Deciding on the type of smoke detectors to install in your house or investment property can be a daunting task. Not knowing which one to choose can make it confusing to find a suitable smoke alarm. Here, we will discuss more to guide you in the right direction.
Ionisation Smoke Alarm: This type of smoke alarm contains a small amount of radioactive material that reacts to particles when there is a fire, causing it to trigger an alarm. It utilizes radiation and an ionisation chamber to detect smoke. When smoke enters the sensor chamber, the disruption of the ionising radiation sets off the alarm. However, for it to be effective, it needs to meet sensitivity and performance requirements. Many electricians believe that ionisation smoke alarms are not sufficient in providing adequate protection in a typical residential fire.
Photoelectric Smoke Alarm: This type of smoke alarm contains a photo cell and a light beam that emits away from the cell. When smoke particles scatter inside the chamber, the sensor is triggered, and the alarm is set off. Photoelectric alarms provide earlier detection for smouldering fires compared to ionisation smoke detectors. To ensure the safety of your family, Australian state fire authorities highly recommend photoelectric smoke alarms as the preferred option.
Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm: This type of smoke alarm consists of both photoelectric and ionisation sensors, giving it the best and worst features of both types. With the combination of these features, dual sensor smoke alarm are considered the safest smoke and fire detection devices. Since they have the flexibility to detect both flaming fires and slow burning smoke with no flame, it will be hard to get past any fire related danger with these double duty sensors. Remember not to install them near a kitchen or bathroom, it may trigger false alarm from mists or steam.