Smoke Detector Safety

A smoke detector is a security device that senses smoke to indicate the presence of fire. Commercial smoke detectors send a signal to a fire alarm control panel as part of a greater fire alarm system. Household smoke detectors, on the other hand, typically issue a local audible or visual alarm from the detector itself or several interlinked smoke detectors. While smoke detectors are found in every building, few people are familiar with how they work. This blog will discuss how smoke detectors work and how to get the best out of yours.

The first thing to know about smoke detectors is that there are two types: ionization smoke detectors and photoelectric smoke detectors. Ionization smoke detectors use ionized particles to detect the presence of smoke. Detectors of this type contain a tiny amount of radioactive material between two electrically charged plates. The reaction between these components causes the ionization of air, which in turn generates a current between the two plates. When smoke enters the detector, the current is disrupted, triggering the alarm. Ionization smoke detectors tend to work better with flaming fires (fires with aggressive, open flames), and their effectiveness with smoldering or other types of fires is not as good. For smoldering fires, the photoelectric smoke detector is preferred.

Unlike ionization detectors, photoelectric smoke detectors use a light source and light sensor to detect smoke. Once smoke enters the detection chamber, the smoke particles block the light beam and partially reflect light on the sensors, triggering the alarm. Photoelectric detectors tend to be better suited to early detection because smoldering fires often fill the room with dangerous fumes and smoke before entering the open-flame stage. The best way to improve your safety is to install both types of smoke detectors in every room where a smoke detector might be needed. Simply put, you just can’t predict what type of fire you may encounter.

In addition to the two types of smoke detectors, there are two power supply options for your smoke detectors: battery and hard-wire. Most smoke detectors are battery powered. As they don’t use a lot of power, many of these battery-powered models require very little maintenance on a regular basis. Despite this, batteries will eventually die and leave your smoke detector useless, so you have to be very careful about replacing batteries at regular intervals.

The alternative to battery-powered smoke detectors is hard-wired detectors. These detectors are wired directly into your home’s electrical system. Generally speaking, this method can supply power to the entire network of smoke detectors, is much more reliable, and requires less maintenance. Furthermore, though hard-wired detectors still need batteries, they are not its primary source of power. Instead, batteries are used only as the emergency power system to ensure the smoke detector will work during a power outage.

Regardless of the type, smoke detectors are the first defense against fires. In summary, there are two ways to reduce your chances of becoming the victim of a house fire: regularly replacing the batteries in your smoke detectors, or installing hard-wired smoke detectors. Investing in these safety measures will save you a lot of time, money, and hassle in the long run. Whatever smoke detector components you need, be sure to get them from a trusted source like ASAP NSN Parts.

1. john parker
2. Posted on November 18, 2020
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