What is one requirement of power sources for smoke alarms?

The requirement for power sources for smoke alarms to be dedicated and reliable stems from the critical role that smoke alarms play in fire safety. Smoke alarms must function consistently to ensure they are able to detect smoke and alert occupants to a fire emergency. A dedicated power source ensures that the alarm is always powered and not shared with other devices that could cause it to fail or malfunction. Reliability is essential because a smoke alarm that does not operate correctly can lead to devastating consequences, such as failure to warn occupants in the event of a fire.

While rechargeable batteries can provide a power source, they are not always necessary for all smoke alarms, making that option less universally applicable. Additionally, the connection to a security system is not a requirement for smoke alarm operation, as many standalone systems work effectively without such connections. Routine testing of the power source is important for maintenance but does not directly fulfill the requirement of the power source itself being dedicated and reliable. Thus, requiring a dedicated and reliable power source is the most fundamental and critical requirement for smoke alarms to ensure their effectiveness in alerting to smoke and fire situations.