The National Incident Management System (NIMS)  breaks fire alarms in the following categories:

Fire – Any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or in an uncontrolled manner.

False Alarm – Alarm accidently caused by non-fire event. 

     Examples: construction activities, dirty air handler filters, burnt food products, un-identified cause, other similar events.

Nuisance Alarm – Alarm intentionally caused by non-fire event.

      Examples: activating a pull station as a prank, use of a smoke bomb, activating a fire sprinkler with a lighter, other similar events.

Fire Drill – Intentional activation of alarm.

       Examples: a test of the system or of the evacuation plan.

Emergency Evacuation – Intentional activation of alarm to evacuate building .

        Examples: for a bomb threat, gas leak, other similar event.

Trouble -A trouble reported by the fire panel that did not result in the alarm being activated.

        Examples:  Dirty smoke, ground fault, other similar events

Priority 2-A Priority 2  reported by the fire panel that did not result in the alarm being activated.

        Examples:  In room smoke, security alarm, other similar events

Supervisory-A Supervisory  reported by the fire panel that did not result in the alarm being activated.

        Examples:  Freezer low temperature warning, generator running, other similar events