarm patterns are assigned to specific event types so staff can recognize what’s happening at a glance. The signal for an Access event is three short, high-pitched beeps. This pattern is brief, distinct, and easy to notice over other sounds, so responders can quickly identify that someone is accessing a controlled area and verify the entry if needed.

The other patterns are longer or continuous, which are typically used for different conditions like ongoing alarms or faults. They don’t provide the quick, single-event cue that an Access alert requires, so they wouldn’t be interpreted as the Access signal.

So, three short, high beeps are the best cue for an Access event because they’re clear, discrete, and specifically mapped to that event type.