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

Carbon Monoxide Incidents: A Review of the Data Landscape

This Research Foundation report provides the carbon monoxide incident data landscape to clarify the sources of information, how the data is compiled and present what the data represents. Additionally, this report identifies, summarizes, and analyzes case studies of non-fire carbon monoxide incidents specific to commercial-type occupancies to provide a greater understanding to the NFPA Safety to Life Technical Committee who is responsible for writing the NFPA 101, Life Safety Code® and the NFPA Building Code Technical Committee who is responsible for writing the NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code®.

Download the report.

Smoke Alarms

• Smoke Detector Spacing for High Ceiling Spaces (2023)
• 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

• Evaluating Data and Voice Signals in Pathway Survivable Cables for Life Safety Systems (2022)
• Review of Alarm Technologies for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Populations (2021)
• 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 Incidents: A Review of the Data Landscape
• Carbon Monoxide Detection and Alarm Requirements: Literature Review (2021)
• Carbon monoxide toxicology: overview of altitude effects (2016)
• Carbon monoxide diffusion through porous walls (2015)