Smoke Alarms and Sleeping People

How effective are smoke alarms at waking sleeping people?

The Home Safety Council is closely following the research and debate about the effectiveness of tonal smoke alarms in waking people, particularly children. HSC urges fire and life safety advocates and consumers to learn more about this important topic. HSC will regularly update this page as new information becomes available.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

In September 2005, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Council (CPSC) published the report, “Possible Technologies for Improving the Audibility of Residential Smoke Alarms for Older Adults". Download the report at no charge.

Columbus Children’s Research Institute

The Center for Injury Research Policy (CIRP) is studying whether or not modified smoke alarms are more effective at awakening young children. Read about new research being conducted by CIRP Director Dr. Gary A. Smith, M.D., Dr.P.H. and Dr. Mark Splaingard, M.D.

Victoria University

Professor Dorothy Bruck, head of the School of Psychology at Victoria University in Melbourne, has researched sleep topics for many years. Read the Victoria University press release on Dr. Bruck’s findings that children wake more easily to smoke alarms with voices.