Residential nuisance source characteristics for smoke alarm testing

Nuisance scenario tests were performed in the manufactured home used in the Home Smoke Alarm fire test series. The scenario selections were based on what are commonly thought to be causes of residential nuisance alarms, and were designed to mimic normal activities (i.e. no intentional food burning, with the exception of toasted bread.) The bulk of the scenarios were related to cooking activities including: frying, deep-frying, baking, broiling, boiling, and toasting. In addition, cigarette smoking and candle burning were included. Smoldering fire scenarios were examined for comparative purposes. Aerosol concentrations, temperature, humidity, flow velocity and analog output from several photoelectric, ionization and carbon monoxide sensors were gathered. It was observed that nuisance alarms in residential settings were affected by the properties of the aerosol produced, its concentration, the location of an alarm relative to the source, and the air flow that transports smoke to an alarm. This study provides a detailed set of data that can be used to address several issues involving nuisance alarms and reinforces current suggested practices