

When smoke gets into the ionization chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions between the plates and you’re no longer able to pass a current through there. Ionization detectors use a very, very small amount of radioactive material inside of an ionization chamber with electrically charged plates. They work differently in order to detect smoke. There are two types of smoke alarms-single-sensor ionization and single-sensor photoelectric units. What to Look for in a Smoke Detector Ionization, Photoelectric, and Dual-Sensor Currently, he serves as a technical resources to support an assortment of projects across NFPA including Building & Life Safety, Fire Protection Systems, Emergency Response, Electrical, and Industrial & Chemical Engineering. Prior to joining NFPA, Mahoney held a variety of positions in fire protection engineering, including fire protection consulting and fire protection product design. in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
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He is a registered professional engineer with a B.S. is an Engineer in the Technical Services Division at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “You could spend a minimal amount or spend hundreds of dollars on a single smoke alarm but the most important is just having one.” Best Smoke Detectors

“The best smoke alarm you can have in your home is the one that is installed,” says Mahoney. Check local codes to be sure you are in compliance. Units need to be in every bedroom (guest bedrooms, too), outside of the sleeping areas (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement regardless of whether it is finished or not) of your home. Shawn Mahoney, technical services engineer for the NFPA, shares that smoke alarm placement is equally important. There is typically a date of manufacture listed on the back of an alarm, which should give you an indication when it's time to replace it. Smoke alarms typically reach their end-of-life at 10 years, and the NFPA recommends replacing them entirely at that time. Many battery-powered alarms do come with lithium-ion batteries that are rated to last for the entire service life of the alarm. It is recommended by the NFPA that changeable batteries are replaced every six months and alarms tested every month. While invaluable, and a must-have in all homes, smoke detectors are often neglected (until they start chirping!), but you should regularly take the opportunity to test that all your alarms are working, and double check that alarms are positioned everywhere they need to be.Īccording to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), among fires in which smoke alarms were present but didn't operate, 46 percent of those alarms had missing or disconnected batteries. A fire can spread very quickly in your home, but a smoke detector can sense smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger and allowing you and your family enough time to get out safely.
