Survey on Usage and Functionality of Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms (SCOA) in US Households

The purpose of the SCOA survey is to collect data that will assist CPSC with better estimation of the number and types of smoke and CO alarms installed in US households, the proportion of working smoke and CO alarms, the characteristics of residences and residents where the smoke and CO alarms are not operational, perceptions of residents related to the cause of “false” alarms or causes of faulty alarms, consumer hazard awareness, and consumer behavior related to alarm use and smoke and CO hazards. The information collected from this survey will allow CPSC to provide an updated national estimate of operability of smoke alarms and CO alarms based on direct observation. It will also allow us to create a demographic profile of groups that do not have operable smoke alarms and/or CO alarms. This includes measures from the perspective of household members lacking operable alarms as to why they lack functional alarms. This will allow for better targeting of policy, messaging and interventions to improve the operability rate of these alarms. It will also provide insights as to the kinds of alarms that are present to determine whether one variety or another is more likely to be inoperable as well as provide some measure as to the age of alarms in households. Results of the survey will inform CPSC of recommendations to state/local jurisdictions related to codes, standards, and/or regulations of smoke and CO alarms. The information can help improve the voluntary standard for carbon monoxide alarm, UL 2034 , and guide state and local jurisdictions for the use and installation of CO alarms. While the installation codes for the two products, especially as required by states or local jurisdictions, are different, it was determined that the information collection regarding these two products could be combined in one survey as a means of optimizing resources and reducing burden.

The latest form for Survey on Usage and Functionality of Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms (SCOA) in US Households expires 2021-10-31 and can be found here.

Survey on Usage and Functionality of Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms (SCOA) in US Households In-Home Administration

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Health - Consumer Health and Safety