It’s estimated that around 60% of fire-related deaths occur in homes that do not currently have a working smoke detector. Installing a smoke detector is one of the best (and least expensive) ways that you can protect your family from a potential fire. Most smoke alarms are fairly inexpensive, and installing a smoke detector may sometimes qualify you for a reduction in your home’s fire insurance rate.
To understand how a smoke detector works, you first have to understand the different types of smoke detector. Optical and ionization smoke detectors are most commonly used for residential and small commercial businesses, while air sampling smoke detectors are mostly used to protect expensive or valuable items. Here are the three types of smoke detector, as well as an explanation of how they are able to detect fires.
Optical
An optical smoke detector contains a light source that projects a beam of light through a lens. The light beam is directed at a photoelectric or photodiode sensor. When smoke is present in the air, the light beam isn’t able to shine directly on the sensor, as the light is scattered by smoke particles. In this event, the sensor causes the alarm to be activated. Optical smoke detectors are best at detecting smoldering fires, which don’t burn hot and produce a lot of smoke.
Ionization
An ionization smoke detector is the least expensive type of smoke detector, though it also is prone to false alarms. Ionization smoke detectors contain a very tiny amount of radioactive americium-241. The radiation produced is passed through an ionization chamber, which allows a current to flow between two electrodes. If smoke is present, it causes the ionization to be reduced by absorbing alpha particles. This disrupts the current, which triggers the alarm. Ionization smoke detectors are commonly faulted for “cooking” smoke, steam from showers, and other false alarms. Most people currently own an ionization smoke detector, and many apartment complexes install them due to their low cost.
Air-Sampling
Air sampling smoke detectors are currently the most technologically advanced type of smoke detectors available. An air sampling smoke detector operates by detecting tiny particles of smoke that are present in the air. The detector is able to draw in air through a network of pipes that run in a protected room. There are tiny holes in these pipes, which allow for a large area to be covered. A sensitive optical device is used to ‘sample’ air that is drawn in through these pipes, detecting any traces of combustion in a designated area. In many cases, air sampling detectors are used in conjunction with other fire protection methods, such as an automatic fire suppression system. Due to the complexity of this type of detector, it is mostly used to protect areas holding expensive or valuable equipment, such as computer server rooms and historical archives. Air sampling smoke detectors are able to detect traces of a fire much earlier than other types of smoke detectors, which also allows for damage from the fire to be kept to a minimum.
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