ʻThe Home Owner Lettersʼ

Manufacturer/Supplier.
(Australia/NZ only)
Date: _____________________

______________________________________________________________________
Home owners name and postal address

______________________________________________________________________
Ionization smoke alarm manufacturer/supplierʼs name and address (usually printed on the back of the smoke alarm)

---------------------------------------------------------------
Ionization smoke alarm/s make and model number/s

Re: Alleged Scientific Misconduct - Ionization Smoke Alarms

Dear ______________________________
(Manufacturers/Suppliers Name)

The World Fire Safety Foundation is a global organisation, dedicated to saving lives by exposing
the truth about the ionization type of smoke alarms installed in most homes around the world and
promoting the safe and affordable alternatives. The Foundation is non profit - it does not sell
smoke alarms or any other products.

The Foundation is requesting the following information on behalf of the home owner listed above
about the ionization smoke alarms currently installed in their property.

Recent, independent, US scientific testing has shown that ʻScientific Misconductʼ (i.e. fraudulent
scientific testing) has allegedly been committed by standards testing organisations which have
allowed ionization smoke alarms to be certified as “safe” when in fact they are not.
Note: See the film, ʻUL Testing Questionedʼ on the World Fire Safety Foundation
websitesʼ home page at: www.TheWorldFireSafetyFoundation.org

The document, ʻRecommending, Selling or Installing Ionization Smoke Alarms, A Criminal Act of
Negligence?ʼ on ʻThe Evidenceʼ page of our website, contains information about several law
suits where deaths have occurred resulting from ionization smoke alarms failing to sound a
timely warning. In Mercer v BRK (May, 1998), the defendants, BRK, the worldʼs largest smoke
alarm manufacturer, were fined compensatory and punitive damages - despite the fact their
AUSTRALIA ionization alarms were compliant with the current smoke alarm standard.
23 Ocean Grove
Currumbin, QLD 4223 In February 2006 it was discovered that the testing of ionization smoke alarms in accordance
AUSTRALIA with Australiaʼs smoke alarm standard, AS3786, is flawed. Standards Australia has corrected
P +61 (0) 409 782 166 AS3786. However, the amended standard is still before regulators - when it is adopted it will
E ab@TheWFSF.org effectively mandate photoelectric smoke alarms in Australian homes and apartments.

The Foundation believes that the ionization smoke alarm/s listed above may be
CANADA dangerously defective and not ʻfit for purposeʼ. It is a requirement of the smoke alarm
Emergency Mgmnt Office
sensitivity testing standard, AS2362.17 (referenced from clause 3.2 of AS3786), that the
Fanshaw College, Ontario
testing authority (eg. SSL/CSIRO) must record the level of smoke at which smoke alarms
CANADA N5Y 5R6
P +1 519 452 4430 ext 2948 activate during the sensitivity testing (i.e. light obscuration per metre) and advise the smoke
F +1 519 451 0513 alarm manufacturer accordingly. Please disclose, in writing, within 14 days to the address
E sc@TheWFSF.org below, the level of smoke (i.e. light obscuration per metre) at which the ionization smoke alarm/s
listed above activated under clauses 7 (e) and (f) of AS2362.17.
NEW ZEALAND Thank you.
10 Herald Way
Tauranga 3112 Sincerely
NEW ZEALAND The World Fire Safety Foundation
P 0800 149 521 (in NZ)
M +64 (0) 27 544 9644
E kw@TheWFSF.org

UNITED STATES
Adrian Butler
PO Box 196
Chairman
Citrus Heights
23 Ocean Grove
CA 95611-0196
Currumbin, Qld 4223
USA
P +1 916 721 7700 ʻTheHomeOwnerLetters14June09.pdfʻ - The latest version is at: www.TheWorldFireSafetyFoundation.org
E rp@TheWFSF.org
 ʻThe Home Owner Lettersʼ
CSIRO.
(Australia/NZ only)
Date: _____________________

Attention: CSIRO, Mr David Whittaker, Executive Officer

ActivFire Scheme, PO Box 56, Highett, Victoria, Australia 3190

____________________________________________________________________
Home owners name and postal address

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ionization smoke alarm manufacturer/supplierʼs name and address (usually printed on the back of the smoke alarm)

Re: Alleged Scientific Misconduct - Ionization Smoke Alarms

Dear Mr Whittaker

The World Fire Safety Foundation is a global organisation, dedicated to saving lives by
exposing the defective ionization type of smoke alarms installed in most homes around the
world and promoting the safe and affordable alternatives. The Foundation is non profit - it does
not sell smoke alarms or any other products.

The Foundation is requesting the following information on behalf of the home owner listed
above about the ionization smoke alarms currently installed in their property.

Recent, independent, US scientific testing has shown that ʻScientific Misconductʼ (i.e. fraudulent
scientific testing) has allegedly been committed by standards testing organisations which have
allowed ionization smoke alarms to be certified as “safe” when in fact they are not.
Note: See the film, ʻUL Testing Questionedʼ at: www.TheWorldFireSafetyFoundation.org

The document, ʻRecommending, Selling or Installing Ionization Smoke Alarms, A Criminal Act of
Negligence?ʼ on ʻThe Evidenceʼ page of our website, contains information about several law
suits where deaths have occurred resulting from ionization smoke alarms failing to sound a
timely warning. In Mercer v BRK (May, 1998), the defendants, BRK, the worldʼs largest smoke
alarm manufacturer, were fined compensatory and punitive damages - despite the fact their
ionization alarms were compliant with the current smoke alarm standard.

AUSTRALIA In February 2006 it was discovered that the testing of ionization smoke alarms in accordance
23 Ocean Grove with Australiaʼs smoke alarm standard, AS3786, is flawed. Standards Australia has corrected
Currumbin, QLD 4223 AS3786. However, the amended standard is still before regulators - when it is adopted it will
AUSTRALIA effectively mandate photoelectric smoke alarms in Australian homes and apartments.
P +61 (0) 409 782 166 The Foundation believes that the ionization smoke alarm/s listed above may be dangerously
E ab@TheWFSF.org defective and not ʻfit for purposeʼ. Please disclose, in writing, within 14 days to the address
below:
CANADA
Emergency Mgmnt Office Q.1. Will the smoke alarm/s listed above safely warn/activate in a slow smouldering fire?
Fanshaw College, Ontario (based on the specific scientific obscuration response data recorded by SSL/CSIRO when the above
CANADA N5Y 5R6 home owners ionization alarms were subjected to the AS2362.17 smouldering fire smoke sensitivity test)
P +1 519 452 4430 ext 2948
F +1 519 451 0513 Q.2. What level of smoke (i.e. Light obscuration per metre) did the ionization smoke alarm/s
E sc@TheWFSF.org listed above activate under clauses 7 (e) and (f) of AS2362.17?

NEW ZEALAND Thank you.

10 Herald Way
Sincerely
Tauranga 3112
NEW ZEALAND The World Fire Safety Foundation
P 0800 149 521 (in NZ)
M +64 (0) 27 544 9644
E kw@TheWFSF.org

UNITED STATES Adrian Butler

PO Box 196 Chairman
Citrus Heights 23 Ocean Grove
CA 95611-0196 Currumbin, Qld 4223
USA
ʻTheHomeOwnersLetters14June09.pdfʼ - The latest version is at: www.TheWorldFireSafetyFoundation.org
P +1 916 721 7700
E rp@TheWFSF.org