Readers who design, build, and buy fire safety products will find the following documents as an invaluable tool in ensuring safe and efficient life safety installations.
Guides
NEMA BS 30000-2026 – “Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Guidance Document”
This guidance paper provides information on the issues related to the use of lithium-ion batteries, how fires start in batteries, and how fires may be detected, controlled, suppressed, and extinguished. It also provides guidance on post-fire management. Excluded from the scope are explosion and ventilation issues.
Download – NEMA BS 30000-2026 – “Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Guidance Document”
Spanish Download – Click the link above and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 30001-2021 “Quality Informational Guide for Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm Systems”
(Formerly NEMA SB 1)
Provides guidance to Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for establishing programs to ensure highly reliable fire detection and alarm systems in his or her community. This document contains a recommended model ordinance to assist AHJ through improving the reliability of existing systems, including dealing with false, or nuisance alarms
Download – NEMA BS 30001-2021 – “Quality Informational Guide for Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm Systems”
NEMA BS 30003 2023 “Applications Guide for Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Detectors”
(Formerly NEMA SB 7)
Covers carbon monoxide (CO)–detection devices, including single- and multiple-station CO alarms and system-connected CO detectors and sensors connected to a control unit.
Download – NEMA BS 30003 2023 – “Applications Guide for Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Detectors”
Spanish Download – Click the link above and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 30004-2023 “Fuel Gas Detection Guide”
This document provides guidance on the proper application, installation, location, performance, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fuel gas detection devices. It outlines basic principles that should be considered in the application of early warning fuel gas detection devices. Operating characteristics of devices and environmental factors that may aid, deter, or prevent their operation are identified.
Download – NEMA BS 30004-2023 – “Fuel Gas Detection Guide”
NEMA BS 30005-2022 – “Guide for Proper Use of System Smoke Detectors”
(Formerly NEMA SB 11)
The purpose of this guide is to provide information concerning the proper application of smoke detectors used in conjunction with fire alarm systems. It outlines basic principles, which should be considered in the application of early warning fire and smoke detection devices. Operating characteristics of detectors and environmental factors, which may aid, delay, or prevent their operation, are also presented.
Download – NEMA BS 30005-2022 – “Guide for Proper Use of System Smoke Detectors”
Spanish Download – Follow link above and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31004-2022 “Public Address Communication Systems for Life Safety in Schools”
(Formerly NEMA SB 40)
This guide covers the application, installation, location, performance, and maintenance of school public address (PA) communication systems used for emergency communications and their components.
Download – NEMA BS 31004-2022 – “Public Address Communication Systems for Life Safety in Schools”
NEMA BS 31005-2024 “Training Manual on Fire Alarm Systems”
The document is written to provide text material for the training in proper physical installation of fire alarm signaling systems. To that end, the manual covers terminology, basic theory of operation, installation details, system startup techniques, and general maintenance. This manual is ideal as a reference guide and can be used in a classroom setting for learning about fire alarm systems.
Download – NEMA BS 31005-2024 – “Training Manuals on Fire Alarm Systems”
NEMA BS 31006-2025 “Communications Methods For Fire Alarm Systems”
The purpose of this document is to describe the communication technologies for signal transmission from the protected premises to the supervising station (Off-Premises Communication) that are supported by the published requirements in the 2025 edition of NFPA 72.
Download – NEMA BS 31006-2025 “Communications Methods For Fire Alarm Systems”
Spanish Download – Follow link above and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31043-2023 – “Guide for Application of Flame Detectors”
(Formerly NEMA SB 23)
Provides information concerning the proper use of flame-detection systems. It covers the major technologies used for flame detection, application, selection, installation, and testing.
Download – NEMA BS 31043-2023 “Guide for Application of Flame Detection”
NEMA BS 31046-2023 – “Guide to Understanding Smoke Control Systems”
(Formerly NEMA SB 20)
This guide is intended to offer a general understanding of smoke control systems to individuals who have a need or desire for solid basic information but do not need the in-depth knowledge necessary to design smoke control systems.
Download – NEMA BS 31046-2023 – “Guide to Understanding Smoke Control Systems”
NEMA BS 31057-2025 –“Emergency Communications Audio Intelligibility Applications Guide”
(Formerly NEMA SB 50)
Assists specifiers and Authorities Having Jurisdiction with the concepts and terminology used to enhance intelligibility for emergency voice paging systems.
Download – NEMA BS 31057-2025 “Emergency Communications Audio Intelligibility Applications Guide”
NEMA BS 31059-2026 – “Guide for Proper Use of Smoke Detectors in Duct Applications”
(Formerly NEMA SB 13)
This guide provides technical information on basic fire alarm systems with a focus on smoke detection devices installed in duct applications. Duct-mounted smoke detectors are designed to provide a specific type of protection that cannot be duplicated by any other type of system. However, there has been a tendency to misapply these devices by attempting to use them as a substitute for an early warning smoke detection system. This fact, coupled with new methods of detecting smoke in ducts, has prompted the section to write this industry guide.
Download – NEMA BS 31059-2026 – “Guide for Proper Use of Smoke Detectors in Duct Applications”
NEMA BS 31060-2025 – “Design Considerations for Fire and Life Safety Equipment in Data Centers”
This document aims to guide data center developers, engineers, and facility managers through the essential technical requirements, best practices, and integration strategies necessary to implement effective fire and life safety solutions. As data centers continue to evolve in complexity and scale, the need for robust, compliant, and intelligent safety systems becomes increasingly vital.
Download – NEMA BS 31060-2025 “Design Considerations for Fire and Life Safety Equipment in Data Centers”
Spanish Download – Click the link above and select “Show All Available Languages”
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White Papers
NEMA BS 30002-2022 “Impact of UL 268 and UL 217 Fire and Nuisance Tests”
The addition of new polyurethane foam fire tests and a cooking nuisance smoke test were the largest changes ever to UL 217 and UL 268. These new tests required that all smoke alarms and detectors be redesigned to operate completely differently, that is, detect fires more quickly and reject cooking nuisances. This document explains the context that led to the development of the new requirements, details about the new tests, and the consequences of the new products for designers, installers, end-users, and authorities having jurisdiction.
Download – NEMA BS 30002-2022 – “Impact of UL 268 and UL 217 Fire and Nuisance Tests”
NEMA BS 31003-2022 – “Low Frequency Audible Signals”
(Formerly NEMA SBP 4)
Addresses the need for and the development of the low-frequency audible signal used in fire alarms, carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, and fire or CO alarm systems.
Download – NEMA BS 31003-2022 “Low Frequency Audible Signals”
Spanish Download – Follow link above and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31007-2024 “Remote Inspection & Testing White Paper”
This document gives a brief overview of remote technologies used for inspection, testing, and maintenance and the impact on codes and standards, such as the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 915 – Standard for Remote Inspections.
Download – NEMA BS 31007-2024 “Remote Inspection & Testing White Paper”
Spanish Download – Follow link above and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31055-2025 “In-Building Two-Way Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems (ERCES)”
Provide education/awareness to installation contractors, engineers, end-users, Authorities Having Jurisdiction, and Federal Communication Commission License Holders about ensuring indoor wireless communications for Emergency Responders.
Download – NEMA BS 31055-2025 “In-Building Two-Way Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems (ERCES)”
Spanish Download – Follow link above and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31058-2025 – “Multi-Criteria Detectors (MCD)”
(Formerly NEMA SBP2)
The use of synthetic materials in the construction and furnishing of modern buildings has driven the fire detection industry to create a more sophisticated fire sensing device, affording occupants adequate safe egress time in emergencies. This white paper will discuss the evolution and development of multi-criteria fire detectors.
Download – NEMA BS 31058-2025 – “Multi-Criteria Detectors (MCD)”
Spanish Download – Follow link above and select “Show All Available Languages”
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Position Papers
NEMA BS 31035 2023 – “Position Paper on Carbon Monoxide”
NEMA advocates for state and local adoption of the latest fire and building codes that have the most stringent carbon monoxide requirements.
Download – NEMA BS 31035 2023 “Position Paper on Carbon Monoxide”
NEMA BS 31049-2024 – “NEMA Position Paper on 10-Year Battery Mandates”
NEMA’s position is that consumers should be free to choose which smoke alarms are present in their homes, provided those devices comply with consensus codes and standards. Consumers, not state legislatures, should decide whether alarms powered by 10-year batteries ultimately address consumer needs.
Download – NEMA BS 31049-2024 “NEMA Position Paper on 10-Year Battery Mandates”
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En Espanol
NEMA BS 30000-2026 – “Guía sobre Incendios de Baterías de Ion de Litio”
Spanish Download – Follow the link and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 30003-2023 – “Guía de aplicaciones para detectores y alarmas de monóxido de carbono”
Spanish Download – Follow the link and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 30005-2022 – “Guía para el uso adecuado de los detectores de humo del sistema”
Spanish Download – Follow the link and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31003-2022 – “Señales Acústicas de Baja Frecuencia”
Spanish Download – Follow the link and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31006-2025 – “Métodos de Comunicación para Sistemas de Alarma Contra Incendios”
Spanish Download – Follow the link and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31007-2024 – “Libro Blanco de Inspección y Pruebas Remotas
Spanish Download – Follow the link and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31055-2025 – “Libro Blanco sobre Sistemas de Mejora de las Comunicaciones de Respondientes a Emergencias (ERCES por sus siglas en inglés), Bidireccionales en Edificios”
Spanish Download – Follow the link and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31058-2025 – “Libro Blanco sobre Detectores Multicriterio (MCD)”
Spanish Download – Follow the link and select “Show All Available Languages”
NEMA BS 31060-2025 – “Consideraciones de Diseño para Equipos contra Incendios y de Seguridad Humana en Centros de Datos”
Spanish Download – Follow the link and select “Show All Available Languages”
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