Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

50 Years of Fire Safety Advances

Since the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 was passed, annual U.S. fire fatalities have decreased by more than 50%. NIST’s fire research has played a crucial role in saving thousands of lives annually.

1970s

Cigarette resistant furnishings

Tests for cigarette ignition resistance made mattresses and upholstered furniture safer

Smoke alarm effectiveness

Guidance on performance and location for the first home smoke alarms

Measuring fire size

Oxygen consumption calorimetry theory and invention of the cone calorimeter

Cost-effective fire safety

Fire Safety Evaluation System for cost-effective design and retrofit incorporated into the Life Safety Code

Computer fire models

Model development and support for research and practical applications

Quantified smoke toxicity

Measurement standard for estimating the toxic potency of fire smoke

World Trade Center investigation

Reconstruction of the 9/11 fires and building collapses

Mattress flammability

Test method for reducing life loss from burning beds

Standard reference cigarettes

Standardized test cigarettes for assuring fewer furniture and bed fires

Firefighter gear and tactics

Practical solutions to improve firefighter equipment and tactics

Low nuisance smoke alarms

Performance data for a new, low nuisance rate smoke alarm standard

Wildland-urban interface fire loss mitigation

Science to reduce fire spread and community losses from wildfire

Fire behavior of construction

Fire performance of new and enhanced construction materials and designs