Smoke Alarms/Smoke Detectors
The popular name for these devices in the U. S. has been smoke detectors. In 1996, U. S. manufacturers officially changed the name to smoke alarms in order to be consistent with international terminology.
Smoke alarm facts and questions.
Over 93 percent of homes in the U. S. now have at least one smoke alarm. As the number of smoke alarms in homes increased over the years, the residential fire death rate has dropped nearly 50 percent. This success story is tempered by the fact that the number of inoperable smoke alarms is growing. Experts warn that the trend to fewer fire deaths will reverse if we do not solve the problem of inoperable smoke alarms. They estimate that one in three homes have an inoperable smoke alarm. Some fire departments have found units in one half of homes to be disabled.
The two most common reasons for inoperable smoke alarms are:
- Disabling them to prevent nuisance alarms.
- Neglecting to replace units that are past their 10-year service lives.
Both problems are easily solved, but the sad truth is that fire departments have not made a concerted effort to attack the problem. The section below on how to reduce nuisance alarms gives several tips on how to keep your smoke alarms working.
Which Kind of Smoke Alarm Do I Need?
NASFM Updates Smoke Alarms Guidance Document:
With the help of its Science Advisory Committee, NASFM has updated the Smoke Alarms Guidance Document first issued in 2006. The revised document provides a summary of current information about the research on residential smoke alarms, explains the different response characteristics of the sensing mechanisms in different types of alarms and offers guidance regarding what to tell the public about smoke alarm use. It also encourages the public to consult their state and local jurisdictions regarding any specific requirements about types of smoke alarms that should be used and where they should be installed in the home.
The updated guidance document is posted on the NASFM website at http://www.firemarshals.org/mission/residential/.