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Home Safe Home
Safety Devices New Parents Sometimes Overlook
By Mary Dixon Lebeau
The second type of smoke detector, the photoelectric smoke detector, looks for the presence of visible byproducts of combustion in the detection chamber. When these combustibles fill the chamber to a sufficient density, an alarm sounds. These detectors respond more quickly to smoldering fires with heavier smoke.
Heat detectors are also available and are often incorporated in the smoke detector itself. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, each type of detector is efficient as long as it is properly installed and maintained. Since most dwellings will require more than one smoke detector, it is suggested that you buy a combination – a photoelectric smoke detector for the first floor, perhaps, and an ionization smoke detector for the second. It's also a good idea to combine electrical and battery-operated units to assure full protection.
Wall units should be mounted so that the top of the detector is 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling. Ceiling-mounted units should be placed at least 4 inches from the nearest wall. Don't install a smoke detector too close to a window, door or air-forced register because drafts of air could interfere with the detector's operation.
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