In a mercantile burglar alarm system, a programmable sounding control unit must activate the sounding device for not less than how many minutes upon alarm?

• A. 5 minutes
• B. 10 minutes
• C. 15 minutes
• D. 30 minutes

Answer: (C)

Minimum duration of the audible alarm is being tested here. In mercantile (commercial) burglar alarm systems, the sounding device must remain active for a sustained period after an alarm so that occupants, staff, nearby people, and responders clearly hear the alert and have time to react. The generally required minimum is fifteen minutes of continuous sounding. Five or ten minutes are typically too short to ensure reliable notice in noisy or busy commercial environments, and thirty minutes is longer than the standard minimum and can cause unnecessary disruption. So, the intent is to guarantee a solid, noticeable alarm for a practical window, which is why fifteen minutes is the best match.