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

Audible Alarm Signal Waking Effectiveness: Literature Review

This report documents a comprehensive analysis undertaken on waking effectiveness of smoke alarms to determine an acceptable reduction in the sound pressure for low-frequency sounders that still provides superior waking effectiveness over high-frequency sounders.

Download the report.

Smoke Alarms

• Audible Alarm Signal Waking Effectiveness: Literature Review (2020)
• 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

• 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.

Carbon Monoxide

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