What Is A Photoelectric Smoke Alarm And Is It The Best Option?
Not all things are created equal, and it is no different when it comes to the various smoke alarm options you may have to choose between for installation in your home. Differences between types of smoke alarms vary more than just what their ultimate function is and comes down to how they are designed to function. In the past, ionisation smoke detectors were the standard choice, but in recent years, popularity and recommendations have strongly moved in favour of photoelectric smoke alarms instead. If you are uncertain of what the difference is between the two and why it is important, keep reading to learn more about photoelectric smoke alarms, Queensland.
The Main Differences
In a nutshell, ionisation smoke alarms react best to smoke when there are already large flames in the surrounding area. While this may work for scenarios where there are highly flammable liquids and materials that quickly catch fire and spread, it’s far from ideal for most fire risks that start off with mostly smoke before a fire reaches a more escalated level. Photoelectric smoke alarms make use of an LED light that shoots a beam of light through the smoke detector’s chamber. As soon as smoke enters the chamber, the light beam is interrupted and deflected, setting off the alarm. The Queensland Fire And Emergency Services specifically recommend that photoelectric smoke detectors and alarms are installed and, where ionisation smoke alarms are already installed, they be replaced by photoelectric units for maximum safety.
Installation Of Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
For optimal effectiveness, a series of photoelectric alarms and smoke detection units need to be installed around your house. You should take some time to work out an emergency evacuation plan and set of steps to follow in case of a fire emergency. Have a family meeting and ensure that everyone who lives in your home knows exactly how the fire alarms work, where emergency phone numbers are and which areas around the house are to be used as emergency exits in case of a fire. You should also look into investing in a fire extinguisher or two for situations where you can quickly put out a fire or fire risk yourself before it gets out of hand.
The installation of smoke detectors and alarms need to be done by professionals and should not be considered a DIY project, so if you are looking at getting photoelectric smoke alarms, Queensland, be sure to assign the job to a registered professional who will also guide you in how to use and maintain your smoke alarm system. For more information contact us at www.pacificsmokealarms.com.au or call us on 1300355483.