Smoke Detectors Guidelines

Investigation Guideline
Product: Smoke Alarms, Fire Sprinklers, and Fire
Extinguishers
Appendix #: 129
Date: September 2004
I. Introduction
Use this guideline as an adjunct to an investigation of any fire , regardless of size,
in which any of these products are present in the household.. If none of these
products were present, or if it is unknown if they were present, a statement in the
investigation stating their absence is sufficient and the Data Record Sheet on page
4 of this guideline, does not need to be completed. Even if the fire is too small to
expect operation of a smoke alarm or sprinkler, a fire extinguisher may be appropriate
and its use would be of interest. This guideline is limited to the description and role of
these products during the fire. It assumes that information on fire cause will be
included as a result of the original assignment and normal investigative procedures and
reporting should be followed.

A. Background Information
Smoke alarms (also called smoke detectors when in residential occupancies), fire
sprinklers, and fire extinguishers are thought to be effective fire safety devices capable
of preventing fire deaths and injuries. Their effectiveness, however, can be evaluated
only when it is possible to evaluate their performance in a fire. As a result, we need to
obtain information about them from fires that originated in other sources.

B. Product Descriptions
Smoke alarms:
Power source: 1) battery only, 2) direct connection to the electrical distribution
system (hard-wired), or 3) hard-wired with a battery backup.
Type: 1) photoelectric, 2) ionization (will have a label somewhere including a
radioactive symbol), or 3) a combination of the two.
Safety Standard: UL 217 Single and Multiple Station Smoke Alarms
Fire Sprinklers:
Type:
1) Wet pipe- contains water at all times, installed only where pipes will not
freeze. Most residential sprinklers are of this type.
2) Dry pipe – mostly non-residential, water fills pipes only as needed

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3) Preaction- operates only after being activated by a separate sensing device
such as a smoke alarm. Mostly used in locations where accidental discharge
is of special concern, e.g. a computer room.
Safety Standard: NFPA 13: Installation of Sprinkler Systems
NFPA 25: Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based
Fire Protection Systems
UL 199, Automatic Sprinklers for Fire Protection Service
UL 1626, Residential Sprinklers for Fire Service Protection

Fire Extinguishers:
Rating: Fire extinguishers are rated and labeled for the type of fire in which they
are effective.
Class A – for fires involving wood, paper, plastics, and ordinary combustibles
Class B – for fires involving flammable liquids
Class C – for fires involving energized electrical equipment
Some extinguishers are appropriate for multiple uses.
Extinguishers need to be kept charged, which can usually be determined by a
gauge incorporated into the top assembly.
Safety Standard: NFPA 10, Portable Fire Extinguishers
UL 711, Fire Testing of Portable Fire Extinguishers

C. Specific Items of Interest
Smoke Alarms: The smoke alarm’s only purpose is to provide early warning of the
fire.
1) Did a smoke alarm contribute to the occupant’s recognition that there was a
fire?
2) If not, did smoke reach one of the alarms soon enough that it should have
sounded?
3) If it did not sound when it should have, did the alarm powered at the time? If
not, why not?
4) For all occupants who were asleep when the alarm sounded, indicate their
ages and whe ther they were awakened by the alarm. Also indicate their
location in relationship to the nearest smoke alarm sounding and any
circumstances, such as a closed door, that would have reduced the sound
heard by the occupant.
5) Indicate number and placement of alarms in the household, in relation to
coverage of each floor and each bedroom, particularly the room of origin.
Fire Sprinklers:
1) Did the room of origin have sprinkler heads? If so, did they operate?
2) Did the fire extend to other rooms?
3) Was the water to the system turned on? If not, why not?
4) If the system did not operate when it should have, specify its age,
manufacturer(s), model, and type of system

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Fire Extinguishers:
1) Was the extinguisher effective in containing the fire? If not, describe what
happened when the extinguisher was used.
2) Was the extinguisher in operable condition?
3) Did the occupant know how to use it?
4) How many extinguishers did the occupant use/try to use?

D. Headquarters Contacts
Linda Smith, EPHA, (301) 504-7310
Arthur Lee, ES, (301) 504-7539
Rikki Khanna, ES, (301) 504-7546

II. Instructions for Collecting Specific Information
A. Synopsis
Indicate the presence/absence of each of these products and their role in containing the
fire or contributing to its recognition.

B. Description of Incident Environment
Include a description of whether these products were present in the household. If so,
describe their locations in relation to the fire origin. If a closed door prevented smoke
from reaching a nearby alarm, it should be indicated.

C. Description of Interaction between Injured Person(s) and Product
For fire extinguishers, describe any problems that the occupant had in using the
extinguisher. Describe any problems with smoke alarms or fire sprinklers that may
have affected operational status at the time of the fire.

D. Description of Product
Describe brand name, age, condition, etc. on any product that failed to operate
properly.

III. Photographs/ Diagrams of Incident Scene
Include diagrams as needed to convey the locations of the products involved in relation to
fire origin. Photographs may be particularly useful to convey the condition and
characteristics of the products involved.

IV. Obtaining samples and documents related to the investigation
No samples are required.

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September 2004
DATA RECORD SHEET
Investigation Guideline
PRODUCT: Smoke Alarms, Fire Sprinklers, and Fire Extinguishers
To be used as a supplement to investigations of all residential fires, regardless of
size, where one or more of these products was present.
TASK NUMBER ______________ INCIDENT DATE _____________
A. Smoke Alarms (Detectors):
1. Were there any smoke alarms present in this occupancy?
____Yes, continue
____No, SKIP to section B
____Unknown, SKIP to section B
2. Did a smoke alarm sound during the fire?
____ Yesà Did the alarm contribute to initial recognition of the fire?
____Yes
____No
____Unknown
____ No à SKIP to Question A. 4
____Unknown SKIP to Section B
3. For each occupant who was asleep when the alarm sounded, list the age of that
person and whether he/she was awakened by the alarm.
Age
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

Awakened by Smoke Alarm (enter yes, no, unknown)
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________

If the alarm nearest the fire origin sounded during the fire, skip to Section B.
4. Did enough smoke reach the alarm nearest to the fire origin that the occupant thought
it should have sounded during the fire?
_____Yes
_____No SKIP to Section B
_____Unknown SKIP to Section B

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5. Was the alarm nearest to the fire origin powered at the time of the fire?
_____Yes SKIP to Question A.7
_____No
_____Unknown SKIP to Question A7
6. What was the condition that resulted in lack of power?
_____No battery
_____Battery dead,
_____ Battery present but disconnected
_____Alarm disconnected from electrical system (120 VAC)
_____Electrical system inoperable,
_____Other, describe__________________________________________
7. Did the occupant have any problems with this alarm?
_____Yes, describe _____________________________________________________
_____No
_____Unknown
8. What are the characteristics of the alarm nearest the fire origin?
a. Type:
____Ionization (radioactive symbol)
____Photoelectric
____Combination
____Unknown
b. Power source:
____Battery only
____Connected to electrical system (120 VAC) – Skip to 8d.
____Combination (120 VAC with battery back-up)
____Unknown, SKIP to Question .8d
c. If the alarm contained a battery, was it a lithium battery?
____Yes
____No
____Unknown
d. Manufacturer/Model: _______________________________________________
e. Approximate age: ________years
f. If there were multiple alarms in the occupancy, were they interconnected? (When
one alarm sounds, they all sound. Ask the homeowner.)
____ Yes
____ No
____Unknown

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9. Additional comments:___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
B. Fire Sprinklers
1. Was there a fire sprinkler system in this occupancy?
____Yes, continue
____No, SKIP to Section C
____Unknown, SKIP to Section C
2. Did the room of origin have sprinkler heads installed?
____Yes
____No
____Unknown
3. Did the sprinkler system operate during the fire?
____Yes
____No
____Unknown
4. Did flame damage extend outside the room of origin?
____Yes
____No
____Unknown
5. Was the water to the system turned on at the time of the fire?
____Yes
____Noà Why not?_______________________________________________
____Unknown
6. Sprinkler System Characteristics:
a) Type
_____ Wet Pipe
____Dry Pipe
____Preaction
____Other, describe______________________________
____Unknown
b) Age: ______years
c) Manufacturer/Model__________________________________________
7. Additional comments:___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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C. Fire Extinguishers
1.Was there a fire extinguisher in this occupancy?
______Yes
______No End of Data Record Sheet
______Unknown End of Data Record Sheet
2. Did the occupant try to use a fire extinguisher to control the fire?
____Yesà Describe degree of success
__________________________________________________________________
____No
____Unknown
3. Fire Extinguisher Characteristics:
a) Rating
_____ Class A
_____ Class B
_____ Class C
_____ Combination., specify______________________
_____Other, specify_____________________________
_____Unknown
b) Age: _________years
c) Manufacturer/Model_________________________________________________
4. Describe any problems the occupant had in using the extinguisher
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
5. Additional comments:___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

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