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 the list of available archived reports;
• 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

Evaluation of the Responsiveness of Occupants to Fire Alarms in Buildings: Phase 1

This Phase 1 effort focuses on literature review to gather information from the available materials on the effectiveness of fire alarm signals, voice alarms and mobile technology on notifying the building occupants in the event of an emergency.

Download the report.

Smoke Alarms

• Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires (2019)
• 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

• 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.

Carbon Monoxide

• Carbon monoxide toxicology: overview of altitude effects (2016)
• Carbon monoxide diffusion through porous walls (2015)