Editing Alarm device (section)

== False alarms ==
{{Main article|False alarm}}
{{expand section|date=March 2021}}
With any kind of alarm, you must balance between the danger of false alarms (called "false positives") &mdash; the signal going off in the absence of a problem &mdash; or an alarm failing to signal an actual problem (called a "false negative"). False alarms can waste resources expensively and can even be dangerous. For example, false alarms of a fire can waste [[firefighter]] manpower, making them unavailable for a real fire, and risk injury to firefighters and others as the fire engines race to the alleged fire's location.<ref name="fia.uk.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fia.uk.com/cut-false-alarm-costs/what-is-a-false-alarm-.html|title=What is a False Alarm?|website=Fia.uk.com|access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref> In addition, false alarms may acclimatise people to ignore alarm signals, and thus possibly to ignore an actual emergency: [[Aesop]]'s [[fable]] of ''[[The Boy Who Cried Wolf]]'' exemplifies this problem.
 
A false alarm is one of the most significant issues with conventional alarm systems. They can be triggered for several reasons, such as the movement of pets,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/03/30-of-false-burglar-alarms-are-set-off-by-insects/|title=30% of false burglar alarms triggered by insects|date=21 March 2018|website=Which.co.uk|access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref> typing in the wrong security codes, or loud sounds from windows or doors. In the case of fire alarms, aerosol sprays, smoking, or burning food can all lead to a false alarm.<ref name="fia.uk.com"/>

Many avoid the risk of false alarms by ensuring their alarms are secured in an appropriate location, such as placing a smoke detector or fire alarm away from the kitchen where smoke from burned food or large quantities of steam which may trigger a false alarm are common occurrences. In the case of a security alarm, an additional monitoring station which assesses whether there is a legitimate need for help can reduce false alarms.