Full-Scale Validation Tests of a Forensic Methodology to Determine Smoke Alarm Response

The potential utility of enhanced soot deposition patterns around the openings of smoke alarm horns during post-fire forensic analysis has been realized through the findings of several experimental studies (Phelan, An investigation of enhanced soot deposition on smoke alarm horns. Master of Science Thesis, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, 250 pp, 2005; Fire Technol 37(4):343–362, 2001; Fire Technol 39(4):309–346, 2003). The data and analytical discussions put forth in these studies have provided a strong technical basis for describing the development of these patterns as well as for outlining the analysis of patterns to determine the operability of an alarm during a fire event. The purpose of this paper is to expand upon the findings of the previous work and validate the inspection heuristics developed by Phelan et al. Validation of the inspection heuristics was performed using data obtained from alarms exposed to full-scale enclosure fire scenarios permitted to reach flashover conditions.