Fire Alarm Systems - The Most Important Safety System

Many people are hurt, lose their possessions and die
because of fire. Although fire can easily be prevented it
is one of the leading causes of injury at home in the
United States. In some cases where individuals die of fire,
it is because they were not aware that their house or the
building that they occupy is on fire.

Fire alarm systems warn people of a potential fire. It
warns the occupant while they still have time to either put
out the fire or evacuate to safety. Most of today's fire
alarm systems automatically call or notify the nearest fire
department so that the fire will not spread out of control.
Fire alarms are either set off manually or by heat
detectors or smoke detectors.

Fire alarms are most of the time set to detect levels of
heat or smoke which usually is an indication of fire. And
some fire alarm systems have blinking or flashing lights
for those who have a hearing impairment. With today's
technology, fire alarm systems can now be integrated with
the home security alarm systems for the utmost protection
and safeguard of your home.

Smoke detectors are part of the fire alarm system, it
detects smoke in the air and sets off an alarm thus
alerting those nearby of a possible fire. Most smoke
detectors detect smoke nowadays either by ionization or
optical detection and some smoke detectors have carbon
monoxide detectors that detect carbon monoxide thus
preventing carbon monoxide poisoning.

The optical detector in smoke detectors is a light sensor
which uses a beam like laser. These beam sensors then sends
a laser like beam to other sensors, if smoke is
non-existent, the laser like beam passes through the
optical chamber of the light sensor in a straight line. If
smoke is present, the laser like beam is scattered by the
smoke particles as it enters the light sensor and the
scattered light then triggers the alarm of the smoke alarm.

Ionization detectors are much cheaper than light detectors,
although these types of smoke detectors are discouraged
from being used because of environmental reasons.
Ionization detectors work by detecting particles of smoke
by a small amount of radioactive "americium-241" (that is
why it is discouraged from being used). This radiation of
this material passes through an ionization chamber. This
chamber permits the steady flow of current of electrodes,
so that when smoke particles enter this chamber it
interrupts the flow thus setting the alarm off.

Some fire alarm systems have sprinkler system that will
contain or put out the fire before it becomes
uncontrollable. However the only way to prevent fire is to
take steps to be careful and take additional preventive
measures.

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John Leo is an expert with over 30 years of experience in
the low voltage,fire alarm, home security and home theater
industry. He has managed the manufacturing and distribution
of low voltage products during his career. His primary
experience has been the manufacture and distribution of
alarm, audio, coaxial and home theater cable.
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