Fire alarms like all other security systems are available in a variety of designs and prices. There are several cheap fire alarms but individuals need to check and see if they are reliable.
Most apartments are required to be fitted with a smoke alarm. So individual and families moving into apartments really need not worry about it. However, home owners need to buy their own fire alarms.
When it comes to choosing fire alarms, home owners need to make sure that the models they are considering have been tested and read. All reliable smoker alarms need to be out through extensive testing to make sure that they are fit for homes.
There are two basic choices of alarm types- wires alarms and battery operated alarms. The wired smoke detectors are hooked to the home electric system. These systems are usually very reliable and detect any smoke very early on. However, the disadvantage of wired alarms is that they are more expensive then the battery operated ones. In addition as they need to be added onto the homes electrical system, wired smoke detectors usually need to be professionally installed. Battery operated smoke alarms are easier to install and they are less expensive. However, for them to work efficiently, families need to remember to replace the batteries on them.
Homes should have smoke alarms in every floor to provide maximum safety. To ensure even a higher level of safety, families can choose to install these systems outside every bedroom. According to recent studies, a chance of surviving a fire increases by over 50 per cent in homes fitted with smoke alarms. So these life saving devices are really essential in all homes.
Fire alarms need to be changed every 20 years for them to be most effective. After this they tend not to work to their best potential. Also, families investing in these alarms should remember to buy only those that have been tested and read. These are usually the most reliable systems.
Ever looked up at the ceiling, saw your smoke alarm and thought, "I wonder how that works?" Well the simple answer is, "With cunning ingenuity". The first thing to understand is that there are two basic smoke alarm designs. The first and the most commonly used design is nuclear powered and is known as an ionisation smoke detector, these require little space are cheap and are more common than the other type of detector, which is the photoelectric smoke detector.
Ionisation Smoke Alarms
At the heart of an ionisation smoke detector is a small amount of radioactive material called Americium 241, along with two plates with opposite electrical polarity. This sensor arrangement is held in an air flowing metal chamber and along with its support electronics is powered by a long life battery, usually 9-volt. The metal chamber acts as the negative plate; a positive plate covers the Americium 241.
So how does an ionisation smoke alarm work? Well, alpha particles are generated by the Americium element, these alpha particles ionise the nitrogen and oxygen atoms that circulate through the smoke detector. This simply means that electrons are stripped from both the nitrogen and oxygen elements, when this happens the "air" inside the smoke detector becomes positively charged. These "air" atoms are drawn to the negative (metal chamber) plate, while the negatively charged electrons are drawn to the positive plate. As long as this process continues the smoke alarm will not activate. However, when smoke enters the device it interferes with the ionisation process and the alarm is triggered. Ionisation smoke alarm detectors are considered sensitive enough to do their job correctly and robust enough to last several years under normal operating conditions.
Should you worry about radioactive Americium 241?
Being radioactive does mean that it produces radiation, however the amount is very small. Moreover, the type of radiation emitted is in the form of alpha particles, which are the weakest type of radiation. A sheet of paper can stop alpha particles. The metal canister that holds the Americium is more that capable of containing any harmful radiation. You should however make sure that any discarded ionisation detectors are properly disposed of, check with your local authority or council to find out the preferred method in your area.
Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
These are probably the least popular type of smoke detector; this is down to the fact that they're not as sensitive as an ionisation detector. They function by employing two channels; one emits light, while the other channel detects the light. If smoke finds it way into the channels it will interfere with the light and trigger the alarm.
The type of smoke alarm you choose really depends on the application. While ionisation detectors are seen as the preferred choice, they perform best in detecting fast flaming fires with small smoke particles. Optical sensor smoke alarms on the other hand perform best at detecting slow, smouldering fires with large particles. It's recommended that you fit a combination of the two types of smoke alarm to your home, preferably interconnected. It's possible to string together several smoke detectors to form an impressive smoke alert system.
What ever you do install some smoke alarms today. They're cheap, easy to fit and could save you and your family's life.
Both Groshan Fabiola & James Gregory Gregory are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.