Final answer:
NFPA 72 provides guidelines for fire alarm systems, but the specific action for a rise or fall over 3 inches requires consulting the current edition of NFPA 72. The standard ensures early fire detection and minimizes potential dangers. The exact response of the system is not specified without current documentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 72, which governs the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, the precise action required when the rise or fall is over 3 inches as per Table 17 (j) (4) is not explicitly detailed without access to the current edition of the document. However, NFPA 72 outlines requirements for the installation, performance, and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems. These protocols are critical to detect fires early, thus minimizing the uncertainty over whether a serious fire or hazard awaits after an alarm and reducing the potential for extreme physical danger.
Fire alarm systems are designed to be highly reliable, and any deviation or fault, such as a significant change in rise or fall, might indicate a system malfunction or environmental influence, potentially triggering a maintenance alert or fault signal rather than an evacuation alarm. This ensures the system is maintained in proper working order to be ready for actual fire events. NFPA standards are updated regularly and must be referred to for the most accurate and current safety measures.