Tips For Choosing Fire Alarm Systems
Introduction
The consequences of fire in a home or workplace can, of course, be devastating. Fires in the home, alone, kill around 700 people and injure a further 10,000 every. Obvious causes of fire in the home include chip pans and smoking, but fire can equally be caused by faulty electrical equipment, including heaters, microwaves, computer monitors, etc and, in industry, by naked flames, sparks or friction. There are several different types of fire alarm available, depending upon the precise application, but all of them are designed to minimise the threat of fire to your family or workforce.
Types of Fire Alarm
The first commonly available type of fire alarm uses what is known as an ionisation detector. An ionisation detector is essentially composed of two electrically charged plates a short distance apart. A source of ionising radiation situated between the plates ionises the air (that is, causes it to become separated into positive ions and electrons) and allow a current to flow; smoke particles passing between the plates interrupt the ionisation process and hence the current, triggering the alarm. Ionisation detector fire alarms are considered the safest type, because they can detect small amounts of smoke.
The second type uses a photoelectric detector, which works on a slightly different principle. This time, a narrow beam of light is shone across the detection chamber and smoke particles entering the chamber scatter the beam in all directions, including a light-sensitive resistor, known as a photocell. The more light that falls on the photocell, the more freely current flows through it; when the current reaches a certain level, the alarm is triggered.
In terms of ease of installation and use, many home and business owners, nowadays, are forsaking traditional wired fire alarm systems in favour of wireless, or radio, systems. Wireless fire alarm systems use radio communications to connect sensors and devices and, as such, require no cabling. This means that they can be installed quickly, easily and cheaply, especially in situations where traditional cabling would be impractical.
Fire alarms allow occupants of a home or workplace to be made aware of the danger of fire at the earliest possible opportunity and to vacate the premises if their safety is in jeopardy. Homeowners and employers should bear in mind, however, that occupants need to escape from a burning building quickly; anything that stands in their way, such as a double door lock cylinder, which requires a key to unlock the deadbolt, could take up precious seconds, or minutes and place occupants in harm`s way.
