Residential fire deaths lead the total number of deaths caused
by fire in the United States. According to statistics from the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), about 85 percent of
all U.S. fire deaths in 2009 occurred in homes, and on average,
eight people died in U.S. home fires every day. Most victims of
fires die from smoke or toxic gases and not from burns. It is
interesting to note that the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) reports that most residential fires occur
during the winter months. The statistic that may resound with
the contractor is that almost all homes have at least one smoke
alarm, but almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in
2003–2007 resulted from fires in homes with no working smoke
alarms. Chapter 29 of NFPA 72 2010, the National Fire Alarm and
Signaling Code, contains the requirements for residential smoke
and heat alarms and residential fire-warning systems. Note the
chapter’s stated purpose: “Fire-warning equipment for
residential occupancies shall