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Consider a few of these statistics about the impact of residential and commercial fires in the United States:
According to the National Fire Protection Association
Fires cause an unbelievable amount of damage. Understanding the types of fire alarm monitoring systems, and how a central station monitors fire alarms can greatly decrease the chance of fire impacting you or your business.
There are three main types of fire alarm monitoring systems: ionization, photoelectric, and combination alarms. Below we will discuss each type of alarm and how they can help detect fires.
Ionization fire alarms are best for detecting flaming fires. Inside of the alarm is a tiny bit of radioactive material (don’t be alarmed – pun intended) that sits between two electronically charged plates. This causes a constant current of ionized air between the two plates. When smoke enters between the ionized current, it interrupts the current and sets the alarm off. These alarm systems are better for detecting fast, flaming fires.
These types of alarms are better for detecting smoldering fires. The smoke that is produced by a slow flaming, smoldering fire is much different than a raging flame fire. A photoelectric fire alarm uses a beam of light that is sent into a chamber away from a light sensor. When smoke enters the chamber, it reflects the light towards the sensor, and triggers the alarm to sound.
Combination alarms feature both ionization and photoelectric fire detecting technologies. There are arguments for having combination alarms in your home, or having both ionization, and photoelectric alarms in your home to maximize your home protection, as combination alarms aren’t as great as one detection method or the other, compared to the single units.
There has been quite a bit of debate on the subject matter of what fire alarm system is best. The United States Fire Administration issued a statement regarding the use of the three aforementioned types of fire alarms. According to the United States Fire Administration:
Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fires, and because no one can predict what type of fire might start in a home, the USFA recommends that every home and place where people sleep be equipped with either (a) both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, or (b) dual sensor smoke alarms (which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors).
Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fires, and because no one can predict what type of fire might start in a home, the USFA recommends that every home and place where people sleep be equipped with either (a) both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, or (b) dual sensor smoke alarms (which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors).
So, the best bet is to have a combination of both alarms where people sleep. That is the best way to prevent property damage and reduce the amount of physical harm from a fire.
Fire alarms don’t, by law, have to be monitored by a central station, but a central station like AvantGuard can monitor your fire alarm system and provides 24-protection compared to a system that is not monitored.
Not all fires happen when someone is around. AvantGuard can alert you or someone on your contact list when a fire has occurred at your property or place of business. Having AvantGuard monitor your fire alarms can save your home or business from property damage and get EMS where they need to be quickly. Reach out to AvantGuard today to see how our monitoring services can benefit you.
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