According to safety guidelines, combining smoke alarms with which system reduces the risk of fire death by about 82 percent?

• A. Fire sprinklers
• B. Carbon monoxide detectors
• C. Fire doors
• D. Emergency lighting

Answer: (A)

Combining early warning from smoke alarms with automatic fire sprinklers delivers the strongest protection for life safety. Smoke alarms give people precious time to wake and evacuate, while sprinklers automatically release water at the heat level of the fire, quickly controlling or suppressing the flames, reducing heat, and limiting smoke. This rapid, localized suppression means fewer people are exposed to deadly conditions and more have a safe chance to escape, which is why the combined approach can cut fire deaths by about 82 percent.

Other systems contribute to safety in meaningful ways but don’t match this level of impact when paired with alarms. Carbon monoxide detectors warn of toxic gas but don’t suppress the fire itself. Fire doors help contain a fire and slow its spread, but containment alone doesn’t prevent deaths once people are exposed to heat and smoke. Emergency lighting aids safe egress but does not reduce the fire’s progression or the resulting exposure. In short, automatic fire sprinklers are the most effective complement to smoke alarms for reducing fire fatalities.