Smoke Alarm Report - October, 2010 | The World Fire Safety Foundation

Why are the Public, Fire Fighters

and Fire Industry Personnel
STILL Not Being Told the
Truth about Smoke Alarms?
On 01 June, 2006 AFAC warned:
T H E I O N I Z AT I O N “Ionization smoke alarms may not operate
SMOKE ALARM MYTH in time to alert occupants early enough
U.S. authorities claim a nearly to escape from smouldering fires.”
50% reduction in home fire
deaths due to smoke alarms So why, over four years later, is the
and hail them as “the greatest
success story in fire safety in public STILL being kept in the dark?
the last part of the 20th century.”

T
But is this true? he Australasian Fire inhalation before the flames
MYTH BUSTED and Emergency reached them.
In the mid-70's less than 15%
Service Authorities
So, after in-depth research,
of homes had smoke alarms Council (AFAC) is the peak
A FA C s t a t e s t h a t t h e
and for every 1,000 home fires body for all Australian and
there were 8 fire deaths. ionization type of smoke
New Zealand Fire Brigades.
alarm, the type of alarm
In 2005, thirty years later, 95% A FA C r e l e a s e d t h e i r
of homes had smoke alarms found in almost every
landmark Position on Smoke
and for every 1,000 home fires Australasian home, may not
there are STILL 8 fire deaths. Alarms in Residential
alarm early enough in the
Accommodation document
Today with over 95% of homes type of fire most likely to kill.
having smoke alarms, there on 01 June, 2006.
are just as many fire deaths THE DECEPTION
per 1,000 home fires as there THE PROBLEM
Think about it, this is a
were when only 15% of homes In their official position
had smoke alarms. device you buy to do one
statement AFAC warns that
thing and one thing only -
Evidence shows we now have “Ionization smoke alarms
half the fire deaths because detect smoke. Ye t i t
may not operate in time to
the number of home fires has frequently fails to do that, so
alert occupants early
dropped in half (due to less frequently in fact that
cooking, less smoking, safer
enough to escape from
evidence held by the CSIRO
electrical appliances, flame smouldering fires.”
retardants materials etc).
shows it may fail to warn you
Thatʼs a very serious when you need it most.
So why is the ionization alarm
(the type in almost every home)
statement. Especially when
hailed as such a success when one considers that in over THE BIG LIES: #1
the number of deaths per 70% of fire deaths the “But Iʼm OK, my Alarm goes
thousand home fires has not victims died from smoke off when I Burn the Toast.”
changed?

VFFAMagSummer2010.pdf | Updated: 08 March, 2011 | Check for latest version at: www.theWFSF.org/vffa 2 of 7
Note: This is an updated version of the front cover and the World Fire Safety Foundationʼs special report extracted from pages 20 - 24 of the summer
2010 edition of the official magazine of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association of New South Wales, Australia.
 Smoke Alarm Report - October, 2010 | The World Fire Safety Foundation

TRUTH BE TOLD
Although hit and miss, across
the ditch in New Zealand the
Fire Service has at least made
a start.

The toe tag on this two-page

advertisement reads:
“When youʼre asleep youʼll
never notice the deadly
poisonous smoke that silently
suffocates you. Unless you.
have a working photoelectric
Credit: M & C Saatchi
smoke alarm.”
New Zealand Fire Service Brochure Promoting
P ho to e le c t ri c S m ok e A la r ms

Tragically almost everyone villagers in the story about The trouble is, if there really
thinks theyʼre OK because the boy who cried wolf, when is a fire, the delay could
when you cook toast, or we are subjected to so many mean the difference between
open the door to a hot oven, false alarms, we too become life, being maimed, injured or
your smoke alarm may complacent. killed.
sound. So, surely you must TIME IS RUNNING OUT DEATHLY SILENCE
be OK, right? The alarm goes off at night, Despite the fact ionisation
Wrong! One of the worst you get an elbow in the ribs alarms false alarm so
from your partner telling you frequently, when you need
things about ionization
smoke alarms is they lull itʼs your job to check why the them most, they may remain
alarm is going off again. deathly silent. Why?
people into a false sense of
security. This problem is so bad that a Because ionization smoke
Cry “Wolf!” Harris Interactive poll found alarms do not detect visible
that only 8% of people smoke, instead they detect
The ionization smoke alarm
surveyed thought that their sub-micron particles of
is like the little boy in the
smoke alarm going off meant combustion - exactly what
childrenʼs story who cried
there was a fire or they had you get when cooking toast.
wolf. They false alarm so
frequently that studies show to get out. continued page 5 . . .
that 20%-30% of us either
disable the alarm, remove One of the worst things
the battery or choose not to about ionization smoke
replace the battery when flat.
alarms is they lull
And as if thatʼs not bad
enough, it gets even worse.
people into a false sense
Because just like the of security.
VFFAMagSummer2010.pdf | Updated: 08 March, 2011 | Check for latest version at: www.theWFSF.org/vffa 3 of 7
Note: This is an updated version of the front cover and the World Fire Safety Foundationʼs special report extracted from pages 20 - 24 of the summer
2010 edition of the official magazine of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association of New South Wales, Australia.
 Smoke Alarm Report - October, 2010 | The World Fire Safety Foundation

Australiaʼs Flawed Smoke Alarm Standard

The Key to Exposing the Global Ionization Smoke Alarm Scandal

Discover how:
a) Standards Australiaʼs FP-002 committee formally acknowledged Australiaʼs existing Smoke Alarm Standard
(AS3786 - 1993) is flawed because the existing testing allowing them to pass has now been deemed invalid.
b) Standards Australia rewrote AS3786 and eliminated the flawed (MIC ʻXʼ) testing.
c) CSIRO test data since 1993 shows that under the corrected, draft smoke alarm standard ionization smoke alarms
will fail the existing, valid smoke test.

Ex is ti ng Flawe d S ta nd ar d Why the Existing Standard is Flawed

Currently in Force Testing under the existing (flawed) Standard requires:
(a) a valid test for visible smoke for photoelectric
Table 3.1 smoke alarms, and,
SENSITIVITY LEVELS FOR SMOKE DETECTORS (b) a separate, test for invisible, sub-micron,
particles of combustion for ionization alarms.
Sensitivity (see table 3.1)
Note:
Smoke Alarm Type Average Individual 1. Several of the worlds largest ionization smoke
sensitivity Sensitivity alarm manufacturers are defendants in a
(a) Photoelectric proposed class action law suit which states,
Percent obscuration per metre (% Obs/m) 3 to 15 3 to 30
“Ionization smoke alarms . . . are slow to warn,
(b) Ionization if they warn at all of smouldering fires, which
MIC ʻXʼ value 0.1 to 0.5 0.1 to 0.6 typically occur while occupants are sleeping.”
www.theWFSF.org/classaction

Corrected Draft Standard 2. Standards Australia has acknowledged Australiaʼs

Awaiting Adoption into the Building Code of existing Smoke Alarm Standard is flawed and
have corrected the flawed standard. In the
Australia by the Australian Building Codes Board
corrected, draft Standard, ionization alarms will
Table 3.1 have to pass a valid test for smoke, the same test
SENSITIVITY LEVELS FOR SMOKE DETECTORS photoelectric alarms have had pass since 1993.

Sensitivity Quote by Mr David Isaac, Member

Standards Australia Committee FP2:
“The credibility of the procedures
Value Nominal (S) Individual Individual
for smoke alarm testing has
minimum maximum
been challenged for over thirty
years. In 2006, the Australian
(a) % Obs/m 3 to 15 1.5S or S+2 0.5S or S-2
Standards FP2 Committee
investigated the testing
requirements for smoke alarms
The ʻMIC Xʼ testing has been eliminated from corrected, draft David Isaac
alarms in Australia.
standard. Under the draft Standard ionization (particle of Standards Australia
They discovered that if Member Committee FP2
combustion) alarms would have to pass the same valid test for
ionization alarms were required to
visible smoke that photoelectric smoke alarms have been required pass the same Australian Standards smoke
to pass since 1993. sensitivity criteria as photoelectric smoke
alarms they would fail.”
So Why Do Ionization Smoke Alarms Activate When www.theWFSF.org/can
Cooking but Fail so Frequently in Smouldering Fires?
Because they detect the sub-micron particles given off by the red hot heating elements of the toaster or griller.
Tragically sub-micron particles are not given off in sufficient quantity in most smouldering fires (which are low-heat) so your ionization alarms
may remain silent until AFTER the fire finally bursts into flames when it is often too late. See ʻThe Aquarium Testʼ at: www.theWFSF.org
NOTE: Clause 2.1 of Australiaʼs Smoke Alarm Standard (AS3786) requires that smoke alarms must respond reliably to the presence of smoke,
NOT the presence of invisible (sub-micron) particles of combustion which is what ionization ʻsmokeʼ alarms detect.

“Australiaʼs acknowledgement of flawed Standards testing exposes the global

ionization smoke alarm scandal and is the key to saving thousands of lives.”
Adrian Butler, Chairman, The World Fire Safety Foundation, Queensland, Australia, October, 2010

w w w. t h e W F S F. o r g / s a

VFFAMagSummer2010.pdf | Updated: 08 March, 2011 | Check for latest version at: www.theWFSF.org/vffa 4 of 7
Note: This is an updated version of the front cover and the World Fire Safety Foundationʼs special report extracted from pages 20 - 24 of the summer
2010 edition of the official magazine of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association of New South Wales, Australia.
 Smoke Alarm Report - October, 2010 | The World Fire Safety Foundation

Phot o e lect ri c S mo k e A la r m L e g is la tio n

Mandatory photoelectric-specific smoke

alarm legislation is now in force, to
varying degrees depending on the
Albany Fire Department - California USA State, in California, Iowa, Maine,
Mandated Photoelectric Smoke Alarms - June, 2010 Massachusetts, Ohio and Vermont.

w w w. t h e W F S F. o r g / l e g i s l a t i o n

THE BIG LIES: #2 And isnʼt this hypocritical of The BIG LIES: #3
“Any Smoke Alarm is Better the fire service and other “Thereʼs 3 Causes of Fire:
than No Smoke Alarm.” authorities to criticise people Men, Women & Children.”
Of course, on the surface for disconnecting their alarm One line that the fire services
this argument sounds and for being complacent? and other authorities like to
reasonable - but does it have trot out is that there are three
any integrity? BIG NUMBERS
causes of fire: men, women
After all, we arenʼt talking
As weʼve already and children.
about 2% - 3% of people
discovered:
who disconnect their smoke Well, there are three causes
20% - 30% of us have detectors because of false that still allow the ionization
disabled our alarms; alarms, we are talking about smoke alarm to still be
92% of us donʼt react 20% - 30% - thatʼs a pretty marketed: bureaucrats, pencil
quickly to an alarm big chunk of the population. pushers, and politicians - all
because we think: “itʼs of whom are more interested
And it is a staggering 92% of
probably just another false in covering their backsides
people who, due to those
alarm”; and than they are in getting the
frequent false alarms, are
truth to the public.
in the type of fire that complacent. Ninety-two
accounts for more than percent! They would rather put the
70% of fire deaths, the blame back on you - on the
alarm may not sound in WHEN WILL THEY LEARN? men, women, and children -
time anyway. How big do the bureaucrats rather than admit they got it
So, knowing that, is it any need those numbers to be wrong.
wonder CBS Atlanta recently before they get the
message: the problem isnʼt They would rather point the
declared ionization type
the people, itʼs the product! finger at you than admit they
smoke alarms as “Deadly”?

VFFAMagSummer2010.pdf | Updated: 08 March, 2011 | Check for latest version at: www.theWFSF.org/vffa 5 of 7
Note: This is an updated version of the front cover and the World Fire Safety Foundationʼs special report extracted from pages 20 - 24 of the summer
2010 edition of the official magazine of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association of New South Wales, Australia.
 Smoke Alarm Report - October, 2010 | The World Fire Safety Foundation

were duped by clever cons photoelectric smoke alarms, NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
and deceptive advertising as their official position.    However, fence sitting is
cooked up by ionization simply not good enough.
Yet, even so, so far as the
smoke alarm manufacturers. Having admitted the problem
public is concerned the
CHANGING TIDE authorities continue to sit on with ionization type smoke
the fence, afraid of the alarms, it is now time for fire
In the early days of our
damage to their reputation if authorities and consumer
campaign, we were laughed
admit the truth, because bodies to admit that
at and derided by fire
then the public may ask ionization alarms are ʻnot fit
authorities and told we did
some uncomfortable for purposeʼ and alert the
not know what we were
questions about why they public before more lives are
talking about.   
allowed this appalling lost.
Now, years later, those
situation to happen in the
same fire authorities have
adopted our stance that all first place.  
homes be fitted with

Pr op os e d C l as s A c t i o n L a w s u i t

Just two of the many ads from the 60ʼs making false, misleading
and/or deceptive claims about ionization smoke alarms.
w w w. t h e W F S F. o r g / c l a s s a c t i o n

VFFAMagSummer2010.pdf | Updated: 08 March, 2011 | Check for latest version at: www.theWFSF.org/vffa 6 of 7
Note: This is an updated version of the front cover and the World Fire Safety Foundationʼs special report extracted from pages 20 - 24 of the summer
2010 edition of the official magazine of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association of New South Wales, Australia.
 Smoke Alarm Report - October, 2010 | The World Fire Safety Foundation

Are You Protecting Your Family?

Smoke Alarm Type:
Photoelectric Ionization

Environment: 100% Safe Radioactive

False Alarms: Few Frequent

Failure Rate: Low High
Commercial Almost Every
Located:
Buildings Home
Price: Affordable Affordable
For more.information: w w w. t h e W F S F. o r g / c o m p a r e

What Should I Do Now?

1. Watch Smoke Alarm Recall: w w w. t h e W F S F. o r g
“Fire fighters havenʼt been told the truth. Watch Smoke Alarm Recall
and discover the facts about ionization alarms for your yourself.”
Peter Cannon, President, Volunteer Fire Fighters Association, NSW, Australia, August, 2008

Peter Cannon, President,

VFFA, NSW, Australia

2. Hear the Radio Interviews & See Your Fire Brigades OFFICIAL Position:

Australasian Fire and Emergency

Service Authorities Council

w w w. t h e W F S F. o r g / a f a c

VFFAMagSummer2010.pdf | Updated: 08 March, 2011 | Check for latest version at: www.theWFSF.org/vffa 7 of 7
Note: This is an updated version of the front cover and the World Fire Safety Foundationʼs special report extracted from pages 20 - 24 of the summer
2010 edition of the official magazine of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association of New South Wales, Australia.