Investigation of the Effects of Heating and Air Conditioning on the Performance of Smoke Detectors in Mobile Home. Final Report.
Investigation of the Effects of Heating and Air
Conditioning on the Performance of Smoke Detectors in
Mobile Home. Final Report.
(40195 K)
Bukowski, R. W.
NBSIR 79-1915; 179 p. October 1979.
Sponsor:
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington,
DC
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900; Rush
Service (Telephone Orders Only) 800-553-6847;
Website:
http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: PB80-100001
Keywords:
detection time; detector location; fire tests; gas
detectors; kitchen fires; mobile homes; smoke detectors;
tenability limits; upholstered furniture; occupants
Abstract:
Since its original promulgation in June 1976, the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development's Federal
Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standard has
required the installation of at least one smoke detector
to protect the mobile home occupants. The location of
the smoke detector was based on earlier tests in a
mobile home conducted by NBS in 1976. Because of the
limited scope of the earlier NBS tests and subsequent
improvements in the design of smoke detectors and the
construction of mobile homes, a new series of tests was
conducted to evaluate the influences of the operation of
central forced-air heating and air conditioning systems
on the performance of smoke detectors representative of
those which are currently being installed. The tests
were conducted with upholstered chairs in smoldering and
flaming fire modes, representing key residential fire
death scenarios. Tests were conducted in both summer
and winter weather conditions. The effects of detector
location (wall or ceiling and position within the
bedroom corridor) and the effects of open and closed
bedroom doors were also investigated. The report
concludes that, for the scenarios examined, a properly
functioning ionization or photelectric smoke detector
mounted near the ceiling on the inside or outside wall
at the living room end of the corridor should provide an
alarm in sufficient time for occupant escape.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899