Resetting a fire alarm pull station after it has been operated normally requires building personnel or emergency responders to open the station using a key, which often is either a [[hex key]] or a more traditional key. Opening the station causes the handle to go back to its original position, allowing the alarm to be reset from the [[fire alarm control panel]] after the station has been closed.
In some places, particularly at college dormitories and schools, students can deliberately set off athe fire alarm as a [[practical joke|prank]] or just because they want to (because they are angry, curious, they want to seek [[revenge]], or to postpone or skip an [[exam]]). These [[false alarm]]s can result in [[alarm fatigue]] if they occur repeatedly, causing occupants to dismiss the importance of alarms or completely ignore them completely. In areas where false alarms are a recurring problem, pull stations may be covered with a clear plastic cover (sold under the "Stopper" trade name) that will cause people to notice the person by sounding an alarm when tampered with or opened, creating a clear focus on the fire alarm. The plastic covers may also be used to help prevent accidental pulls caused by bumping a pull station or accidental pulls by small children. Some covers lack internal alarms and are just used to help prevent bumping the pull station. Because of these and other issues, intentionally setting off a fire alarm when there is no fire or other emergency is [[Illegalism|illegal]] in most jurisdictions.
