Most fire victims perish from inhaling toxic gases and smoke rather than burns. This is mainly because these deadly gases and smoke travel faster and further than heat in a fire. Most fatal home fires also occur when people are asleep because they are unaware of the fire until it’s too late to escape.

A smoke detector remains active round the clock, on stand-by mode, to ensure you and your loved ones know when there are fire signs. It gives you the best chance to get to safety in a limited time and prevent devastating damage to your home.

Let's discuss the types of smoke detectors, how they work, and the pros and cons to help you determine the most suitable one for your home.

What a Smoke Detector Does

According to the Fire Protection Association (FPA) Australia, every home should have smoke detectors on every level, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.

Smoke detectors sense smoke particles in the air and trigger an alarm with a high-pitched sound. Installing detectors along several escape paths can help you identify dangerous areas in low-visibility conditions.

The Two Types of Smoke Detectors

Before buying a smoke detector, one must understand how it works. There are two main types of smoke detectors; photoelectric and ionisation. Both types use different sensors to detect smoke, but each has pros and cons in fire detection. Installing the right kind will safeguard you and your loved ones in fire emergencies.

How a Photoelectric Smoke Detector Works

Photoelectric smoke detectors have a detection chamber with an infrared light beam.

When visible smoke particles enter the chamber, they disperse and interfere with the light beam. The light-sensitive receiver detects the changes and triggers the alarm.

Most residential buildings experience smouldering fires due to the furniture and items inside the rooms. It's, therefore, essential to have at least one photoelectric smoke detector in your home for better protection.

Pros

• - Photoelectric smoke detectors have no radioactive materials and are, therefore, safer

• - Furniture often causes fires to smoulder and burn slowly, so they are suitable for kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms

• - They are less likely to have false alarms due to bathroom or cooking steam

Cons

• - Photoelectric smoke detectors are less effective when detecting quick-burning fires such as those started by sparks.

• - They require regular maintenance due to their sensitivity to insects and dust particles.

How an Ionisation Smoke Detector Works

Ionisation smoke detectors have a detection chamber with a small radioactive material like americium. This material charges ions or electrical particles inside the room.

The detection chamber is sensitive to tiny combustion particles because they interrupt the ion balance. Any changes above a certain level trigger an alarm.

Flaming fires often produce less smoke and occur when people are alert, like when cooking. Ionisation detectors, therefore, allow you to react faster to burning flames.

However, this can be a disadvantage since smouldering fires mainly occur when people are not alert, like when sleeping. The fire may already have spread by the time the ionisation detector reacts.

Pros

• - Ionisation smoke detectors react faster to flaming fires

• - They are more suitable for smaller homes where there’s normal cooking activity and regular shower steam

• - More affordable than photoelectric smoke detectors

Cons

• - Ionisation smoke detectors react slower to smouldering fires than photoelectric smoke detectors

• - False alarms are more likely due to the mechanism, so more people intentionally disable them.

• - Radioactive materials present pose a risk

• - Most suitable for rooms with highly combustible materials that spread flames, such as flammable liquids and newspapers

Conclusion

Functioning smoke detectors are a great way to protect your loved ones and prevent extensive damage in case of a fire. Australian legislation also requires home renovations to include smoke detectors and a battery backup. Avoid taking the risk and call an electrician to help install your new smoke detectors.