Choosing an alarm can be quite difficult because there are many different kinds of fire alarms available. To an ordinary person, the number of options can cause confusion. These fire alarms also vary in cost. If you’re on a budget, of course, you are inclined to choose the cheapest option. But is it the right one for you? Clearly, consumers need a guide to buying the right kind of alarm. And that is what this article is trying to achieve. Here, you’ll find the different kinds of alarms along with their uses and their benefits. Hopefully after reading this article you’ll be able to choose the right alarm to meet your needs.
Optical Alarm
For you to make the right choice, you need to know first the different kinds of fire alarms available. The first type of alarm that you need to know is the optical alarm. This type of alarm uses an infrared beam. If there’s smoke it will trigger the beam and that will set off the alarm. It works in the same way as an alarm that can be triggered by an intruder who is trying to break into a house or building. This type of alarm can detect large smoke particles. This is probably one of the most common types of alarm available. This type of alarm is ideal in living rooms, dining rooms, and in hallways.
Ionisation Alarm
This type of alarm uses two small plates, one with a positive charge and the other with a negative charge. The plates also have an alpha particle source that continuously runs a current between the two plates. When there’s smoke the charge is interrupted and this triggers the alarm. This kind of alarm is good at detecting smaller smoke particles. This is it’s advantage over the optical alarm. You can usually find this in bedrooms and in walk-in wardrobes.
Heat Alarm
This type of alarm is triggered by heat. If the room reaches a certain type of temperature then the alarm will sound off. One of the things that you need to know about this type of alarm is that it doesn’t detect smoke. So you can’t use it as a substitute for a smoke alarm. This type of alarm is best used as a supplement to smoke alarms for an enhanced fire detection capability. The best place to have this type of alarm is in a garage or an uncovered loft.
Choosing the right type
The reason why there are different types of fire alarm is because there are also different types of fire. Many people don’t know that fire actually acts in different ways. It depends on the material being burned by the fire. If you want to take out the fire fast then it’s important for you to identify it as quickly as possible. Different types of alarms are better at different types of fires. It’s important for you to choose the right kind of alarm. Your choice may save your life and property one day.