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The correct choice highlights the allowance for extending the manual testing frequency of fire alarms to annually when automatic testing is conducted at least weekly by a remote fire alarm control unit. This provision is established in NFPA 72 because the regular automatic testing helps to ensure that the fire alarm system is functioning correctly and reliably throughout the year. By using a remote fire alarm control unit that carries out these tests weekly, the need for more frequent manual testing is reduced.
The rationale behind this approach is that consistent automatic testing serves as an ongoing verification of system performance. By demonstrating that the system is continuously monitored and evaluated, the risk of system failure or malfunction is minimized, which justifies the extended interval for manual testing. In this way, safety is maintained without overburdening fire protection personnel with unnecessary manual tests.
Other conditions listed may not meet the established criteria for adjusting testing frequency, as they do not ensure the same level of ongoing operational reliability or may not comply with the intent of NFPA 72. This regulatory flexibility provided is based on the trust in automated systems to adequately monitor and report on fire alarm operations.