A new smoke and fire alarm promises to screen out nuisance alarms caused by sources such as cooking smoke and steam from the shower.

The IoPhic alarm from Universal Security Instruments quickly detects fast-flaming and smoldering fires and uses smart technology to distinguish them from nonthreatening sources, the company says. That makes it less likely that someone would disable the device because of annoying false alarms and leave a home unprotected.

The alarm is available in both battery-operated and hard-wired versions.

The alarm is available at www.universalsecurity.com and www.homedepot.com. Prices start at $19.96 on the Home Depot website and $24.99 on the Universal site.

ON THE SHELF

As if creating a space you love weren’t hard enough, try adding the challenges of tiny rooms, limited funds and elements you’re stuck with, like ugly bathroom tile and worn kitchen cabinets.

Welcome to decorating your first apartment.

Kyle Schuneman has your back. Schuneman, the 27-year-old founder of Live Well Designs and one of House Beautiful’s “Next Wave of Top 20 Designers,” helps renters decorate their first digs in The First Apartment Book: Cool Design for Small Spaces (Clarkson Potter, $24.99 in softcover)

Schuneman puts his inventiveness and artistic eye to work on 10 apartments, including his own. He shares floor plans, tips and creative ideas for turning compact quarters into functional, comfortable living spaces, using fresh designs that play off the tenants’ personalities and the vibe of the cities where they live.