There are several choices to make in selecting the right smoke/fire alarms to buy, the most important thing to remember is that smoke alarms save lives. For that reason, you should install a smoke alarm if your home does not have one. Installing additional smoke alarms throughout the house provides greater protection.
FIRE SAFETY ALARM contain different or multiple sensors : There are two main types of smoke alarms, which are categorized by the type of smoke detection sensor, ionization and photoelectric, used in the alarm. Each type of smoke alarm may perform differently in different types of fires. A smoke alarm may use multiple sensors, sometimes with a heat detector or carbon monoxide detector, to warn of a fire. Ionization detectors contain a chamber with two plates that generate a small, continuous electric current. When smoke particles enter the ionization chamber, the smoke particles disrupt the current flow, which triggers the alarm. Photoelectric detectors use a light beam and light receptor (photocell). When smoke particles are present between the light and receptor, depending on the type of smoke chamber configuration, the reduction or increase of light on the photocell sensor triggers the alarm.
FIRE SAFETY ALARMS may perform differently:- Both ionization and photoelectric detectors are effective smoke sensors, and even though both types of smoke detectors must pass the same tests to be certified to the voluntary standard for smoke alarms, they can perform differently in different types of fires. Ionization detectors respond quickly to flaming fires that give off heat and hot gases with smaller (sub-micron) combustion particles; photoelectric detectors respond more quickly to smouldering fires that give off larger combustion particles. There are combination smoke alarms that combine ionization and photoelectric detectors into one unit, called dual sensor smoke alarms The amount of time a person may have to escape depends on many factors, such as the type of fire, location of the fire, and the closest smoke alarm.
1. Detect Fire
Your fire alarm system is designed to detect fire in two main ways: smoke and heat. It should also have the capability of manual pull, in case a fire is observed before smoke or heat reaches the sensors of the system. Other systems are activated when movement in the sprinkler system is detected, indicating that the sprinklers are responding to a fire.
2. Alert Occupants
When the fire alarm system detects smoke, heat, or water movement, it alerts occupants of the building using both audible and visible alarms. These alarms will be bright, loud, obnoxious, and impossible to ignore, which help mobilize individuals to follow your evacuation plan. Using both types of alarms ensure that every person in the building is alerted.
3.Manage Risks
Your building’s fire alarm system works in a third way to protect you: by reacting to potential risks using control measures. When the alarm is activated, some systems perform a set of tasks that help prevent fire and smoke from spreading as well as protect occupants, such as: automatically shutting doors in different zones, powering off ventilation and air conditioning, or redirecting elevators to bring cars to a designated level.
4. Notify Authorities
The fourth purpose of your fire alarm system is to notify authorities. This ensures the fire department is en route as quickly as possible, so they can respond and extinguish the fire before it becomes an even bigger threat.
- Alarm. An alarm condition is exactly what was outlined in the section above. In the event that there is an immediate threat to life, property, or mission, the fire alarm system will sound the alarm, notifying occupants to escape, and letting the authorities know they need to respond.
- Trouble. A trouble condition means that something is wrong with the system itself. Fire alarm systems necessarily employ a trouble condition to alert you or your building manager that while there may not be an immediate danger, you’ll need immediate inspection and repair of your system.
- Supervisory. A supervisory condition — means that the system the fire alarm monitors has some sort of issue. This could signal anything from low or high pressure in the suppression system to a malfunction of the fire pump.
