Various embodiments include a method for operating a hazard notification system including a plurality of notification appliances connected to a bus system, each notification appliance having a signal element and an activatable energy consumption simulation unit comprising: receiving a switchover telegram at each notification appliance; attaching the respective energy consumption simulation unit of each notification appliance to the bus system in place of the signal element; measuring an energy consumption resulting in the bus system due to the activation of each energy consumption simulation unit in the course of a load test; comparing the measured energy consumption with predefined comparison values; and generating an alarm signal or a fault message as a function of the result of the comparison.