Fire alarm notification appliances can be divided into three major categories: Audible Audible
Fire alarm notification appliances include bells, horns, speakers, chimes, buzzers, and sirens. The type of audible appliance selected for a particular application depends on a number of factors including the ambient sound pressure level, the occupants in the building, and other sounds and signals that may be used in the building.
Visible Visible
Fire alarm notification appliances include strobe lights, rotating beacons, textual messages on an annunciator, graphic annunciators, and any other appliance that provides a visual indication of an alarm, supervisory or trouble signal.
Tactile Tactile
Tactile notification appliances alerts by the sense of touch or vibration. There are few tactile fire alarm notification appliances used. Those that are available are intended for individuals with a hearing impairment. Because tactile devices are seldom used, they are not discussed in this program.

NOTE: This is an unformatted excerpt from our online fire protection training library.