What type of alarm is triggered when the backup instrument air compressor is energized?

The correct answer is that the alarm triggered when the backup instrument air compressor is energized is a local alarm. Local alarms are designed to alert personnel in the immediate vicinity of equipment or systems that something requires attention. In the context of backup instrument air compressors, a local alarm provides a direct indication to staff operating or monitoring that the backup system has been activated. This immediate awareness is crucial for ensuring that appropriate actions can be taken without delay to address any potential issues with the primary air supply system.

Such alarms are essential in medical gas systems, as they help maintain patient safety by ensuring that any problems with the air supply can be quickly identified and rectified. Local alarms can be differentiated from remote alarms, which might alert staff in different areas or over broader distances, and from system or manual alarms that have different triggering or response protocols.