Types of Heat and Smoke Detector Systems | Electrical Services in Myrtle Beach, SC

1/4/2019

Fire is one of the most common reasons for death in the United States. In 2015, the national fire protection association (NFPA) found that 2,685 deaths occurred due to 501,500 home fires in the country. Over $10.3 billion were reported in property damages along with 13,000 civilian injuries. It was estimated that 31% of deaths that occurred were due to a lack of smoke alarms in the houses. It is important to consider installing heat detectors and smoke alarms in the house for quicker reaction times to fire.

Another big reason for fires is that fire alarms are often not working. The NFPA found that 19% of the fires escalated in injuries and deaths because the fire alarm was non-functional. It is important to make sure that you hire the best electrical services in Myrtle Beach, SC, to protect your home. There are two main types of fire alarms that can be installed: heat detectors and smoke detectors. Experts recommend that you should consider both of these so that it is easier to detect any hint of fire. As homeowners, it is vital that you understand the role of both these alarms.

Heat Detector Systems

The rising level of temperature in the environment caused by fire needs to be detected at once. The heat detector alarm is designed to give the owners a warning for when the fire has reached such a level that evacuation of the home is needed. They respond to the high temperature of fire instead of the smoke.

Electrical services in Myrtle Beach, SC, recommends installing heat detectors since they are the best way to rig the mechanism for quick action. They are an inexpensive way to trigger fire sprinklers, contact emergency fire services, and many other types of systems that can suppress the fire.

They are often installed in the garage, kitchen, basement, boiler room, and attics. Electrical services in Myrtle Beach, SC, has guidelines to install them in any place where there is a high chance of fumes. The slightest change in the temperature will not disturb the heat detectors. However, they shouldn’t be installed near heating and cooling air ducts since it can disturb the system of the alarm. It may prevent it from detecting fire which is dangerous to the residents of the home.

Both these heat detectors are for the safety of residential property and not for lives. One cannot be swapped for another, depending on your house’s structure. A room filled with combustible material will require and ROR, whereas a fixed temperature will be needed in the kitchen to provide a safety net from accidents.

There are two main types of heat detectors: fixed temperature and rise of rise. Both of these alarms are designed for the safety of the structure rather than the residents in the home. They are both valuable in the home since the fixed temperature is needed in safer zones like the kitchen and the ROR is used in areas where combustible materials are present.

Fixed Temperature

This the most common type of heat detectors for houses. The detector is designed on the principle of an object changing from solid to liquid when it is exposed to high heat. There is a thermal lag that prevents the heat from reaching a certain point which is why temperature often rises slowly. Once it reaches a certain amount, the alarm detects the heat and begins to ring. Electrical services in Myrtle Beach, SC, recommend these alarms since they are reliable tools for detecting fire.

Rise of Rise

The Rise of Rise (ROR) has two main thermocouples that detect the heat. One monitors the heat through radiation while the other keeps track of temperature changes in the environment. The ROR has a fixed threshold at which it operates, which works only in lower temperature fires. It doesn’t respond to fires that develop very slowly.

Smoke Detector Systems

Smoke detector alarms are designed keeping in mind the safety of the residents in the event a fire breaks down. These alarms go off when a fire is about to erupt in the home. They can easily be paired with other devices that help the residents or fire department to locate the exact location of the house. This also allows the residents to find the safest route out of the house so that they get out without any harm. Electrical services in Myrtle Beach, SC, recommend three main types of smoke detector systems that can be installed easily in the home.

Ionization

Ionization smoke alarms are responsible for detecting flaming fires. These alarms are installed by electrical services in Myrtle Beach, SCso that any electrical changes in the environment can be easily detected by the device. It contains small radioactive materials which lie between charged plates. The air is ionized, the current begins to flow through the plates; it clears up the radioactive material, which allows smoke to travel through the plates, disturb the ions, reduces the current flow, and then trigger the alarm.

Photoelectric

Shouldering fires are detected by photoelectric smoke alarms. It has a light sensing chamber that is designed to detect fire on visual sight. Without fire, the light is reflected at an angle that doesn’t reach the main chamber of the alarm. If smoke enters the sensor, the light refracts. This triggers the alarms since the light begins to hit the sensors. Electrical services in Myrtle Beach, SC, recommend this alarm since it is the fastest way to detect smoke. This can help quick reactions to put the fire out which can save lives and the property.

Dual Sensor

The dual sensor is the best alarm to install in the house since it has both: the ionization and photoelectric sensor. The homeowners can also change the sensitivity of the alarm depending on the house structure and normal routines.

Electrical services in Myrtle Beach, SC, believe that it is important to have such alarms in the homes. Calling the professional to install the alarm will ensure that your house properly protected.