Smoke Alarm Warning

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Smoke Alarm Warning

Why the Smoke Alarms in Most Homes May Not Save You
Australian Standards (CSIRO) Test Data

The Key to Solving the 40 Year Ionisation
Smoke Alarm Problem Globally
(page 3, 13, 16)
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Copyright World Fire Safety Foundation - Feb 2015
SmokeAlarmWarningV3.92WFSF_AUNZ.pdf Published: 07 Aug 2010 | Australian and New Zealand Version: 3.92 - Updated: 02 Mar 15
Check for Latest Version and U.S. / Canadian Version: www.SmokeAlarmWarning.org/wfsf.html
1 of 16
CONTENTS & SUMMARY

Page
Contents
Part 1: For Consumers
FRNSW does NOT support the

fitting and installation of
ionisation alarms. We ONLY
recommend photoelectric alarms.
WFSF Message: You Can Help Save Lives
3-4
60 Minutes Special Investigation

Why Wont the ABCB Change the Code?
Good Morning America Investigates - NEOFPA
Ionisation Smoke Alarm Defects / Concerns

1. Failure to Activate
2. High False Alarm & Disconnection Rate
Greg Mullins AFSM
3. Places Fire Fighters at Risk
4. Environmental/Disposal Problem
Commissioner FRNSW
President AFAC
NSW, Australia | Oct 2014
5. Affordability | Consumer Groups Speak Out
(page 3, 12)
6. The Dual Alarm & Ion/Photo Combo Myth
7. Sensor Sensitivity Manipulation
How You Can Help Save Lives
10
Promote Your Organisation: Custom WFSF Report
11
Fire Fighters have not been

told the truth . . . discover
the facts about ionisation
alarms for yourself.
Part 2: For Fire Fighters

A Personal Message to Fire Fighters
12
AFAC / IAFF Positions | CSIRO Test Data
13
N.T. Legislation | A Special Duty of Care
14
The Alarming Truth About Smoke Detectors
15
The Key to Solving the Ionisation Problem Globally
16
Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

S a fe r F o r Fir e Fighter s
Page
Ionisation
Photoelectric
Failure to Activate
Significant
Insignificant
False Alarms and

Disconnections
Significant
Insignificant
Recommended
by Fire Fighters
13
No
Yes
Safer for
Fire Fighters
No
Yes
Disposal
Radioactive
Not Radioactive
Price
Affordable
Affordable
Most Homes
Commercial
Buildings
Located
Copyright World Fire Safety Foundation - Nov 2014
Peter Cannon
OAM
President, Volunteer Fire Fighters

Association, NSW, Australia
www.TheWFSF.org
The Australian Government

has failed to act in relation
to smoke alarm laws
for households. . .
Senator Glenn Lazarus

Palmer United Queensland Senator
Canberra, ACT | February 2015
(page 5)
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David Isaac, Australias
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warning about ionisation
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Ionisation Smoke
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www.TheWFSF.org/sa
WFSF Message: You Can Help Save Lives
here are two type of smoke alarms - Ionisation which are in most
homes and Photoelectric which are in most commercial buildings.
In 1980 the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) warned lives were
at risk as research showed ionisation alarms were unlikely to operate in the
early, smouldering stage of a fire. The IAFC urged fire chiefs to only
recommend photoelectric alarms - tragically, their message went unheeded:
www.TheWFSF.org/iafc
Flawed Standards
David Isaac is Australias leading fire safety expert and a member of the
committee that oversees Australias Smoke Alarm Standard. He says
scientific test data held by the Australian Government (the CSIRO)
proves the U.S. and Australian Smoke Alarm Standards are flawed.
60 Minutes investigation could be the catalyst for ending decades
of deaths globally. After watching it (page 4) and replacing your
smoke alarms, please help save lives by spreading this message to
your family, friends and work colleagues (page 11).
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Thank you.
The World Fire Safety Foundation
Adrian Butler & Karl Westwell
Co-Founders, NSW, Australia | 02 March 2015
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION
...CSIRO test evidence shows how bad
these things are ... if photoelectric smoke
alarms were mandated ... the death toll
from residential fires would drop.
Oct 2014
Well the Board is not satisfied at

this stage that it needs to make
any further changes to the Code.
David Isaac | Fire Safety Expert
Neil Savery | General Manager, ABCB
Member, Standard Australias Smoke

Alarm Committee FP002
Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)

with 60 Minutes Reporter, Karl Stefanovic
Flawed Smoke Alarm Standards

The Key to Solving the 40 Year
Ionisation Smoke Alarm
Problem Globally
(page 13, 16)

SmokeAlarmWarning.org/wfsf.html
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June 2012
The photoelectric alarms; the tests are
showing they react faster, particularly
in smouldering fires which are the
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main type of fire you get in a home.
Greg Mullins AFSM | President, AFAC
Commissioner, Fire & Rescue NSW - One
of
the Worlds Largest Urban Fire Brigades
3 of 16
Trailer | 31 seconds
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The Alarming Truth
Why the smoke alarm in

your home may not save you
Australia | 19 October 2014

New Zealand | 10 November 2014
Part One | 9 Minutes
Part Two | 11 Minutes
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Karl Stefanovic
Karl Stefanovic with Grant Hamon
Reporter, 60 Minutes, Australia
AFSM
(right) Assistant Fire Commissioner, NTFRS

See the N.T.s photoelectric legislation (page 14)
Like most of us, I thought the fire alarms fitted in my home would
protect my family, but what Ive just seen is shocking . . . What will it
take for the Board (ABCB) to make that decision to change lives?
Karl Stefanovic, Reporter | 60 Minutes Australia
Grab yourself the photoelectric alarms, bring them back to

your home, unscrew the ionisation ones, put the photoelectric
ones on the ceiling. It can save your familys life.
Karl Stefanovic, Reporter | 60 Minutes Australia
David Isaac Interview | 2 Minutes
David Isaac Australias Leading Fire Safety Expert Over 40 years
electrical engineering experience, Standards Australia committee
member FP002, FPAA technical advisory committee member TAC/2
Karl Stefanovic Interview | 2 Minutes
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Karl Stefanovic Australian Gold Logie-Winning television
presenter, Co-Host, Nine Networks Today breakfast
program, 60 Minutes reporter
4 of 16
Why Wont the ABCB Change the Code?

In 2007 - 2008 Standards Australia made a critical amendment to Australia's flawed smoke alarm standard
(AS3786 -1993). However, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) blocked the adoption of the revised
standard into the Building Code of Australia (BCA - the Code) thereby putting households at risk.
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Senator Lazarus Vows to Fix Smoke Alarm Laws in Australia

12 February 2015
Palmer United Senator Glenn Lazarus slammed the Australian Building Codes
Board (ABCB) for its failure to update the Building Code of Australian in relation to
smoke alarms. The Australian Government has failed to act in relation to
smoke alarm laws for households. . .
Senator Lazarus
The Press Release
The Speech
The Battle to Fix Australias Flawed Smoke Alarm Standard

In 01 February 2007, Standard Australias second Preliminary Impact Assessment (PIA) provided the ABCB
with overwhelming scientific evidence about the life-threatening defects inherent in ionisation smoke alarms.
Standards Australia wanted the ABCB to adopt its critical amendment to Australias Smoke Alarm Standard
(AS3786-1993) into the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
The C.A.N. Report - Providing the ABCB with CSIRO Evidence & Legal Precedent
On the 17th of February 2007, the World Fire Safety Foundation sent its C.A.N. Report, Recommending
Selling or Installing Ionisation Smoke Alarms, a Criminal Act of Negligence? (see below) by registered mail to
senior ABCB staff and all ABCB Board Members. The C.A.N. report provided further scientific evidence
supporting Standard Australias PIAs and warned of life-safety and legal implications with the ABCBs ongoing
failure to adopt Standards Australias critical amendment into the BCA: www.TheWFSF.org/can
However, despite the overwhelming evidence, the ABCB refused to adopt Standard Australias amendment
into the BCA. Consider the following:
FA C T: Australian Government (CSIRO) test data since 1993 show ionisation alarms fail to activate in Australian
Standards testing until more than three times the maximum safe limit set for photoelectric alarms.
FA C T: Legislation to mandate photoelectric smoke alarms has been enacted in Australias Northern Territory and
the U.S. states of Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and numerous cities and municipalities.
FA C T: The June 2006, official position of all Australian and New Zealand Fire Brigades states, That all
residential accommodation be fitted with photoelectric smoke alarms . . . Ionisation smoke alarms may
not operate in time to alert occupants early enough to escape from smouldering fires. (page 13)
FA C T: Standards Australia has revised the Australian Smoke Alarm Standard (AS3786-1993). Despite repeated
attempts, the ABCB has refused to adopt it into the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
FA C T: Since the 1996 edition of the BCA, photoelectric detectors have been mandated in all Australian hospitals.
FA C T: U.S. Federal court judges declared an ionisation smoke alarm to be "defectively designed" and its
failure to be a legal cause of deaths (Sheila Hackert v First Alert Inc. March 2008).
The ABCBs Double Standard

In 2004, the ABCB approved changes to The Code, i.e. the Building Code of Australia,
the effect of which was to mandate photoelectric smoke detectors in new commercial
buildings. Since 2004, legislation has been enacted to mandate photoelectric alarms in
several U.S. states and municipalities and Australias Northern Territory. However, the
ABCB has refused to change the Code to mandate photoelectric smoke alarms in
Australian and New Zealand homes.
The Story Behind the Ongoing Battle with the ABCB

to Fix Australias Flawed Smoke Alarm Standard
www.TheWFSF.org/abcb
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The C.A.N. Report
5 of 16
` G.M.A. Investigates
Will Your Smoke Detector Respond Fast Enough?

In June 2012 the Ohio Governments Smoke Alarm Advisory Task Force
Report outraged Ohio fire officials when it claimed no statistical differences
in the performance of ionisation and photoelectric smoke alarms.
In May 2014, the North Eastern Ohio Fire Prevention Association
(NEOFPA) conducted a series of real-world smoke alarm tests to
demonstrate the life-threatening differences between the two type of alarms.
NEOFPA President
John Desmarteau
Overseeing Tests
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G.M.A. Investigates
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. | 29 May 2014
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Test Results
Photoelectric 1: 12 minutes
Photoelectric 2: 13 minutes
Combination 1: 22 minutes
Combination 2: 49 minutes
Ionisation 1: Did Not Activate
Ionisation 2: Did Not Activate
Photoelectric Alarms Activate Before

Combination Ionisation/Photoelectric Alarms
(page 8)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Test Aborted at 70 Minutes
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Ionisation Alarms
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Failed to Activate
The NEOFPA is the most progressive fire fighter organisation behind the
global push to eliminate ionisation smoke alarms. They have been
instrumental in Ohios pending, state-wide, photoelectric legislation (page 15).
www.NEOFPA.org
www.GetSafeAlarms.com
6 of 16
Ionisation Smoke Alarm Defects / Concerns - 1 of 3

1. Failure to Activate
3. Places Fire Fighters at Risk
Ionisation alarms inability to safely detect fire in

the early, smouldering stage was revealed in the
International Association of Fire Chiefs Residential
Smoke Alarm Report in October 1980 (page 12).
When fire fighters are called out to homes with fires

resulting from smoke alarm activations, the type of smoke
alarm used is critical for public and fire fighter safety. If the
alarm is activated by a fire in the flaming stage, the difference
between ionisation and photoelectric alarms is only a matter of
a difference of seconds - if it has not been disconnected and if
it is in the room of fire origin.
However, most fatal fires have a long smouldering phase.
Photoelectric alarms can activate an hour or more before
ionisation alarms in smouldering fires. When this happens, in
many cases consumers can safely put the fire out without any
risk to themselves or our fire fighters.
CSIRO Test Data

The Australian governments Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO) holds scientific test data which show that
ionisation alarms sold in the U.S.A. do not activate
in Australian Standards testing until more than three
times the limit set for photoelectric alarms.
L egal Precedents
In The Law and You radio
interview, world experts discuss the
Confidentiality Order preventing
disclosure of the level of smoke
ionisation alarms activate under
CSIRO testing (page 16).
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Photoelectric Alarms | Safer For Fire Fighters

When firefighters are called out to a fire, if photoelectric
alarms are installed, everyone should have already exited the
home. When fires have not reached the flaming stage, the risk
to fire fighters is dramatically reduced.
Install photoelectric alarms. Help make your family and
our fire fighters safer! Find out more, read Fathers For Fire
Safetys report:
Are Ionisation Smoke Alarms
2. High False Alarm & Disconnection Rate

People often say, My smoke alarm goes off
when Im cooking toast - it must be working fine.
Ionisation alarms are sub-micron particle detectors.
They detect hot, invisible particles from cooking or
an open flame. They do not detect visible smoke,
even though they may appear to. Slow smouldering
fires emit cool, visible smoke particles, but usually
not enough of the hot invisible
particles to activate ionisation
alarms. They will almost
always remain silent during the
smouldering stage of a fire until the fire bursts into flame,
after which it is often too late to
safely escape (page 12).
Research shows ionisation alarms are over five
times more likely to give a false alarm than
photoelectrics. False/nuisance alarms lull people
into a false sense of security. Many think because
their ionisation alarms are sensitive to cooking, they
will give an early warning in the event of a real fire.
This is not the case when a fire starts with an
extended smouldering phase while you are sleeping.
Disconnection Rate
Because of the inherent false alarm problem
with ionisation technology, approximately 25% of
ionisation alarms are disconnected within the first
two years. The disconnection rate for photoelectrics
is negligible. Find out more H E R E.
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Putting Fire Fighter Lives at Risk?
www.Scribd.com/doc/245353416
4. Environmental/Disposal Problem
All ionisation alarms contain radioactive material.
Radiation Warning Label
Radioactive Materials: Disposal Problem

. . . Where the smoke alarm contains a radioactive source,
information about the source and instructions on how to
return the smoke alarm to the supplier or to the
Department of Health. Warning shall also be given that
alternative disposal is not permitted.
Australian Smoke Alarm Standard AS3786-1993: Page 16, Clause 4.2(j)
Photoelectric alarms do not contain radioactive material.
www.TheWFSF.org/radiation
7 of 16

5. Affordability
Combination photoelectric/ionisation alarms cost more
than stand-alone photoelectric alarms. Consumers with
limited budgets may not be able to afford to protect as
many rooms in their home with combination alarms as
with stand-alone, photoelectric alarms.
Consumer Groups Speak Out
Cost is one of several reasons that the IAFF, AFAC and
others do not recommend combination ion/photo alarms
(page 13). Australian, U.S. and New Zealand consumer
organisations have discovered the defects with ionisation
alarms and recommend photoelectric smoke alarms.
New Zealand
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The ionisation models . . . were hopeless

for smouldering fires . . . That failing is
potentially fatal.
Consumer N.Z. scientific test results, May 2006
... its really important that you have

Australia
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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx smokey, smouldering fires are real killers...
Chris Barnes, Choice Australia March 2010
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U.S.A.
People are dying all the time because
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these (ionisation) smoke detectors are
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inadequate.
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Joan Claybrook CEO, Public Citizen Feb 2008
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6. The Dual Alarm & Ionisation/Photoelectric Combination Myth | (see AFAC position on page 13)
Since the mid-1970s, fire authorities have almost
exclusively promoted ionisation alarms. In December
2005, the Chief of Vermonts Barre City Fire Department
lost his niece and her four children in a home fitted with
hard-wired, working ionisation alarms. The fire fighters
wanted to know why theyd failed to activate.
They investigated and the truth that had been
buried since the IAFCs 1980 Residential Smoke Alarm
Report (page 12) began to re-emerge. In 2009, Vermont
became the first state in the USA to pass legislation
mandating photoelectric-only smoke alarms (page 16).
Fire Fighters Lives At Risk
How could the smoke alarm industry hide the lifethreatening defects when fire fighters were beginning to
discover their own lives were at risk? By adding the
flawed (ionisation) technology with the effective
(photoelectric) technology, they hoped no-one would
know. Thats why their claim, There are two types of fire
so you need two types of smoke alarms is so insidious.
It appears to make sense - but is untrue (page 6).
Failure to Warn
Since 1980, manufacturers have failed to warn
about ionisation alarms. However, since mid-2006, after
26 years of failing to warn, they now claim we need
ionisation and photoelectric alarms. Is it possible their
recommendation for combination alarms or having one
of each is a transition away from ionisation alarms?
Stages of Fire - Not Types of Fire

Here is what they are not telling you. In most fatal fires,
there are two stages, smouldering and flaming. You must
detect fire in the early, smouldering stage, before the
flaming stage, when it is too late to safely escape.
Why are the Public, Fire Fighters and Fire
Industry Personnel STILL Not Being
Told the Truth about Smoke Alarms?
Myths Explained:
1. Smoke alarms have
reduced fire deaths
by 50%.
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2. Any smoke alarm is
better than no smoke xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
alarm.
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3. There are 3 causes
of fire: men, women xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
and children.
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University of Cincinnati | Smoke Detector Seminar

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College of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. | 28 June, 2010
Is it possible that the
I think what we need to tell..
recommendation for
people is pretty simple....
dual or for both is
Do you want to live or die?..
maybe a compromise
And if you want to live,..
to transition away
and you want to get..
from
ionisation
out
in time, then buy a..
detectors?
photoelectric detector.
Captain Clayton L. James
William (BJ) Jetter PhD, MIFireE, CFO
Newport Fire Department
OFE, CHSIII, Fire Chief, Sycamore
Kentucky, U.S.A.
EMS & Fire Department, Ohio, U.S.A.
Capt. Clayton James
www.TheWFSF.org/uc9
Chief B.J. Jetter
8 of 16

7. Sensor Sensitivity Manipulation (SSM)
The Global Push for Photoelectric Alarms
A group of fire protection authorities across the world, including Bostons
Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Fleming and New Zealands Adrian Butler, are
leading the push towards requiring photoelectric smoke alarms in all dwellings.
Executive Summary: Page X, Para 1
The Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), one of Americas

oldest technical institutes, is located in Worcester,
Massachussetts. The Fire Protection Association of Australia
(FPAA) is Australias major technical and educational fire
safety organisation.
In 2009, the WPI produced a report for the FPAA to aid fire
protection officials around the world in drafting smoke alarm
legislation.
The following quotes are extracts from the report:
Photoelectric Alarms More Effective
Studies have shown that photoelectric units are more
effective at detecting the types of fires that are most likely to
be fatal in homes: smouldering fires . . . The only case in
which the ionisation alarm responded first was when the
alarm was in the room of ignition of a flaming fire. Even then,
the photoelectric alarm still provided the occupants with
enough time to escape safely.
!
Combination Smoke Alarms: Page 36, Clause 4.1.3, Para 3
Conclusion
To provide earliest warning for all fires regardless of type,
combination detectors (of the OR gate principle) are, ideally
speaking, most effective. This assumes that they are fully
operational, and do not have reduced or otherwise altered
sensitivities (Ed Comeau Interview, Appendix A). It must also
be noted that, due to the frequency of nuisance alarms from
current ionisation technologies, combination detectors are
likely to be disabled by a consumer, rendering them useless
to warn occupants of any fire.
!
You Can Not Hide Ionisation Smoke

Alarms Inherent Defects by Combining
them with Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
Executive Summary: Page X, Para 2
Combination Smoke Alarms

However, combination units also have their drawbacks.
Detectors can be combined using either an AND gate or an
OR gate (Ian Thomas Interview, Appendix L). An OR gate
will sound an alarm if the unit receives a signal from either
one of the detectors. This means that the unit will sound at
the earliest possible time, but also that the unit is susceptible
to the most nuisance alarms due to the cumulative
weaknesses of each detector. A unit designed with an
AND gate will not sound until it receives a signal from
both detectors.
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Worcester Polytechnics
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May, 2009 Report for FPAA
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www.TheWFSF.org/wpi
Conclusion: Page 35, Clause 4.1.8, Para 2
Sensor Sensitivity Manipulation (SSM)

describes manipulating ionisation sensor settings in
combination ionisation/photoelectric alarms to
reducing nuisance alarming.
In the above CPSC* chart, unwanted activations
are shown from two leading manufacturers (for legal
reasons, the CPSC protects manufacturer identities
by naming them A & B). It should be observed
that manufacturer A had 115 of the total 127
unwanted activations.
*Smoke Alarms - Pilot

Study of Nuisance
Alarms Associated
with Cooking
CPSC, 03/2010
The WFSF thanks

Dean Dennis from
Fathers For Fire Safety
for his research material
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Dean Dennis
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Testifying for Photoelectric
Legislation in California
9 of 16
How You Can Help Save Lives:

Since starting the campaign in 2000, there have been hundreds
of media reports warning about problems with ionisation alarms.
Tragically, almost all of them get watered down.
60 Minutes Alarming Truth expos is the best ever produced.
It focuses on the crux of the problem: flawed smoke alarm
standards. Make sure everyone sees this amazing story.
Please help by spreading this life-saving message.
Thank you.
The World Fire Safety Foundation
Adrian ButlerChairman, Co-Founder, Former Fire Fighter
Karl Westwell Co-Founder, Director of Strategy & Research
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World Fire Safety Foundation Co-Founders
Adrian Butler (left) and Karl Westwell with Chief
Marc McGinn, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, | April 2011
Install Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

The official organisations representing all Australian and New Zealand fire
fighters and most U.S. and Canadian fire fighters, recommend installing
photoelectric-only smoke alarms (NOT combination ionisation/photoelectric) in
all bedrooms, outside bedrooms, in hallways and in all exit paths (page 13).
Like Us on FaceBook
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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxvvvvv
www.FaceBook.com/TheWFSF
Sign the Petition

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.CPSCPetition.com
Get Your Custom Document & Web Page

Weve designed this report so you can send it as is, or have a custom version with
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A P e r s ona l M e s s a ge t o Fir e Fight e r s

From: Adrian Butler, Former Full-Time Fire Fighter, Co-Founder, Chairman, WFSF | 02 March 2015
Sept 1980: IAFC Report

he International Association of
Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Residential
Smoke Alarm Report warned,
lives may be in danger and that the
IAFC could take no other course but
to recommend the installation of
photoelectric smoke detectors.
Tragically, the IAFCs warning went
unheeded for 26 years - until . . .
In 1997, Karl Westwell and I were
running a franchise throughout Australia
and New Zealand called Maximum Fire
& Safety. We sold thousands of
ionisation alarms. Everything was going
well until customers complained their
alarms would go off when cooking yet
remain silent during an actual fire. We
investigated. What we discovered was
almost impossible to believe.
member of the committee that writes

Australias smoke alarm standard.
Jan 2000: Silent Alarms

Silent Alarms is an award-winning
documentary that aired across Canada
in January 2000. When we watched it,
we were horrified. It showed the
ionisation alarms wed been selling for
years failing in scientific tests. We knew
we had to get everyone to see it.
However, Canadian T.V. had been
threatened with litigation and would not
let us distribute the film.
Everyone kept saying there was
nothing wrong with ionisation alarms.
No one believed us, especially the fire
service, which said ionisation alarms
pass the U.S. and Australian standard
so they must be OK.
But we knew they were not OK. The
more research we did, the more
convinced we became. Ionisation
alarms go off when cooking or with a
naked flame, but they remain silent
during the early, smouldering stage of a
fire - when you need them most.
World Fire Safety Foundation
Everyone was convinced their
smoke alarms functioned as intended after all, if there was a problem, fire
Feb 2006: Flawed Standards

The Australian and U.S. smoke
alarm standards have been proven to
be flawed. Underwriters Laboratories
(UL) has been sued for alleged
fraudulent testing of ionisation alarms.
In 2006, Standards Australia discovered
that its smoke alarm standard is also
flawed. Examine our in-depth report:
Can Australian and U.S. Smoke Alarm
Standards be Trusted?
departments would have told them. So

in mid-2000, we set up the World Fire
Safety Foundation to help get the
message about the defects with
ionisation alarms to the public and
especially to our fire fighters.
We did not ask for any funding. The
information against ionisation alarms
was so compelling we were sure within
18-24 months the message would be
out and wed be able to close down the
Foundation. Our mission statement
became the name of our film . . .
Oct 2004: Stop The Children Burning
Because we couldnt distribute Silent
Alarms, we decided to make our own
documentary. Stop The Children
Burning was released in Australia in
October 2004. Sections of it were
included in a national Australian T.V.
program warning about ionisation
alarms: A Current Affair
The TV station brought in a fire
safety expert, Mr David Isaac, to give an
industry perspective on the
Foundations seemingly outlandish
allegations. However, he concurred with
us. We soon discovered he was a
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Adrian Butler, WFSF Co-Founder at New Zealand
Fire Service Basic Fire Fighter Graduation
Auckland, New Zealand | April 1978
AFAC Position
Many fire fighters are not aware of
the Fire Services stand on smoke
alarms. The Australasian Fire &
Emergency Service Authorities Council
(AFAC) is the peak representative body
of all Australian and New Zealand Fire
Brigades. Please check AFACs official
position below and on page 13. AFAC
ONLY recommends photoelectric smoke
alarms.
Recommending ionisation smoke
alarms is not just putting the publics
lives at risk, but also your own.
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Implementation of AFACs
2006 Smoke Alarm Position
FRNSW does NOT support
the fitting and installation
of ionisation alarms.
We O N LY r e c o m m e n d
photoelectric alarms.
Commissioner Greg Mullins AFSM
President, AFAC | October 2014
The WFSFs Mission Statement
STOP The Children Burning

is the name of our documentary
12 of 16
Australasian Fire & Emergency

S erv ic e A u th o rit ies Council ( AFAC)
AFAC is the peak representative body for all Australian and New Zealand Fire
Brigades. In October 2004, A Current Affair aired a story about the WFSFs claim
that the smoke alarms installed in most homes were dangerously defective.
In 2005 AFAC commissioned the Victoria University of Technology (VUT) to
investigate global smoke alarm research. After the VUT published their report,
AFAC published their official position on smoke alarms . . .
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AFAC Official Position
01 June, 2006
www.TheWFSF.org/afac
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Smoke Alarms
A Current Affair | Oct 2004
AFACs Official Position on Smoke Alarms

That all residential accommodation be fitted with
photoelectric smoke alarms. ... Ionisation smoke
alarms may not operate in time to alert occupants
early enough to escape from smouldering fires.
AFAC Position on Smoke Alarms in Residential Accomodation
Page 3, Position 3 | 01 June, 2006
AFACs Position on Combination Ionisation / Photoelectric Alarms

Smoke alarms fitted with dual photo-electric / ionisation detectors are available.
Householders may choose to install such alarms in lieu of photo-electric alarms.
However, research indicates that they are more costly and prone to more false
alarmsthan photo-electric alarms, and the benefits are marginal.
AFAC Position on Smoke Alarms in Residential Accomodation
Page 3, Position 3 | 01 June 2006
(page 8)
What is the Position on Smoke Alarms for U.S. & Canadian Fire Fighters?
After AFAC published their Position in 2006, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) followed
suit in 2008. The IAFF is the worlds largest fire fighter union with over 300,000 members. See the IAFFs
position on smoke alarms in the U.S. / Canadian version of the WFSFs Smoke Alarm Warning Report:
www.SmokeAlarmWarning.org/wfsf.html
CSIRO Test Data - The Key to Solving the 40 Year Ionisation Smoke Alarm Problem Globally
The International Association of Fire Chiefs warned about ionisation smoke alarms in 1980. In their Residential Smoke
Alarm Report the IAFC urged Fire Chiefs to only recommend photoelectric smoke alarms: www.TheWFSF.org/iafc
Tragically, the IAFCs message was buried. Since 2006, manufacturers and governments have failed in their Special Duty
of Care (page 14) to warn the public of the life-threatening defects inherent in ionisation alarms. Manufacturers now claim
there are two types of fires (smouldering and flaming) so the public need two types of smoke alarms. In doing so, they do not
have to admit they failed to warn the public about ionisation alarms.
However, there are not two types of fire - there are two stages of a fire. Most fatal fires have a prolonged smouldering
stage before bursting into flames. Australian Government (CSIRO) test data proves ionisation alarms may not operate in
time to alert occupants early enough to escape from the early, smouldering stage of fatal fires.
Adrian Butler, Chairman, The World Fire Safety Foundation, NSW, Australia, 25 February 2015
Australian MP Asks: Are Ionisation Smoke Alarms Defective?

UTC, the worlds second largest smoke alarm manufacturer sell the Kidde, Chubb and Quell
brands of smoke alarms in Australia. Mr Chris Gulaptis MP sent numerous letters over a two year
period requesting UTCs Australasian President disclose the level of smoke at which Mr Gulaptiss
ionisation smoke alarm activated under Australian Standards testing conducted by the CSIRO.
Despite front page stories in local newspapers and a full page Sydney Morning Herald report,
an interview with the ABC (page 16), his Parliamentary Smoke Alarms Speech of June 2013 and
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Chris Gulaptis MPs
Smoke Alarms Speech
his written request to UTCs U.S. President (page 25), UTC failed to answer Mr Gulaptis sole question.
. . . However, when UTC were forced to provide the CSIRO test data in a U.S. court case in May 2014,
they settled out of court with a Confidentiality (Gag) Order to keep the information from the public.
continued on page 16. . .
13 of 16
The Northern Territory - Australias First Mandatory

Ph o to e l ectri c S moke A l ar m Legislation | 01 Novem ber 2011
N.T. Legislation - Background
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xxxxx
11 May, 2011
...ionisation alarms have failed

Australian Standards since 1993.
Michelle Buckworth, Reporter, Channel 9
News, Darwin, Northern Territory
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Assistant Fire Commissioner Grant Hamon AFSM
on Channel 9, N.T. News with WFSF Chairman
Adrian Butler and U.S. Fire Chief, Marc McGinn
www.TheWFSF.org/tourstory3
A.C. Grant Hamon AFSM with Adrian Butler & U.S.

Fire Chief, Marc McGinn discussing the N.T.s
proposed photoelectric legislation | 1 2 M a y 2 0 11
Northern Territory Fire & Rescue Service

Photoelectric Legislation Brochure
www.TheWFSF.org/tourstory3
Northern Territory Leads Australia

The Northern Territory Assistant Fire Commissioner, Grant
Hamon, was instrumental in introducing Australias first
mandatory photoelectric smoke alarm legislation:
www.TheWFSF.org/legislation_au_nt
Asst. Commissioner Grant Hamon AFSM

60 Minutes, The Alarming Truth
October 2014 (page 4)
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A Special Duty of Care
If the public are told to buy photoelectric smoke alarms because theyre
better, most people will do nothing. Why should they? Ionisation alarms often
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activate when cooking toast, lulling people into a false sense of security.
Authorities have a Special Duty of Care to warn the public and fire fighters
that ionisation alarms have life-threatening defects, thereby allow them to
make an informed decision so they may properly protect their families from fire.
Adrian Butler
Adrian Butler, Chairman WFSF, NSW, Australia | 02 March 2015
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14 of 16
Ohio, U.S.A. Poised to become the Worlds Most Populated

Region to Introduce Photoelectric Smoke Alarm Legislation
The Alarming Truth About Smoke Detectors

Cleveland, Ohio, USA 10 Nov 2014
newsnet5 CLEVELAND
Part 1: Smoke Alarms Found in 90% of U.S. Homes Often Slow to Go Off
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00:18 There are two types
of smoke detectors. But

we found that American
consumers have been left
in the dark for decades.
In the city of
Boston you must use
either photoelectric or
dual smoke detectors.
You are not allowed to
use ionisation as
stand-alone devices.
01:50
03:23 Ron Regan: David Isaac
helped write Australian smoke

alarm standards . . . and U.S.
consumers, says Isaac, are
being left in the dark - is that
costing lives?
David Isaac: Absolutely it is.
Absolutely, unequivocally.
00:00 The alarm is sounding
tonight among some Ohio

lawmakers after a 5 On Your
Side investigation into smoke
detectors. A law may be
introduced that would support
the use of an alarm that reacts
more quickly to smoke.
04:24 A growing number xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
of fire fighters are

absolutely convinced that
these ionisation alarms
will not go off in time and
many of them are simply
not even using them.
00:12 The North Eastern
Ohio Fire Prevention

Association (NEOFPA)
wants departments to hand
out photoelectric detectors
like this one right here.
2 Minutes
01:24 And we will next xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
year be introducing
legislation that will
mandate the use of
photoelectric technology
in all new construction.
Part 3: Many NE Ohio Fire Departments Give Out Dual Sensor Alarms
01:58 ... groups like the National Fire Prevention Association (N.F.P.A.)
and Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.), those most involved with
standards and testing, insist both are equal. And those same
groups who have the greatest influence over consumer decisions,
are at odds with fire fighters who know fires best.
Part 2: Calls for New Smoke Detector Laws in Ohio

4.5 Minutes
2.5 Minutes
A source told
us cash-strapped
communities may still
provide ionisation
detectors because
they are cheaper . . .
01:57
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xxxxxxxxxxxxxx You wish you had a way of contacting
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John Desmarteau, President, NEOFPA, Ohio, U.S.A.
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See NEOFPAs G.M.A. Tests (page 6))
Senator Bill Seitz with Australian & U.S. Campaigners about
Ohios Pending, State - Wide, Photoelectric Legislation
David Isaac, Australias leading fire safety expert (left); Senator Bill Seitz;
Adrian Butler, Chairman, WFSF Australia; and Dean Dennis, world
smoke alarm expert, Fathers For Fire Safety, Ohio; after discussing
Ohios pending state-wide, photoelectric smoke alarm legislation
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. | July 2014
This page extracted from the U.S. / Canadian version of the Smoke Alarm Warning Report:
www. SmokeAlarmWarning.org /wfsf.html
15 of 16
Australian Government (CSIRO) Test Data

The Key to Solving the Ionisation Smoke Alarm Problem Globally
. . .from page 13
U.S. Fire Fighter Meets Australian M.P. about

Australian Photoelectric Smoke Alarm Legislation
Captain Russell Ashe was instrumental in the U.S.s first state-wide, photoelectriconly, smoke alarm legislation. Russell flew to Australia in March 2012 to work with
Standard Australias Committee Member David Isaac and WFSF Chairman Adrian
Butler to help with Australian photoelectric legislation.
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The Fire That Changed Everything

The stunning story behind Americas first
photoelectric-only, state-wide legislation.
by Russell Ashe, Medal of
Honour firefighter, Vermont, USA
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www.TheWFSF.org/ashetour
Australian MP Chris Gulaptis (left), U.S.

Fire Fighter, Captain Russell Ashe and
WFSF Chairman Adrian Butler (right)
Hear the ABC Radio Interview
U.T.C. Settles out of Court Keeping Australian Standards

(CSIRO) Scientific Test Data from the Australian & U.S. Public
Smoke alarm experts David Isaac, Adrian Butler (Australia) and Dean Dennis (U.S.) were scheduled to
testify in a Alabama, U.S. court case. Three young girls had died in a home fitted with working, ionisation
smoke alarms. After the manufacturer was forced to disclose CSIRO test data, they settled out of court
with a Confidentiality (Gag) Order.
The Law And You - U.S. Radio Interviews

04 Feb & 24 June 2014 | Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.A
Hear how UTC settled out of court with a Gag Oder
to keep CSIRO test data hidden from the public &
Labarron Boone
Attorney, Beasley
Allen Law Firm
This ionisation smoke detector is

dangerous and people are going
to die because of that danger.
Labarron Boone, Attorney, Beasley Allen Law Firm
Montgomery, AL, USA | 24 June 2014
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Alabama State Fire Marshall Ed Paulk
(white shirt) with Dean Dennis (left),
Adrian Butler, (2nd from right), and
David Isaac (far right)
Hear The Law And You Interviews:

www.SmokeAlarmWarning.org/ba.html
SMOKE ALARM RESEARCH

Discover the worlds largest
resource for smoke alarm research:
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www.TheWFSF.org
www.SmokeAlarmWarning.org
www.FaceBook.com/TheWFSF
www.Scribd.com/TheWFSF
Myths Explained
Decades - old smoke alarm
industry myths exposed
1. Go to:
www.TheWFSF.org/firefightersaunz
2. Scroll half-way down the page
16 of 16

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Copyright World Fire Safety Foundation - Feb 2015

CONTENTS & SUMMARY

FRNSW does NOT support the

WFSF Message: You Can Help Save Lives

60 Minutes Special Investigation

Good Morning America Investigates - NEOFPA

Ionisation Smoke Alarm Defects / Concerns

2. High False Alarm & Disconnection Rate

Greg Mullins AFSM

3. Places Fire Fighters at Risk

5. Affordability | Consumer Groups Speak Out

6. The Dual Alarm & Ion/Photo Combo Myth

7. Sensor Sensitivity Manipulation

How You Can Help Save Lives

Promote Your Organisation: Custom WFSF Report

Fire Fighters have not been

Part 2: For Fire Fighters

AFAC / IAFF Positions | CSIRO Test Data

N.T. Legislation | A Special Duty of Care

The Alarming Truth About Smoke Detectors

The Key to Solving the Ionisation Problem Globally

Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

False Alarms and

Copyright World Fire Safety Foundation - Nov 2014

President, Volunteer Fire Fighters

The Australian Government

Senator Glenn Lazarus

WFSF Message: You Can Help Save Lives

Well the Board is not satisfied at

David Isaac | Fire Safety Expert

Neil Savery | General Manager, ABCB

Member, Standard Australias Smoke

Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)

Flawed Smoke Alarm Standards

(page 13, 16)

The Alarming Truth

Why the smoke alarm in

Australia | 19 October 2014

Part One | 9 Minutes

Part Two | 11 Minutes

Karl Stefanovic with Grant Hamon

Reporter, 60 Minutes, Australia

(right) Assistant Fire Commissioner, NTFRS

Grab yourself the photoelectric alarms, bring them back to

Karl Stefanovic Interview | 2 Minutes

Why Wont the ABCB Change the Code?

Senator Lazarus Vows to Fix Smoke Alarm Laws in Australia

The Press Release

The Battle to Fix Australias Flawed Smoke Alarm Standard

The ABCBs Double Standard

The Story Behind the Ongoing Battle with the ABCB

Will Your Smoke Detector Respond Fast Enough?

Photoelectric Alarms Activate Before

Ionisation Smoke Alarm Defects / Concerns - 1 of 3

3. Places Fire Fighters at Risk

Ionisation alarms inability to safely detect fire in