Did you Know There are Different Types of Smoke Alarms?
Both types of smoke detectors are designed to be effective at detecting different types of fires, so it’s good to know the difference and which one could protect your home and family better!
The 2 main types of technology are PHOTOELECTRIC and IONISATION smoke alarms. Do you know what type of smoke alarms you have in your house? That's why we are here to help you learn the different between different smoke detectors, so you can determine the best smoke alarm for your home.
Types of Smoke Alarms
Ionisation Smoke Alarms
Ionisation smoke alarms are the most common smoke alarms in homes around Victoria, simply because they’ve been around longer than photoelectric models.
Ionisation smoke alarms are most effective at detecting smoke caused by fast-flaming, clean burning fires with small smoke particles. These type of flaming fires tend to be kitchen oil fires or established fires that have had time to take hold. However, the most common house fires are slow smouldering fires, so ionisation alarms are less likely to detect these types of fires at their early stages. Early detection is vital for giving you and your family the most amount of time to escape to safety.
When I was growing up, I remember our smoke alarm in the kitchen going off frequently when dinner was cooking. This is because ionisation alarms are more prone to ‘nuisance triggering’ from kitchen fumes. This isn’t a danger in itself, but can be such a hassle that some people will remove the batteries from the smoke alarm altogether. A disconnected smoke alarm isn’t going to be any use in a real fire!
Ionisation smoke alarms are an older technology that use a small amount of radioactive material to help detect smoke. The radioactive particles are safe for humans because there is only a very small amount. However, there is the added environmental consideration of how these alarms are disposed of at the end of their useful life, which is currently just to send them to landfill.
Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
Photoelectric alarms are a newer technology that use the reflection of light to detect smoke particles that enter the alarm chamber. This type of smoke alarm are more effective at detecting smoky, smouldering and slow-burning fires. As most house fires start off as a smouldering fire before taking hold, photoelectric smoke alarms are better at activating earlier and providing more time to react and get to safety.
Photoelectric smoke alarms are recommended by the Melbourne Fire Brigade (MFB) and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) for home smoke alarms as they are more effective at detecting common home fires.
Additionally, photoelectric smoke alarms do not contain any radioactive/hazardous materials which makes them safer to dispose of at the end of their life. However these alarms can ‘nuisance trigger’ when there is a lot of dust in the air, such as during building or renovation works.
How to Tell the Difference Between Ionisation and Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
To determine whether your smoke alarm is an ionisation or photoelectric model, follow these steps:
- Remove the smoke alarm from its mounting bracket and look at the back of the unit.
- Check for any labels or markings that indicate the type of smoke alarm. It may be clearly labelled as "Ionisation" or "Photoelectric."
- If there is no clear label, look for the model number or product code. You can search for this information online or contact the manufacturer to determine the type of smoke alarm based on the model number.
- Ionisation smoke alarms often have a small amount of radioactive material, which may be mentioned on the back of the unit or in the product description.
- Photoelectric smoke alarms may have a "P" or "Photo" in the model name or description.
If you are still unsure about your type of smoke alarm, it is best to replace it with a new photoelectric smoke alarm to ensure the best protection for your home and family. Remember to replace your smoke alarms every 10 years, regardless of the type, to maintain their effectiveness.
Update Your Smoke Alarms Today!
If your smoke alarms have expired (smoke alarms have a strict working lifetime of 10 years), or if you’re renovating/extending your home, think about upgrading to photoelectric smoke alarms. Kenner Electrics installs quality hard-wired Clipsal photoelectric smoke alarms to ensure your family and home are safe.
Whether you need help buying smoke alarms, want to replace your current ones, or you are having issues such as nuisance alarms, we are here to help you. We will ensure your smoke alarms are up to Australian standards. Contact our team today and let us protect your home and family!
