Difference Between Automatic fire alarm and Evacuation alarm
An automatic fire alarm is to quickly detect a fire, which normally occurs with so-called smoke detectors. An automatic fire alarm can then be used to alert staff or emergency services and to launch an evacuation alarm. Its function is to warn people who are in a building and get them to evacuate the building. Evacuation alarm can be manually or automatically operated, and normally consists of sirens or voice evacuation messages.
Automatic fire alarm is required for automatic detection of fire where people may be sleeping, for example in health care facilities, sheltered housing, hotels and homes. Evacuation alarm is required especially in buildings where many people can be affected by a fire, for example, in community centers and hotels.
New buildings may use a smoke alarm for both the automatic detection and evacuation alarm.