What To Know About the New Smoke Alarm Standards

Next-generation smoke alarms are expected to minimize that annoying screeching when you over-crisp the veggies. They’ll also warn you more quickly about actual fires in your home, thanks to new Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Solutions standards set to take effect on June 30, 2024.

The most notable improvements include better detection of smoldering and burning polyurethane foam (found in mattresses and upholstered furniture) and reducing false alarms from cooking.

“Ultimately, the goal is to prevent people from taking the batteries out of their alarms or removing them as a result of nuisance alarms caused by cooking,” says Susan McKelvey, communications manager for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

“Doing that presents a serious risk, as smoke alarms play a critical role in home fire safety, reducing the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half.”

About the Experts

Susan McKelvey is communications manager for the National Fire Protection Association, where she spent the last decade managing national public fire safety awareness campaigns and serving as the organization’s on-the-record spokesperson.

Ashley Gocken is a First Alert fire safety expert with Resideo Technologies. She spreads awareness about the best home fire and carbon monoxide safety practices.

What Are the New Smoke Alarm Manufacturing Standards?

The new standards — named the UL 217 8th Edition of the Standard for Smoke Alarms and the UL 268 7th edition of the Standard for Smoke Detectors — include more than 250 technical changes to the codes. Most keep pace with advancing technologies, allowing detectors to respond better to changing fire conditions in modern homes.

The most significant new standards include:

Nuisance cooking alarm detection

The new devices use more advanced sensors, or multi-sensors and algorithms, to better distinguish between cooking smoke and an actual fire. To do this, they analyze smoke for differences in particle size and gas concentration.

While it probably won’t eliminate cooking alarms entirely, the UL believes it should greatly reduce them.

Smoldering and burning polyurethane detection

While new alarms are less sensitive to cooking smoke, they are more sensitive to other dangers, especially smoldering and fast-moving polyurethane fires. This is especially important because fire dynamics in homes have changed over the last few decades.

“Modern homes tend to be built and furnished with lighter, synthetic materials that burn hotter and faster,” says Ashley Gocken, a First Alert fire safety expert with Resideo Technologies. “Plus [they] feature layouts with higher ceilings and open floor plans, that may result in less time for a safe evacuation if a fire breaks out.”

That means when today’s homes catch fire, our escape times have been reduced on average from 17 minutes to just three or four minutes. That’s another reason smoke alarms are so vital, says McKelvey. “The majority of U.S. home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or smoke alarms that aren’t working,” she says.

Should Homeowners Immediately Upgrade to the New Alarms?

No.

“There is no need for consumers to replace their smoke alarms immediately,” says McKelvey. “They can keep using their existing smoke alarms and replace them when they are 10 years old, which is the lifespan of a smoke alarm, or when they hear the end-of-life signal from their alarm.”

However, if you often get false “nuisance” alarms when you cook, you might want to replace your detectors earlier. This will keep you safer if you tend to disable your alarms and forget to re-connect them.

How Do I Know if an Alarm Meets the 2024 Standards?

Some detectors on retail shelves are already complying. The packaging should make it clear if they are since manufacturers are generally excited about touting the new benefits. Also, look for the phrase “UL 217 8th Edition.”

FAQs

What’s the difference between a smoke alarm and a smoke detector?

Technically, a smoke detector senses smoke and sends a signal to a central alarm system, whereas a smoke alarm includes a built-in audible and/or visible alarm. However, both terms are often used interchangeably when referring to the devices installed in our homes.

What’s the difference between an ionization and photoelectric smoke detector?

Photoelectric smoke alarms are more sensitive to smoke from smoldering fires, while ionization alarms are more prone to detect fast, flaming fires.

How often do smoke detectors need to be replaced?

According to the NFPA, every 10 years based on the manufacturing date, or every seven years for combo smoke/carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.

NFPA says smoke alarms should be tested monthly and batteries should be replaced when they begin to chirp, signaling that they’re running low. If you’re annoyed by low-battery warning chirps, consider a 10-year sealed battery smoke alarm like this one from First Alert. But still test it periodically.

Where should smoke detectors be placed?

NFPA recommends installing smoke alarms high on walls and ceilings on every level of your home, including in each bedroom, the main corridors and the basement. “To put this into perspective, a two-story, three-bedroom house needs a minimum of five smoke alarms,” says Gocken.

How many smoke detectors can you have on one circuit?

Twelve, plus six additional devices like CO alarms, heat alarms and strobes, as dictated by the NFPA.

Do smoke detectors have to be hard wired?

Yes. Hard-wired smoke detectors are required in all newly constructed and renovated homes. Devices are also required to be UL-listed and interconnected with a battery backup.

Which type of smoke detector is best?

It depends on your situation, but generally a dual-sensor ionization-photoelectric alarm that complies with the new 2024 standards. A standalone or combined carbon monoxide sensor is also a good idea.

For extra security, First Alert and other companies also offer alarms with voice alerts to tell you the location and type of danger, so you can better plan your escape. Whatever you buy, make sure the device is recognized by a third-party tester like UL and Intertek.

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