Skip to main content

Fire Alarms: The Different Types of Systems

By
Fire. It can be useful, but it can also be highly destructive. When a fire breaks out in your home or business, it can not only cause extreme damage to your property, but can also cause lives to be lost. For these reasons, it’s highly important that no matter where your business is located, whether it’s Canton, Columbus or Akron, fire alarms need to be installed in order to warn you about any possible outbreak of fire.

While it’s best to have any type of fire alarm system in your Akron or other Ohio-based business or multi-residential property, you’ll find there are key differences between the two most common types, mainly in their applications. Commonly, fire alarms, also known to the mass populace as “smoke alarms,” can be broken into photoelectric alarms and ionization alarms.

Photoelectric Fire Alarms
Photoelectric fire alarms are alarms that “see” smoke. Photoelectric alarms are particularly responsive to fire that are smoldering or give out a lot of smoke, and are ideal for structures that have items like PVC, foam and other highly flammable materials. Normally, photoelectric fire alarms are a tad more expensive than their ionization brethren, and it also must be kept clean, as false alarms can be generated by dust and insects.

Ionization Fire Alarms
Ionization fire alarms detect the invisible particles created by combustion. Compared to photoelectric alarms, ionization alarms “feel” the smoke generated by a fire outbreak, and is great for detecting fires that have not created any visible smoke. However, it can be susceptible to false alarms, so it should not be placed in a kitchen or other area where a great deal of heat is generated. These alarms are less expensive than photoelectric fire alarms, but they also contain some radioactive materials, so caution is advised.


Not sure what fire alarms are right for your Akron business? Give Hard Fire a call now at 800-848-1301. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Difference Between Fire Detection and Industrial Fire Suppression

By
In the world of fire safety, detection and suppression are two critical components of a complete protection strategy—especially in industrial environments. At Hard Fire, we often speak with facility managers and safety professionals who want to better understand how these systems differ and why both are essential. Knowing how detection and suppression work—individually and together—can help protect lives, safeguard assets and reduce downtime. When you need industrial fire suppression in Cleveland , trust the experts at Hard Fire. Fire Detection: The First Line of Defense Fire detection systems are designed to identify the earliest signs of a fire—smoke, heat or flames—and alert personnel and emergency responders immediately. These systems often include: Smoke detectors Heat detectors Flame detectors Air sampling systems Once activated, detection systems can trigger alarms, emergency lighting and communication tools to support a safe and swift evacuation. In industrial facilit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Trained Experts in Fire Suppression

By
We here at Hard Fire are experts on fire suppression systems. We have trained fire suppression experts who have been in this line of business for a long time. You might be wondering how people train to become experts at fire alarm systems and fire protection systems. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers several different training courses in fire suppression. They are one of the best organizations that offers this kind of training. Their training covers everything from aerosol cooking spray to fire fighting to fire protection for storage. They offer certification programs for people to become experts in fire suppression and other related topics. This way, people who have chosen this career path will be recognized for their training and career choice and others will know how committed they are to their chosen career. They aren’t the only organization to offer these training seminars, but they are certainly among the best-known.   So there are plenty of cou...
Post a Comment
Read more

5 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Fire Protection System

By
Fire protection systems play a vital role in a facility’s overall safety strategy. These solutions defend lives, preserve property and help maintain compliance with regional and national fire regulations. Yet, like every mechanical or building system, they eventually reach the end of their effective lifespan. As years pass, equipment wears down, technology improves and governing standards shift—making it necessary to determine if your system still offers the level of defense you expect. At Hard Fire, we recognize how critical it is to maintain equipment that functions flawlessly during an emergency. Below are five clear signs you may need to upgrade your fire protection systems in Cleveland . 1. Your System Is More Than 15 Years Old Even robust systems do not last indefinitely. As fire protection equipment ages, detectors, panels and suppression parts can deteriorate, decreasing performance. Many manufacturers stop producing components for older models, increasing costs and complic...
Post a Comment
Read more