Which initiating device requires physical action to activate an alarm?

The manual fire alarm box is the initiating device that requires physical action to activate an alarm. Unlike other devices that automatically detect heat or smoke and trigger an alarm without human intervention, the manual fire alarm box must be operated by a person. This typically involves breaking a glass panel or pulling a lever, which directly activates the alarm system.

This physical action reflects the design and purpose of manual fire alarm boxes, which are intended to empower individuals to initiate an alarm in the event of a fire when other detection methods may not be as effective or timely. The use of manual activation serves as an important safety feature, allowing immediate reporting of fire emergencies in busy environments where automatic systems may have delays in detecting an early warning signal.