Fireplace sets off smoke alarm with no fire

[teejk]

Way back in the old days my dad put a detector in the hallway of the house. My mom's hairspray would trigger it! I think some of the newer ones detect smoke via an electric eye (similar to your garage door safety device).

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's not newer or older. There are basically two technologies. Photo Electric and Ionization (usually dual) And, I have never really been able to establish which is best in which environments. They both have a chamber where there is a detection process to detect very very small particles.

I guess, they are both for life safety protection so no one ever dares say, this one is better than that one.

I guess the bad part about ionization is that they are considered hazardous waste.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Ionization type detectors react to hydrocarbons in the air. They will react to dust containing carbon particles. The react to any gas that is hydrocarbon based such as propane and natural gas and some refrigerants. Hairspray propellant was R-12 refrigerant in the past probably still a related product. Photo electric type detectors see minute particles (such as dust) to trigger an alarm. They are sensitive to any thing releasing fine particles into the air such as smoke.

Ron