A hazard detection system (105, 107, 205, 300, 1300), comprising: a plurality of sensors (220, 901-904, 1006, 1008, 1009, 1102, 1104, 1321-1323); an alarm (234, 350, 1292, 1344); a speaker (218, 354, 1290, 1346); a plurality of multi-criteria state machines (310, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000, 1160, 1170, 1280, 1304, 1332) for managing a plurality of states based on data acquired by at least one of the sensors (220, 901-904, 1006, 1008, 1009, 1102, 1104, 1321-1323) and based on at least one condition parameter, wherein the plurality of states comprises an alarming state, a pre-alarming state, an alarm hushing state, and a pre-alarm hushing state, wherein the alarming state and the alarm hushing state control use of the alarm (234, 350, 1292, 1344), and wherein the pre-alarming state and the pre-alarm hushing state control use of the speaker (218, 354, 1290, 1346); and a hush detection module (1100, 1307) operative to detect hush events, wherein a hush event is a user initiated command to hush an alarm or pre-alarm, and wherein the plurality of multi-criteria state machines (310, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000, 1160, 1170, 1280, 1304, 1332) further manages the plurality of states based on detected hush events, wherein for a transition from the alarming state to the alarm hushing state to take place when a hush event is detected an associated condition parameter needs to be met, wherein when the hazard detection system (105, 107, 205, 300, 1300) is in the alarming state, the alarm (234, 350, 1292, 1344) is activated, and when the hazard detection system (105, 107, 205, 300, 1300) is in the alarm hushing state, the alarm (234, 350, 1292, 1344) is deactivated; and when the hazard detection system (105, 107, 205, 300, 1300) is in the pre-alarming state, a message is played back through the speaker (218, 354, 1290, 1346), and when the hazard detection system (105, 107, 205, 300, 1300) is in the pre-alarm hushing state, playback of the message through the speaker (218, 354, 1290, 1346) is ceased. a plurality of sensors (220, 901-904, 1006, 1008, 1009, 1102, 1104, 1321-1323); an alarm (234, 350, 1292, 1344); a speaker (218, 354, 1290, 1346); a plurality of multi-criteria state machines (310, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000, 1160, 1170, 1280, 1304, 1332) for managing a plurality of states based on data acquired by at least one of the sensors (220, 901-904, 1006, 1008, 1009, 1102, 1104, 1321-1323) and based on at least one condition parameter, wherein the plurality of states comprises an alarming state, a pre-alarming state, an alarm hushing state, and a pre-alarm hushing state, wherein the alarming state and the alarm hushing state control use of the alarm (234, 350, 1292, 1344), and wherein the pre-alarming state and the pre-alarm hushing state control use of the speaker (218, 354, 1290, 1346); and a hush detection module (1100, 1307) operative to detect hush events, wherein a hush event is a user initiated command to hush an alarm or pre-alarm, and wherein the plurality of multi-criteria state machines (310, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000, 1160, 1170, 1280, 1304, 1332) further manages the plurality of states based on detected hush events, wherein for a transition from the alarming state to the alarm hushing state to take place when a hush event is detected an associated condition parameter needs to be met, wherein when the hazard detection system (105, 107, 205, 300, 1300) is in the alarming state, the alarm (234, 350, 1292, 1344) is activated, and when the hazard detection system (105, 107, 205, 300, 1300) is in the alarm hushing state, the alarm (234, 350, 1292, 1344) is deactivated; and when the hazard detection system (105, 107, 205, 300, 1300) is in the pre-alarming state, a message is played back through the speaker (218, 354, 1290, 1346), and when the hazard detection system (105, 107, 205, 300, 1300) is in the pre-alarm hushing state, playback of the message through the speaker (218, 354, 1290, 1346) is ceased.