Distinguish between a detection system and a suppression system in facility fire protection.

• A. A detection system detects and alerts to a fire; a suppression system actively controls or extinguishes the fire.
• B. Detection and suppression are the same; both detect and extinguish.
• C. A detection system suppresses fire; a suppression system detects.
• D. Suppression detects; detection extinguishes.

Answer: (A)

Detection versus suppression: detection systems sense smoke, heat, or flame and then alert occupants and authorities to a fire. They provide warning so people can evacuate and responders can act, but they don’t actively put the fire out. Suppression systems, on the other hand, are designed to actively control or extinguish the fire using water, inert gas, dry chemicals, foam, or other means. They may operate automatically or be triggered by the detection system, but their purpose is to fight the fire itself and limit damage. The other descriptions blur these roles or claim they’re the same, which doesn’t reflect how protection systems separate sensing/notification from active firefighting.