Smoke and Heat Alarms: A Professional Guide to Selection and Application
In fire protection systems, smoke and heat detectors serve as critical early-warning devices. Though often grouped together, they operate on fundamentally different principles and are designed for distinct environments. Selecting the appropriate detector is not a matter of preference but of technical necessity, dictated by the specific fire risks and environmental conditions of a space. Technical Definitions and Operating Principles Smoke Detectors are designed to respond to the invisible and visible particles of combustion. They are primarily categorized as: Ionization Type: These detect changes in electrical current caused by smoke particles disrupting ionized air within a sensing chamber. Highly effective at detecting fast-flaming fires with smaller particles. Photoelectric Type: These use a light source and sensor; smoke particles entering the...