Fire Alarms: What Kind, and How Many?

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

What Types Of Fire Alarms Are There, And How Many Are There?

If a fire breaks out in your Smith Village, OK, time is of the essence. While the damage can be taken care of by a fire damage and restoration specialist, the safety of everyone in the home is the top priority. The best way to ensure everyone’s safety is by installing a smoke alarm. Although it may seem simple, there are different types and different requirements based on the size of a home.

Types of Alarms

When it comes to fire safety, any kind of smoke alarm is better than nothing. To maximize protection, it is important to understand how the different types of common alarms work.

Ionization: This type has metal plates with a constantly running electrical current running. It is triggered if the current experiences disruption. These are ideal for detecting fast-burning fires.

Photoelectric: Instead of an electrical current, these emit a light beam. Once its chamber fills with smoke, it disrupts the beam and is triggered. These work well for smaller fires.

Heat: As the name implies, it monitors increases in air temperature. They are prone to false alarms and may take longer to be triggered.

Ionization/Photoelectric: This type provides the best of both worlds to detect smoke as quickly as possible.

Any of the above can be hardwired or battery-operated. Many are also available as smart devices. They provide the same benefits while also allowing for remote notifications, easier disabling and wireless interconnecting. They do come with a much heftier price tag.

Ensure the Home Has Enough

Once you have decided which type of smoke detector works best for your home, the next step is figuring out how many you need and where to put them. At the minimum, there should be an alarm on every level of the home and inside every sleeping area. They should be installed a minimum of 10 feet away from stoves and ovens and high on a wall or ceiling.

While no one wants to experience a fire, ensuring you are ready is essential. Relying on a smoke alarm is the best way to help make that happen.