Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy

Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT 2019 Smoke Alarm Summit Report

Welcome/Introductions • Wendy Shields – Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy • Jim Crawford – Vision 20/20 • Richard Roberts – Honeywell/NEMA • Meri-K. Appy – Appy and Associates/Vision 20/20 Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Smoke Alarm Summit 2015 • National smoke alarm survey – Being conducted by CPSC (smoke and CO alarms) • Promote home safety visits – Vision 20/20 – American Red Cross • Monitor technology advances • Changes to NFIRS Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Technology Summary • Traditional Smoke Alarm Technology • Challenges Facing Traditional Smoke Alarms: 1. Reduced Escape Time 2. Unwanted Alarm Activations from Cooking 3. Waking Effectiveness • New Smoke Alarm Tests • Low Frequency Technology • Recommendations Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Importance of Smoke Alarms • 1968 America Burning Report: – Urged Americans to install smoke alarms in homes – Recognized need to promulgate regulations for the installation of smoke alarms in homes • 1976 UL publishes the first edition of UL 217 for smoke alarms • 1976 Edition of NFPA 101 require smoke alarms in one- and two-family dwellings Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Importance of Smoke Alarms • Traditional Smoke Alarm Technology used in homes since the 1970’s are ionization and photoelectric • U. S. home fatalities have decreased from 6, 015 in 1978 to 2, 630 in 20171 • From 1978 to 2017 U. S. population increased by 97 million people Source: 1. NFPA Research: Fire Loss in the United States During 2017 - October 2018 Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Traditional Smoke Alarm Technology • Challenges facing traditional smoke alarms – Reduced available safe egress time ASET from fires produced by modern furniture and building materials – Disconnected smoke alarms from frequent unwanted (nuisance) alarms from normal cooking – Waking effectiveness of the audible alarm signal in high-risk groups Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Traditional Smoke Alarm Technology • Reduced available safe egress time (ASET) resulting from widespread use of synthetic materials 2 – 17 minutes of ASET in a flaming fire in 1976 – 3 minutes of ASET in a flaming fire in 2007 • 2004 NIST study concluded smoke alarms provide enough ASET for most fire scenarios Source: 2. 2004 NIST Performance of Home Smoke Alarms Analysis of the Response of Several Available Technologies in Residential Fire Settings Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Traditional Smoke Alarm Technology • Reasons for disabled or disconnected smoke alarms – Frequent unwanted alarm activations are the leading cause – Normal cooking activities like pan frying, baking, and sautéing, are the leading cause of unwanted alarm activations Sources: 3. NFPA Smoke Alarms in U. S. Home Fires - January 2019 Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

New Smoke Alarm Tests • New tests added to ANSI/UL 217 8 th Edition – Smoldering Polyurethane Foam Test – Flaming Polyurethane Foam Test • Goal – Respond more quickly to fires from synthetic materials – Increase available egress time • Polyurethane (PU) is commonly used in U. S. furniture, carpet padding and mattresses Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

New Smoke Alarm Tests • PU Smoldering Test – Creates large, light colored particles; no flame – Simulates cigarette left on sofa cushions • PU Flaming Test – Creates small, dark colored particles; growing flame – Simulates candle igniting sofa cushions • Acceptance criteria based on providing an acceptable level of ASET based on visibility Source: 4. UL Smoke Characterization Report – April 2007 Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

New Smoke Alarm Tests • New cooking resistant test added to ANSI/UL 217 8 th Edition – Broiling frozen hamburger produces a broad range of particle diameters representing all cooking nuisance scenarios and produces repeatable test results • Goal – Reduce disconnected smoke alarms from frequent unwanted alarms from cooking Source: 4. UL Smoke Characterization Report – April 2007 Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

New Smoke Alarm Tests • New product packaging requirement Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

New Smoke Alarm Tests • Traditional smoke alarm technologies are unable to meet the new PU and cooking tests • Smarter technology required: – Microprocessors – Multi-criteria sensor with advanced algorithms • New smoke alarms will detect real fires faster and will have improved cooking nuisance immunity Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

New Smoke Alarm Tests • ANSI/UL 268 7 th edition compliance dates: – – UL is May 29, 2020 ETL is May 29, 2020 2019 edition of NFPA 72 is January 1, 2022 Other NRTL’s may have different compliance dates Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Low Frequency Technology • Nearly all traditional smoke alarms produce a 3 k. Hz (high pitch) audible fire alarm signal • Most unimpaired adults wake up quickly to the “standard” 3 k. Hz audible fire alarm signal • Standard 3 k. Hz signal not effective at waking high risk segments of the population – Hard of hearing – Elderly – School age children Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Low Frequency Technology • Research has concluded the low frequency audible alarm signal is: – Six to ten times more effective at waking children – Six to ten times more effective at waking young adults, both sober and with 0. 05% blood alcohol level – Six times more effective at awaking adults with hearing loss Source: 5. NFPA Optimizing Fire Alarm Notification for High Risk Groups Research Project – June 2007 Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Low Frequency Technology • 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019 Edition of NFPA 72: – Requires smoke alarms to produce a low frequency signal in sleeping rooms/guest rooms only when the person with the mild to severe hearing loss chooses it – That’s Right, smoke alarms are not required to produce the low frequency signal when installed in sleeping rooms! Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Low Frequency Technology • At this time no smoke alarms are able to produce the low frequency signal • Higher current draw of low frequency sounders has presented smoke alarm manufacturers with challenges • There are listed accessories devices that provide the low frequency audible alarm signal Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

New Low Frequency Requirements • 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) and possibly NFPA 101 will require smoke alarms to produce a low frequency signal in sleeping rooms of: – Hotels guest rooms, dwelling units in apartment buildings and dormitories – Having a protected premises fire alarm systems • Early adopters of these model codes will begin in 2023 Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Recommendations • Educate the fire service and CRR representatives about the new smoke alarm tests and markings • Establish a new study to track the performance of new smoke alarms • Support future code change proposals to require smoke alarms installed in all sleeping rooms (including one- and two-family dwellings) to produce the low frequency signal Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Technological Advances in Smoke Alarms Richard Roberts Industry Affairs Manager Honeywell Fire Safety/System Sensor 1 -630 -338 -7025 Richard. roberts@systemsensor. com Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Liability for Smoke Alarm Installation Programs • Information Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Smoke Alarm Messaging Fire Safety Materials Generator NEW in November! Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

New Format for Older Adults Large-Font Options on Smoke Alarms and Cooking Safety Customize Your Flyers and Door Hangers For Older Audiences Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

New Video Library of 60 -Second Animations • Every Home Needs Working Smoke Alarms • Where Should You Place Smoke Alarms in Your Home? • • Smoke Alarm Sounds Smoke Alarm Maintenance Know What To Do in Case of a Fire Preventing Falls For Older Adults” Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Next Steps for Strategy 2 • Currently managed by Vision 20/20, NFPA and USFA • Expand Committee to include code, research and technical experts • Create a workable process to develop and promote messaging on new UL 217 compliant smoke alarms Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Where to Find More Information https: //www. nfpa. org/News-and-Research/Resources/Fire. Protection-Research-Foundation/SUPDET https: //www. nist. gov/ https: //www. cpsc. gov/ 28 Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

What are some of the research gaps/needs? • • Transmitting low frequency signals using battery power Door messaging strategies that account for smoke alarm location How does aging impact smoke alarm performance? Survey to determine impact of new UL standard – use current survey as a baseline • Expand cooking fire technology to gas cooking appliances • Why do people not respond to fire alarms? • Impact of integration, emerging technologies (e. g. Po. E) – What is the role of life safety in smart systems? Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT 29

The Continuing Challenge How do we reduce risks and losses when nearly 2/3 of those who die in home fires do so where smoke alarms are either not present or not working? Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Moving Forward • Multi-Faceted Approach – – – Education/Marketing Technology/Engineering Research Codes and Standards Legislation Economic Incentives Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

Thanks to other presenters at SAS • • • Marty Ahrens, NFPA Tom Cleary, NIST LJ Dallaire, FMO Architect of the Capitol Arthur Lee, CPSC Amanda Kimball, NFPA Research Foundation Bruce Johnson, UL www. Strategic. Fire. org/Smoke. Alarm. Summit 2019 Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

THANKS https: //www. jhsph. edu/research/centers-andinstitutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-injuryresearch-and-policy/about-our-center/ Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy SMOKE ALARM SUMMIT

THANKS Vision 20/20 is hosted by the Institution of Fire Engineers, USA Branch It grew from a grassroots effort to provide a forum for sustained, collaborative planning to reduce fire loss in the United States Major funding sinception in 2007 for the project is from the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants