Flawed Smoke Alarm Standards Explained

7/30/2019 Flawed Smoke Alarm Standards Explained

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S P E C I A L R E P O R T S(see page 2)

FlawedSmokeAlarmStandardsExplainedMay13.pdf | Updated: 21 May, 2013 - Check for Updates:www.Scribd.com/doc/140862221 1 of 4

To be read with:Can Australian & US Smoke

Alarm Standards be Trusted?:

www.Scribd.com/doc/139524431SAFormalAcknowledge

mentOfFlawedAS3786May13.pdf | Updated:1

3May-05:26am -Checkfor Updates:www.Sc

ribd.com/doc/140862221 1 of 3

S p e c i a l R e p o rt

CanAustralian andUS

SmokeAlarmStandards

beTrusted?

Flawed Smoke Alarm

Standards Explained
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S P E C I A L R E P O R T S

Flawed Smoke Alarm Standards Explained is one of a series of Special Reports

exposing the root cause of the problem with the ionization type of smoke alarms in

hundreds of millions of homes around the world - flawed Smoke Alarm Standards.

These reports explain the decades of misinformation that has lead to tens of thousands of

needless deaths and why photoelectric smoke alarms (not combination ion/photo alarms)

are recommended by a growing number of authorities globally.

1. Can Australian & US Smoke Alarm Standards be Trusted?This report, published in the Winter (May) 2013 edition of Australias Volunteer Fire Fighter

Associations magazine, exposes flawed ionization Smoke Alarms Standards.www.Scribd.com/doc/139524431

2. United Technologies Corporations (UTC)Failures to DiscloseDespite repeated requests, the worlds largest ionization smoke alarm manufacturercontinues to fail to disclose the level of visible smoke their ionization smoke alarms activateunder Australian Government (CSIRO) Standards testing.www.SmokeAlarmWarning.org/utc

3. Why Australian & US Smoke Alarm StandardsCan Not be Trusted - A Technical Perspective

(under construction)

4. Flawed Smoke Alarm Standards ExplainedThis document explains flawed Australian & US Smoke Alarm Standards:(under construction)www.Scribd.com/doc/140862221

5. Should the CSIRO Certify Ionization Smoke Alarms?The CSIRO is an Australian Government agency. Should they be issuing 'Certificates ofConformity' which effectively certify ionizationalarms as safe when they are fully aware ofthe life-threatening problems with these devices?www.Scribd.com/doc/139516400

6 .The Combo ConDiscover why the International Association of Fire Fighters only recommend photoelectricsmoke alarms and why they and an increasing number of authorities do not recommendcombination ionization/photoelectric alarms.www.Scribd.com/doc/35526418

This series of documents willbe completed by 15 June, 2013.

S P E C I A L R E P O R T S

www.Scribd.com/collections/4257876/Can-Smoke-Alarm-Standards-be-Trusted

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Standard Australias Formal Acknowledgement of

Australias Flawed Smoke Alarm Standard Explained

Existing Smoke Alarm Standard

Extract - Clause 3.2, Table 3.1

NOTE: Due to lack of space this page was was not included in the May, 2013 VFFA magazine.

Draft Smoke Alarm Standard

Extract - Clause 3.2, Table 3.1

Draft Standard

August 2008

Existing Smoke Alarm Standard

Extract - Clause 2.1

The current Standard requires that all smokealarms must respond reliably to the presence

of smoke.

The existing (flawed) Standard requires:- Photoelectric alarms must pass test for

smoke i.e % light obscuration per metre.

- Ionization alarms to pass test forsub-micron particles, i.e. MIC X value.

The draft standard has eliminated the test forsub-micron particles.- Photoelectric alarms must pass the test forsmoke i.e the % obscuration per metre test.

- Ionization alarms do not have to pass thetest for smoke, they have to pass a MIC Xtest, a test for sub-micron particles.

CSIRO Scientist Exposes Damning Test Data

In February 2006, the FP-002 Committee of Standards Australia enquired about CSIRO test data. Theydiscovered that whilst ionization smoke alarms do not have to pass the test for visible smoke, they weresubjected to it. They asked the CSIRO if they were able to pass the test for visible smoke.

The CSIROs scientist (an FP-002 Committee member) revealed that ionization alarms do notactivate under CSIRO testing for visible smoke (% light Obs/m) until over 50% smoke - over twice themaximum safe limit set by the Standard for photoelectric smoke alarms.

Background:- The Standards Australia Committee of technical experts responsible for Australias Smoke Alarm Standard is known as FP-002

- Smoke alarm testing, in accordance with the Australian Standard is conducted by the the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial

Research Organization (CSIRO). The CSIRO is an Australian Government organization.

- A CSIRO scientist is a member of the FP-002 committee of Standards Australia.

Purpose: When discussing the problem with ionization smoke alarms, manufacturers state,

But all smoke alarms, regardless of technology, must pass identical testing Standards. That is a correct statement when applied to

US testing Standards - but not the Australian Standard.

Few people are aware Standards Australia has formally acknowledged Australias smoke alarm Standard is flawed. This document

explains the flaw, how Standards Australia have formally amended the flawed Standard, and how it has been blocked from adoption

into legislation by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)

Current Standard

Current Standard

All alarms Must Respond Reliably to SMOKE

Ionizations do not have to

Pass Test for Visible SMOKE

Corrected (Draft) Standard requires

ionizations to Pass Test for Smoke

MIC X (sub-micron part ic le) test e l iminated
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More Information


The C.A.N. Report

Recommending Selling or Installing Ionization

Smoke Alarms, A Criminal Act of Negligence?

Extracts from C.A.N. Report (Feb, 2007) sent, by registered/

certified mail to 88 fire authorities in the USA, Canada,

Australia and New Zealand in Feb 2007 explaining life-safety

and legal implications for failing to warn the public about

known limitations with ionization smoke alarms.

Notes:

- Include CSIRO email where Manager of ActivFire testing said ions dont fail the test for smoke because they do not have to pass it. They said

CSIROs function was merely to conduct the tests in accordance with the Standard, not question it.

- link to video where David Isaac explains smoke alarm tests i.e. his explanation of light obscuration per meter.

- explain ramifications of ABCB blocking critical amendment to AS3786

- Why has the bureaucrats at the Australian Building Codes Board blocked Australias correction to the Standard?

Why is the CSIRO still issuing Certificates of Conformity for ionization alarms when they are aware they are not fir for purpose?
http://www.scribd.com/doc/140862221http://www.thewfsf.org/canhttp://www.thewfsf.org/canhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/140862221http://www.scribd.com/doc/140862221

Documents

Flawed Smoke Alarm Standards Explained