Smoke detectors are an essential way of keeping your family safe in the event of a fire. By alerting you to the presence of smoke and fire almost as soon as they have begun, smoke alarms emit a loud, high-pitched sound which buys you vital seconds to get safely away from the danger. But how do these clever little devices actually work? Let’s have a look at the inner workings of the smoke alarm and how they manage to emit sound so quickly.
Smoke alarms have been proven to greatly improve people’s chances of survival in the event of a fire, according to the Fire Service. If you need advice or support regarding the installation of fire alarms Northamptonshire, contact https://isefireproducts.co.uk/fire-alarm-systems/northamptonshire. As a minimum, you should have one smoke detector on each floor of your property, but one in every room is safest.
Ionization Detectors
Smoke alarms use two main ways to detect smoke in the air. Within the smoke alarm unit, there are two pieces of radioactive material which ionize air particles in between them. In the event that smoke particles enter this area, they attract the ions within this space and carry them away, thus reducing the current of air between the two plates. At this point, the smoke alarm begins to make its trademark high-pitched sound.
Photoelectric Detection
Smoke alarms also contain a second way of alerting householders to fire which uses photoelectric energy. There is a sensing chamber inside the alarm which is able to detect light that is bouncing off of particles in the air. If the air is clear, the sensors detect this and no sound is made. However, if there is smoke in the air, the photoelectric sensors will be able to recognise that the air is not clear and, again, the alarm will sound.
Heat Detection
A further group of smoke alarms work by sensing heat in the vicinity. This type of smoke alarm is therefore most appropriate when placed in a kitchen, where pan or oven fires are more likely.
