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Much of the focus on thwarting fire fatalities in Australia centers around the dramatic and dangerous bushfires that take hold in hot, dry summers. But did you know that more than fifty Australians die every year from residential house fires? – someone’s child, someone’s husband.. a family member. The devastation of losing a loved one in such tragic circumstances leaves a long-lasting impact on the deceased’s family. As a parent how would you feel losing a child in a house fire, especially if it was preventable?
Recent improvements in photoelectric smoke alarms and their newer technology are helping to provide greater early warning and detection of house fires, before they take hold and turn into situations with fatal potential.
This article will identify the three new features which you definitely want to look for when purchasing a smoke alarm to protect your family.
Photoelectric smoke alarms
Older smoke alarms typically consisted of ionization-type alarms. What this meant is that the smoke alarm contained a very small amount of radioactive material between two electrically charged plates which was used to detect smoke particles.
In contrast, new photoelectric alarms don’t have radioactive elements. They aim a light source into a chamber away from a sensor. Any smoke entering the chamber reflects light onto the sensor and activates the alarm.
Photoelectric smoke alarms are a significant improvement in smoke alarm technology because they are better adept at detecting slow smoldering fires which are typical of most common house fires. Photoelectric smoke alarms are also less prone to nuisance / false alarms which afflicted many ionization alarms.
You can tell whether you have an ionization or a photoelectric alarm by the label. An ionization alarm has a yellow tri-foil radiation symbol on it. As per the Australian Standard 3786:2014 it should also clearly state on the smoke alarm packaging and label whether the smoke alarm is ‘type a – photoelectric’ or ‘type b – ionization’.
Almost all government agencies and professional fire fighting organizations recommend photoelectric smoke alarms over ionization smoke alarms.
Interconnected smoke alarms
Every second counts when responding to a fire and believe it or not a person sleeping downstairs with the bedroom door closed may not hear a beeping smoke alarm located in an upstairs area. New technology enables smoke alarms to be wirelessly interconnected in a dwelling so that if one detects smoke in an area, then all alarms in the dwelling will all activate. This improves overall safety because it can provide an increased warning and response time to occupants. In the event of a fire.
The technology used to interconnect smoke alarms can be either hardwired i.e., cabling in the ceiling space which is run in-between each alarm to physically connect them, or it can be wireless which is many instances is the preferred option.
Wireless interconnection is when the smoke alarm has an in-built radio frequency transmitter and uses this RF frequency to communicate and ‘talk’ with one another. The distance or range that these wireless networks can operate are usually around 30 metres between each alarm, are capable of extending between walls and floors (suitable for double story dwellings) and are great in situations where it simply isn’t feasible to run physical cabling between each alarm (i.e., when there are solid concrete ceilings).
Interconnected smoke alarms using this wireless RF technology are paired to a unique network so that if alarms go off in one property, they also won’t activate alarms in the neighboring property, and vice versa. Interconnected RF smoke alarms are also not affected by other items such as TV remote control or garage door remote control as these use infrared technologies.
Smoke alarms with long life lithium batteries
Such is the improvement in modern battery technology that many smoke alarms are powered by 10-year long-life lithium batteries in lieu of the old-style 9v replaceable battery which must be swapped out annually. As per Australian Standard 3786:2014, these lithium batteries are sealed inside the unit and cannot be removed. After 10 years the entire smoke alarm unit is simply replaced with a new one. The reason the battery is sealed inside the smoke alarm is so it cannot be deliberately removed in the event of a low battery warning (the periodic repetitive ‘chirp’ which is often considered annoying). Situations have occurred with older style alarms where the battery has been deliberately removed to silence the low battery chirp, the battery has not been replaced, and a fire has subsequently occurred resulting in fatalities due to occupants not being warned.
Even many 240v mains powered smoke alarms will have a lithium battery back-up in the event of temporary power black-out.
Summary – new smoke alarm technology
In summary, the 3 new aspects of smoke alarm technology consist of
- Photoelectric sensors to better detect smoldering fires and reduce nuisance alarms.
- The ability to be wirelessly interconnected so if one alarm detects smoke then all alarms in the same network will activate – this provides a greater early warning and response time.
- Long life lithium batteries sealed inside the unit in lieu 9v replaceable batteries. The smoke alarm will never go flat during its engineered lifetime and it is difficult for people to deliberately remove the lithium battery and deactivate the alarm.
When shopping for new smoke alarms please consider all the factors highlighted in this article – ultimately it is this technology which could save your family from a house fire.
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