A New Nuisance Smoke Alarm Test--Development and Impact

M19
A New Nuisance Smoke Alarm Test--Development and Impact
Joshua Dinaburg, JENSEN HUGHES Daniel Gottuk, JENSEN HUGHES

This session will summarize the development of the new residential smoke alarm nuisance testing recently adopted by UL 217/268 STP. The presentation will include a brief overview of the work conducted by CPSC, NIST, JENSEN HUGHES for FPRF, and UL to develop this test, as well as an examination of the implications to the industry and residential fire safety. Constructive analysis of the test methods and criteria will be presented based on test data used in the development process. The statistical implications of nuisance alarms on home fire safety will also be reviewed.

Presented by:

Joshua Dinaburg, JENSEN HUGHES
Joshua Dinaburg, PE, has been a research engineer working for JENSEN HUGHES for over 7 years. He has designed, developed, and implemented a variety of research and testing programs in fire detection and suppression. Such work has included analytical and full-scale evaluation of aspiration and spot smoke detection, beam smoke detection, video smoke and flame detection, and optical flame detection. Evaluations include smoke, flame, and nuisance source exposures, as well as contamination and device survivability. In addition to detection analyses, he has designed and implemented numerous tests investigating ignition, flame spread, and thermal exposures. He was awarded the 2015 NFPA Research Foundation Medal for his research in developing standardized tests for kitchen range ignition prevention devices.

Daniel Gottuk, JENSEN HUGHES
Daniel Gottuk, PE, PhD, is VP of Specialty Services and Technical Director at JENSEN HUGHES With 26 years of experience, he is a recognized expert in fire detection and fire dynamics and is well published in technical literature. He draws on his extensive experimental background and his long involvement in national codes and standards to provide clients practical and technically sound solutions to their problems. Dr. Gottuk has evaluated fire development and fire protection systems in shipboard, residential, and industrial applications. He has forensically analyzed a wide range of consumer products and assisted clients in product development and litigation matters. His research includes both basic and applied forensic studies to develop fundamental understanding of fire dynamics, pattern formation, and damage assessment, as well developing practical forensic tools for fire scene investigations and analyses.