SMOKE DETECTORS vs HEAT DETECTORS

2/4/2020 (Permalink)

SMOKE DETECTORS vs HEAT DETECTORS SERVPRO OF VENTURA

Smoke detectors and heat detectors are both used to detect fires. When one of these sensors is paired
with an alarm system, it will send an alert to the panel when activated. This will cause an alarm event on
the system. This will cause all sounders and sirens to activate to alert everyone.
The difference between smoke detectors and heat detectors is how they activate. A smoke detector is
activating when senses smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. Commercial security devices issue a signal
to a fire alarm control panel as part of a fire alarm system, while household smoke detectors, also
known as smoke alarms, generally issue a local audible or visual alarm from the detector itself or several
detectors if there are multiple smoke detectors interlinked.
The heat detector is an instrument that warns of fire when the temperature around the smoke detector
reaches a certain level. But heat detectors do not detect smoke. On the other hand, a smoke detector
warns of fire when it comes across combustion or soot products in the atmosphere.
Smoke detectors will give off the alarm even when a small amount of smoke is detected. On the other
hand, heat detectors will not detect even the slightest amounts of a temperature change.
Smoke detectors generally fall into one of two categories. These are photoelectric smoke detectors and
ionization smoke detectors. A photoelectric smoke detector works by using a small internal light. When
smoke enters the chamber, the light will refract. The disruption of the internal light tells the sensor to
activate and alert the system.
Heat detectors also fall into two main categories. There are fixed heat detectors and rate-of-rise heat
detectors. Fixed heat detectors respond upon detecting an extremely high temperature that would only
be present with a fire. Meanwhile, rate-of-rise heat detectors respond when the temperature rises
unusually fast, such as 10 degrees Fahrenheit in a single minute.
Smoke detector and heat detector have two different uses, they are both used as they do well when
installed together in buildings.
1. A Heat detector is an instrument that warns of fire when the temperature around the smoke detector
reaches some level. Smoke detector warns of fire when it comes across combustion or soot products in
the atmosphere.
2. The smoke detectors use ionization and photoelectric technologies whereas heat detector uses
thermocouple and electro-pneumatic technologies.
3. Smoke detectors will give off the alarm even when a small amount of smoke is detected. On the other
hand, heat detectors will not detect even the smallest amount of temperature change.
4. Smoke detectors are very sensitive and may give off false alarms. On the contrary, heat detectors are
more reliable fire detectors, even in dusty environments and only sets off the alarm when the temperature is really high.