How Do Smoke Alarms Detect Fires?

Description: Smoke alarms save lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having working smoke alarms in your home cuts your risk of dying in a fire by 55%. But how do smoke alarms work in the first place? Smoke alarms detect particles in the air. This article discusses two types of detection technologies: ionization and photoelectric detectors. Researchers are developing new tests and standards to make smoke alarms better at detecting the kinds of smoke we want them to detect and not the kinds we don’t, so we’re never tempted to disable the alarms and put ourselves in danger. As a result, the next generation of smoke detectors promises to cut down on the number of nuisance alarms while also signaling real fires more quickly. And with fire, time is everything when it comes to saving lives and property.