Catching Fire: Reducing Fire Alarm Detection Latency Through Integrated Multi-Sensor Systems

Overview

Problem/Question: This project investigates whether multi-sensor fire alarms have faster response times than single or dual sensor alarms under controlled fire simulations. Procedure: I used 3 sensors, a heat sensor that detects high temperature, an IR sensor that detects IR rays, and a smoke sensor that detects smoke and gasses. Independent variables included sensor type and combinations, while the dependent variable was response time. Each sensor combination was tested five times, across seven total tests, with identical fire stimuli and controlled testing, with average times being calculated for each group. Results/Data: My results indicated that the slowest sensor is the heat sensor, with a 19.61 second average response time. Then, it was the IR sensor, having 3.18 seconds time. The fastest sensor is the gas sensor, with a 2.75 second time. Between the sensor combinations, the slowest was the heat and gas sensor and then the IR and heat sensor after. The second fastest was the gas and IR sensor, with a slightly faster response time. The fastest was combining all three sensors, with a 2.12 second response time. Conclusion: My results suggest that multiple sensors do decrease response time, but have a very minimal effect, indicating diminishing returns due to only one sensor being needed for fast response time. The project also had limitations such as controlled testing and sensor inefficiency.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Product Science (Junior Division) · Entry J-19-12

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