Detection and signaling

Detection and signaling technologies are at the vanguard of SMART and connected solutions to building life safety problems.Our research informs the performance of these systems and characterizes the environments that they respond to.

To learn about older reports, you can:

• see a list of reports, or search and download from the NFPA Library & Archives catalog;
• contact the library at +1 617 984-7445.

You can also browse NFPA workshop and symposium proceedings on this topic.

Latest report

Smoke alarms in US home fires

This report discusses the presence, operation, and reason for failures of smoke alarms in reported home fires. Performance differences by power source are also discussed. Additional analyses include smoke alarm status in one- and two-family home and apartment fires, and factors associated with deaths in fires with and without working smoke alarms.

Download the report.

Smoke Alarms

• Smoke Alarms in US Home Fires (2021)
• Audible Alarm Signal Waking Effectiveness: Literature Review (2020)
• Smoke Detector Spacing for High Ceiling Spaces (2017)
• Smoke Alarm Nuisance Source Characterization: Experimental Results (2015)
• Validation of Modeling Tools for Detection Design in High Air Flow Environments - Phase 2 (2014)
• Smoke Alarm Nuisance Source Characterization - Phase 1 (2014)

Fire Alarm Notification

• Door Messaging Strategies: Implications for Detection and Notification (2019)
• Evaluation of the Responsiveness of Occupants to Fire Alarms in Buildings: Phase 1 (2019)
• Fire Alarms and At Risk Populations (2017)
• Fire Alarms and People with ASD: A Literature Summary (2014)
• Guidance Document: Emergency Communication Strategies for Buildings (2014)
• Risk-Based Decision Support in Managing Unwanted Alarms (2013)
• Parameters for Indirect Viewing of Visual Signals Used in Emergency Notification (2013)
• Developing Emergency Communication Strategies for Buildings - Year 2 (2012) Report Note: This is a NIST report.

Gas Detection

• Combustible Gas Dispersion in Residential Occupancies and Detector Location Analysis (2020)

Carbon Monoxide

• Carbon Monoxide Detection and Alarm Requirements: Literature Review (2021)
• Carbon monoxide toxicology: overview of altitude effects (2016)
• Carbon monoxide diffusion through porous walls (2015)