|
There are different types of smoke detectors and it’s good to be aware of what kind you have or what kind you might need for your home.
Without a doubt, smoke detectors are a crucial element in child fire safety. They are extremely important as they give the early warning signal that helps you and your family get out of your home in the event of a fire.
The majority of homes, today, do have smoke alarms. However, the NFPA reports that nearly half of residential fires, where deaths occur, are without smoke alarms.
Types of Smoke Detectors
Ionization Smoke Alarm These alarms are the most common types of smoke alarms used in homes. Ionization smoke alarms are quicker at detecting fires that move very quickly. They are inexpensive and designed to detect flaming fires with small amounts of smoke. These alarms are more likely to give a false alarm if installed too close to the kitchen.
Click here for more information on smoke alarm placement.
Photoelectric Smoke Alarm These alarms are quicker at picking up a fire that is more smoky or smoldering. They are faster at detecting, for example, a fire started in your upholstery or couch that produces a lot of smoke and very few flames.There is a light and a sensor inside photoelectric smoke alarms. When there isn’t any smoke, the light shoots across and misses the sensor. When smoke is present, the smoke particles scatter the light which then hits the sensor. This causes the alarm to go off.
Dual Sensor Smoke Detector (Combination Smoke Alarm) These types of smoke detectors are a combination of an ionization smoke alarm and a photoelectric smoke alarm in one unit. The NASD suggests the dual sensor smoke detector because it can detect both smoldering fires that can begin in mattresses, carpeting, or drapes and flaming fires like a grease fire. Combination smoke alarms are more expensive than the other two, but as the demand for them increases, the cost will come down.
**Dual sensor smoke alarms contain very small amounts of radioactive material. The amount is not significant enough to cause any damage. Just know that, ideally, you shouldn’t open the alarm. Also, take them to a garbage where you can dispose of hazardous material.**
A Hearing Impaired Smoke Alarm (Visual Alarm) Millions of people are unable to use traditional smoke detectors. Smoke alarms for hearing impaired and the deaf are designed with a flashing strobe light that will alert them of a fire. This is a battery operated, wireless smoke alarm that works by flashing bright lights with the sound of an alarm. The strobe light effect is similar to a camera flash or flashes of lightening. You can also add a strobe light accessory to a traditional smoke detector. You can add these to either smoke alarms or
carbon monoxide detectors.
Another accessory that can be added to the various types of smoke detectors is a vibration alert. The vibration alert gets a signal from the smoke alarm and is not a smoke detector in itself. It is an accessory to your smoke alarm and can be placed right next to someone who is hearing impaired. In March 2008, NBC released a report introducing the possibility of a new smoke alarm for hearing impaired. Research done at Shiga University in Japan shows the smell of horseradish will usually wake people from a deep sleep. The smell of horseradish was found especially effective on waking the hearing impaired. So, a new kind of smoke detector that emits the smell of horseradish could be available in the next few years. There are also hearing impaired smoke alarms on the market that are designed for senior citizens with high pitch hearing loss or children as they may have a harder time waking up to the sound of a traditional smoke detector. These alarms have a loud, low pitch as opposed to a high frequency that many cannot hear.
Voice Smoke Alarm (Vocal Smoke Alarm) These are talking smoke alarms that wake people up with a message that was recorded onto the smoke alarm. The vocal smoke alarm is helpful for older adults who have high pitched hearing loss, but is especially helpful for children from newborn to the age of 13.
According to the NFPA, babies and children under 13 years old sleep much more soundly than teens and adults especially in the first two hours that they are asleep.
In recent years, studies were done on the discovery that sometimes, children, who are in a deep sleep, will not hear the smoke alarm despite how loud it is. A study done out of Victoria University Sleep Lab in Melbourne, Australia found “only 57 percent of children woke up to a traditional smoke alarm signal while all woke up to a recording of their mother's voice.” Voice smoke alarms have a speaker system where you can record a message and brief instructions for your child. You can also aim the alarm directly at the child and have it alternate between your voice and a regular fire alarm sound. **Even though some studies have shown children sleeping through smoke alarms and the NFPA is still actively researching this issue, it is universally agreed upon that smoke alarms are absolutely necessary in the home.**
Make sure you know which of the various types of smoke detectors is best for you and your family. Once your smoke detectors are securely in place, make sure that your child knows what the alarm sounds like.
Some children get so frightened when they hear the alarm during a fire that they freeze. You can get them familiar with the sound of your alarm through smoke detector testing.
And, then of course, it is vital to create fire escape plans for your family.
There is a lot of information on this page about the different types of smoke detectors. The most important points are that smoke alarms have been proven to save lives and are a necessity in your home.
Return to Top
Related Articles
Candle SafetyCarbon Monoxide Detectors Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Electrical Fires Fire Escape Plans Fireplace Safety Home Fire Safety Checklist Matches Safety Smoke Detectors Smoke Detector Placement Smoke Detector Testing Smoking Safety Space Heater Safety
Return from Types of Smoke Detectors to Child Fire Safety
Return from Types of Smoke Detectors to The Baby Safety Site Homepage
|
