Fire authorities in New South Wales have released the results of a three-year study into fire alarms.

The study by Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) tested response times of several different types of smoke alarms; photoelectric, ionisation, dual photoelectric and ionisation, and dual photoelectric and heat sensing alarms.

It included burning real furniture in a mock-up of a two-bedroom apartment 81 times in different scenarios with different types of ignition.

It was designed to test the various smoke alarm systems with, slow smouldering fires, fast flaming fires and nuisance alarm tests.

One of its most significant findings was that ionisation alarms activated on average up to 53 seconds faster than the rest.

But no particular type of alarm was found to be the best in all situations - suggesting the number, location and interconnection of smoke alarms gives the best possible outcome.

More information and a copy of the report are accessible here.