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Fire Alarm Systems - The Most Important Safety System

By John Leo

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Published: 19Sep2007
Word count: 452
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Many people are hurt, lose their possessions and die because of fire. Although fire can easily be prevented it is one of the leading causes of injury at home in the United States. In some cases where individuals die of fire, it is because they were not aware that their house or the building that they occupy is on fire.

Fire alarm systems warn people of a potential fire. It warns the occupant while they still have time to either put out the fire or evacuate to safety. Most of today's fire alarm systems automatically call or notify the nearest fire department so that the fire will not spread out of control. Fire alarms are either set off manually or by heat detectors or smoke detectors.

Fire alarms are most of the time set to detect levels of heat or smoke which usually is an indication of fire. And some fire alarm systems have blinking or flashing lights for those who have a hearing impairment. With today's technology, fire alarm systems can now be integrated with the home security alarm systems for the utmost protection and safeguard of your home.

Smoke detectors are part of the fire alarm system, it detects smoke in the air and sets off an alarm thus alerting those nearby of a possible fire. Most smoke detectors detect smoke nowadays either by ionization or optical detection and some smoke detectors have carbon monoxide detectors that detect carbon monoxide thus preventing carbon monoxide poisoning.

The optical detector in smoke detectors is a light sensor which uses a beam like laser. These beam sensors then sends a laser like beam to other sensors, if smoke is non-existent, the laser like beam passes through the optical chamber of the light sensor in a straight line. If smoke is present, the laser like beam is scattered by the smoke particles as it enters the light sensor and the scattered light then triggers the alarm of the smoke alarm.

Ionization detectors are much cheaper than light detectors, although these types of smoke detectors are discouraged from being used because of environmental reasons. Ionization detectors work by detecting particles of smoke by a small amount of radioactive "americium-241" (that is why it is discouraged from being used). This radiation of this material passes through an ionization chamber. This chamber permits the steady flow of current of electrodes, so that when smoke particles enter this chamber it interrupts the flow thus setting the alarm off.

Some fire alarm systems have sprinkler system that will contain or put out the fire before it becomes uncontrollable. However the only way to prevent fire is to take steps to be careful and take additional preventive measures.

Managing companies in the low voltage products industry has been the focus of John Leo's career. He has managed companies which either manufactured or distributed low voltage products especially coaxial cable, security alarm cable, home theater audio products and fire alarm cable. webmaster@worldwide-products.biz http://www.worldwide-products.biz

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